In my last workshop organization post, I mentioned that I’m going to be diverting my energy to a new room for a while. It’s not just a room, it’s an entire floor, I call it the loft. The loft is currently our house’s “junk floor”. It’s where we store everything that doesn’t yet have “a place” like all my crafting supplies, decor items, the cabinets we removed from the kitchen, etc. 
It’s a mess with tons of potential! Before we moved in we were planning on letting Madison make this her bedroom and hangout area. She wanted lots of bookshelves, a place for doing art and music. But, we all decided it might be too scary for her to go to sleep at night, all alone, up in this big space. So we created a fun bedroom for her on the main floor and this floor became the place we told the movers to put all the boxes that came out of my craft room, our office and the ones that held all the tchotchkes from the shelves of all the built-ins in our last house.
She was 11 when we moved into this house. WOW, time flies!
For the most part we have ignored the loft for the 4 1/2 years we’ve been living here. We’ve had to venture up here to find things when we’ve needed them but hadn’t done any of the things on Madison’s grand list of “things to make it awesome”.
Until a few months ago when I decided to build a “Recording Studio” for Madison.
A few things about that:
- It’s just a room with a door. There isn’t any high tech sound proofing involved but it’s a designated spot for all her music equipment.
- Madison has 2 guitars, 1 clarinet, 1 violin, 1 banjo, a mic stand, and an amp. These things often occupied the living room, dining room, basement or any other room she happened to haul them into and then leave them for days/weeks on end.
- Madison was interested in recording music videos for YouTube so a “recording studio” provided a space for her to do that and a dedicated place for all her music gear. (Which I wanted REALLY badly.)
I was in a “waiting a few days for something to be shipped” phase of building the pantry so I framed out a room up in the loft.
The loft is 1320 sq ft and the perfect place for us to create a recording studio. The loft has an existing closet on the right side which houses the heat pump for this level.
Adding another, symmetrically shaped/sized room on the left was a no brainer for me. Well, it’s not exactly symmetrical, the new room is closer to the window because I wanted to give Madison that extra 4″ inside the room. I can deal with it…for now.
I drywalled, taped, mudded, primed and painted. I had lights and additional electrical receptacles installed and put brick paneling on a “feature wall”…but then plans changed as they often do.
The “recording studio” project has been tabled for now. We’ve decided the effort put into building the built-in desks and storage in here would be better spent building out the office/craft/studio portion of the loft because it’s a space we can all use. And because Madison’s instruments have discovered that they just don’t have as much time to be played now that Madison has to balance her time between a job, studying and pursuing her other interests in addition to music.
So, I’m taking that time and effort and putting it towards creating the studio portion of the loft that we can all use as an office until I find time to build Wes’ real office …but I need to keep my focus on the “right here, right now” so I don’t get overwhelmed.
Right here, right now, it’s all about the loft.
lIsa says
So… I have this problem. The awful wire shelving in my closet, one section of it, pulled out of the wall. This happened Monday and it is now Friday and it is still sitting there. UUUUUUUGGGGG… I found your website and now I so want to Make a closet organizer like yours. However, I’m working with a smaller walk in closet. My husband built this house as a bachelor… need I say more??? I have to tell you it brings me comfort to know I am not the only one with projects unfinished through out my house. Granted, just like you, I am working on them, however slowly…. You get a ton done and I so appreciate you honest candor on your videos. Seriously thinking about redoing my walk in pantry and library…. All because of you… So if you get an email from a guy name Phil… blaming you for more projects… just ignore him… lol Actually he’s pretty much like your husband pretty laid back about it all. Wish me luck and keep doing what you do! Love it all!!!
Sandra says
Oh I hate wire shelving…especially when it’s laying on the floor! LOL I don’t think there will ever be a time that I don’t have a bunch of projects going on all around me. Might be nice…but then I’d get board. Good luck with all your projects. If I hear from Phil I’ll deny everything. LOL
Guerrina says
Sandra, that is an amazing space with incredible potential! Looking forward to seeing your designs!
devlyn says
wow, your loft is the same square footage as my entire house! What fun you can have divvying it up! Have you thought about adding more windows (skylights or dormers) to the space to allow for more natural light?
Sandra says
I don’t plan on adding any windows. The cost would be too great for a purely aesthetic change. This space needs functional additions so I’ll focus my money/time on that.
Rosebud says
I really admire you and your work. We recently moved into a new house and it has the footprint to be a really beautiful home. We have a combo family-dining-kitchen (3 large rooms all connected) and two of the rooms have cathedral ceilings. The kitchen does not. We have a fireplace in the family room and he plans on building cabinets on both sides and also over the fireplace with both shelves and storage. So, when I saw your plans for the bookcase/window seat, I thought that would be perfect for the dining room.
I love what you are doing with the loft space and I’ll continue to watch. Keep up the great work.
Sandra says
Thanks Rosebud. It sounds like you’ve got a cool house to look forward to revamping. Hope it turns out amazing!
Heather says
did you ever finish your blind corner challenge in the kitchen?
the drawer company I used had one on display… theirs was simpler – not so much wood — more of an open 2 shelves that pulled out as a unit and then the piano hinge was only about 12 inches at the bottom. From the corner 2 shelves slid over…. very smooth and nice … if I had seen it before I did my kitchen I would have done things differently!
Grace says
So you don’t get overwhelmed!! I think it’s a little late for that! 😉
Sandra says
Once in a while… LOL
Jillian says
Hi Sandra. I love your work and your website! Maybe it depends on the house, but do lofts and finished attic spaces generally have the same support as other areas of the house? I’m curious if you ever have to give any special consideration for the weight on your joists when planning cabinets, built-ins, etc for upper floors.
Can’t wait to see how this room turns out. I know it will fabulous!
Sandra says
Hi Jillian, You are correct, every house is different. In this house, this “attic space” was prepared as a living space and I’m not one bit concerned about the weight of anything I build. I wouldn’t even venture to guess about any other situation in any other home. If you have a space you are concerned about, I’d definitely have a structural engineer come in and look at it.