Tabatha’s new sewing room
My new sewing room is complete! Allow me to show you… (I’ll just warn you, this post is photo heavy!)
Long before we got the keys to our new house on 31st Jan, I had been gathering inspiration for a new sewing room on pinterest, so I didn’t waste any time once the place was ours. This is what the room looked like before, when the previous owners lived here:
And this is what it looks like now:
The first thing I had to do was take up the carpet to make my white floorboard dream come true, just as Gertie has been doing in her new sewing room this week. I sanded the picture rails, skirting boards, door frame and floorboards, and then painted the whole room white from top to bottom. I wanted it to be clean, bright and airy, and easy to accessorize. The next job was to get rid of the net curtains, curtains, pelmet and rail and get blinds fitted, for a more clean and modern look.
Once the decorating had been done, it was time to start on the furniture, and this is where I wanted the colour. I sanded, painted and varnished this 1930s solid wood teacher’s desk, and the matching chair, and I couldn’t be more happy with the results:
As you can see, this desk is for my overlocker. The top drawer is where I keep my spare overlocker threads etc, and in the bottom drawer there’s plenty of room for my paints.
Next to the overlocker desk is my daughter’s change station. I’m potty training her this week, so I figured she doesn’t need it anymore, plus she has new furniture in her bedroom now (thanks to Julia who helped us assemble it all!).
The top folds out, which I thought would actually be quite useful as an extra surface for pattern pieces and the like. It’s great for storage – I’ve got my current project pieces laid out flat on the shelf (my Vertigo dress) and various bits and pieces in the drawers – stuff for knitting, crochet, embroidery, card making, drawing and painting. I decided not to paint this piece of furniture as it matches the fireplace opposite.
Next up was my sewing cabinet. Mr Tweedie bought this for me for my birthday last year, but until we moved I wasn’t able to use it because it was too big for my old sewing room – when it’s extended for sewing it’s 2 metres wide! I wanted to paint it pale pink, which wasn’t an easy job. I had to use a difficult surface primer first, then two coats of paint, and then a coat of polyurethane varnish. The result is not pristine, but on the whole I’m pleased with it and I certainly don’t regret painting it. The polyurethane varnish means that the finish is hard-wearing, which is obviously very important where pins and scissors are involved. Here is the cabinet in various poses:
It has really useful built-in storage for spools of thread, machine accessories and general sewing tools and haberdashery.
The sewing cabinet also matches my lovely chair, which I bought last year in a charity shop:
Either side of the fireplace, I have Ikea Billy book cases, which are great for storing all sorts of things. I’ve got my sewing books, art and photography books, boxes of sewing patterns and large boxes of fabric all stored on these book cases.
AND… my new baby… a 1913 Singer sewing machine. She is so pretty!
The final piece of furniture to show you is my cutting table. I wanted a large table at least 90cm tall and Ikea had exactly what I was after:
This is a Vika Amon table top, 150cm x 75cm – perfect for fabric! It comes in a range of colours and finishes – I chose white. The table legs are Vika Kaj and their height is adjustable, apparently to a maximum of 90cm but mine are at 94cm.
And that’s it! I hope you’ve enjoyed nosying round my new sewing room. I’m so pleased with it, and I can’t wait to get sewing again as I haven’t done any sewing outside of college since January 29th!
Trackbacks
- Tabatha’s April Challenge 2012 – Week One « Thread Carefully
- A few small additions to Tabatha’s Sewing Room | Thread Carefully
Comments are closed.
Thread Carefully 
Sooo jealous. I can’t wait to live somewhere with a spare room I can spruce up just for sewing. No more serger on the dining table and cutting fabric on the living room floor, please. Well done!
I know what you mean! Cutting on the floor wrecks your knees and back 😦 But needs must!
What a beautiful sewing table! I love the colour you have used. I restored and painted an antique Singer sewing table last year and turned it into a side table with built in planter.
I recently moved and am also embarking on a craft room make-over. I am collecting inspiration from fellow crafters over on my blog linky party. All are welcome! http://modelmakeandmend.blogspot.com/2012/03/craft-room-showcase.html
Ooh that sounds nice. I will add my link to your blog post soon – thank you!
Ooh, how nice! What a great space to work in! I love the blue paint you used on the teacher’s desk– so cute!
Thank you, it’s from b&q colours range if you’re interested!
Thanks so much!
What a great sewing room! I think my old Singer is the same model – I had no idea it was from 1912. Thanks for sharing your makeover.
They all have a serial number on them which you can look up on the Singer website. Many of them look similar but could have been made anytime up to the 40s I think! 🙂
Thanks for the tour, you’ve got a lovely room!
Thanks Ilse!
Your sewing room looks the business.
Thanks v much! 🙂
Wooooouuuuuu JEALOUS 🙂 in a good way!
Thank you!
What a great space. Love all the color you added. So cheery.
Thanks for commenting! It took me ages to choose the colours!
GORGEOUS sewing room! You are so lucky! Great to have you on board for MMMay’12, and well done for challenging yourself that extra mile by pledging no repeats.
All the best
Zoe xxx
Thanks Zoe! Looking forward to Me-Made-May!