Yesterday we received an inspiring e-mail from a reader in Massachusetts.
Stephanie had something to say about bay windows, one of our Bay Area Odd Space Dilemmas. She wrote:
"I may not be from the Bay Area, but the Bay State (MA) has its fair share of bay windows.
I have two in my apartment, and at first they were major areas of dead space, but we found a great way to make use of them.
In the Living Room, we cut a desk from MDF to fit the angles of the window and cut a half circle to fit an office chair.
"In the Bedroom, we designed and built a window seat with storage space under the cushion (made from a futon mattress).
These really provide some style and function, and make the most of our space."
Indeed they do. As far as we're concerned, a bay window's a bay window, whether it takes in Atlantic or Pacific light.
The Bay Area thanks Stephanie and the Bay State for some great ideas!
What's happening in your bay window?
Send in pics (dilemma or solution), or post them to flickr with the tag
apartmenttherapysanfrancisco.
*sigh*...bay windows a dilemma? i'm yearning for one...you get the view AND the extra storage area...
How about a hammock?
I love the built in desk idea - makes perfect use of that space and while you are sitting there working you have that panoramic view to distract you.
Ikea sells (or used to sell) a very similar desk. It was a large semi-circle, just about the same size.
I have a half-built window seat w/ storage. Trying to figure out a cheaper cushion... I like the cutting of a futon mattress idea. I got estimates from Fabric Row in Philly of 200-500 for foam, labor, material.
I wonder if you couldn't just have some kind of cover sewn to fit the space and then fill it with those beanbag beans. Might be even cheaper than a futon mattress.
See if you can find a cleaners to do the sewing. If they do alterations sometimes they'll also take on simple sewing projects for a fraction of what you might pay elsewhere.
I love the window seat! But what to do if you don't have the tools and skills? Is there a weird-shaped IKEA bench?
Thanks everyone! It was very helpful that I sew, and my husband is very good with tools.
We actually got the futon mattress from our upstairs neighbors who were moving out, so that cut the cost way down. I got the fabric at a discount fabric store in Boston, and actually it is that orange color on the top, and can be flipped over with a nubbly olive green fabric on the other side (it can be seen in the middle of the cushion).
If you don't have the tools or skills, find a friend or post on my buddy craigslist!