Every D.I.Y.-er needs a place to work and our house tours are a perfect place to turn for examples. You, our readers, are a creative bunch who often have workspace of some sort right at home. Whether you've converted an entire room or carved out a corner, you've made space at home for doing D.I.Y...
Carl and Laurent's Bright White Live/Work Loft: Carl and Laurent's apartment includes space for Carl's work studio.
The Worden's MC Inspired Modern Build: Steve and Cathy's studio adjacent to their modern home.
Bonnie, Bill, Nina & Dora’s Funky Functional Home: A two-car garage now serves as a family office.
Kelly and Mike's Layered Collage: Kelly's tucked-away sewing nook behind a low wall she and Mike made themselves.
This one's not from a house tour, but Janel's outdoor workshop is a proper shop set up for a little weekend work right on the sidewalk. We've worked out front without proper preparation and can attest to the importance of doing it right as Janel's done here.
Do you have a workshop at home? If not, where do you D.I.Y.?
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
I'm thrilled to say that the house I'm buying at the end of the month has a converted car garage. The current owners have been using it as storage but I'll take over and use it as a letterpress print shop!
Anyone got any tips for adding a wide door?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/autzve/3199687325/
view ashleym (aka autzve on flickr)'s profile
Since it is DIY month, do you think we could get a how-to from Kelly and Mike's Layered Collage for the rolling wall?
view chrisciever's profile
Hey Ashley -- Congrats on the house! When rehabbing the first floor of a rowhouse into my studio, I put a sliding glass patio door in the back. What I regret is not putting in a wider hinged patio double door (like Pella, available ay Lowe's...). I would love a double wide door opening, and should've splurged for it. One thing with patio doors -- get one with a fitted screen door.
What I don't regret is hiring a contractor to do the installation -- he caught some structural problems and replaced the header, and then sealed everything up tight so I don't have to worry about leaks. I also had him insulate the back wall while he had it open -- I did the others myself, later. Both my wife and I are handy, but we always hire a pro to deal with anything structural, or anything that opens the house up to the elements. It's just not worth the risk or the worry.
Finding a trustworthy contractor is a whole other story -- ours is a neighbor, honest as the day is long, so we're lucky. Get a couple of different bids, ask for references and call them, imply you'll have more work for them later (if they're good, you will!), and pay nothing up front.
Good luck!
view Arkay's profile