Saturday 20 October 2012

I *heart* Ikea

Yes I know - I fell of the Blogtoberfest wagon in a big way this week...
But I have been working on a pretty big project in my sewing room, though my machines haven't been used at all.

The 'guy who lives here' and I had a frank discussion one night which went along the lines of:

"Honey I know my sewing room is a mess and I have too much stuff, but I really have nowhere to store it...."

We've reached an unspoken agreement, we went to Ikea and set up some new storage on the proviso I not go out and buy a whole lot more...

I can live with that!

So here's the before...

This dresser was packed tight with the stuff that wouldn't fit into the shelving...
The various books and patterns on top of it were a sliding avalanche waiting to fall...



And the stuff that wouldn't fit into the dresser was, well piling up on the floor...

Then there was the lovely 'Huggies' box storing the rolls of interfacing and tracing paper and some fabric rolls too...


So that was before and this is after!

This replaces the brown buffet, floor to almost ceiling storage!
(Now get ready for some photo overkill!)

Two x Billy bookshelves with doors does the trick
There is space for everything - books, fabric, patterns, toys - you name it and it is probably in there somewhere.


I spent ages putting everything in, pulling it out and adjusting shelves to fit so I have got maximum usage from the space available.

'Special' fabrics - Heather Bailey, Heather Ross, Aneela Hoey, Oliver + S and Anna Maria Horner 
There's even a special spot for the two lovelies Jodie made.
And boxes for patterns on top.


This is the left hand side, still some labelling to be done on the pattern boxes but I am nearly there.


I now know where everything is and as these are not deep I can get my hands on it all very quickly and easily.


To say I am happy with the end result would be an understatement!


I can now walk down the side of the sewing table...


And even the old 'Huggies' box is gone!
Small but simple change with a sturdy plastic bin for the rolls to go in
In the interests of full disclosure I will still show you the mess on top of the open fabric shelf  which needs to be addressed...

And the pile of mess on the back half of my sewing table which includes work in progress!

See Maryanne, there's plenty of mess still to be seen!!
But I am getting there!

Each 'Billy' was $179 including doors and door handles.  Then we added in the Kassett magazine holders and boxes for probably about another $100 I think, maybe a little more...

Bec and Sophie have both said they have Billy in their sewing room too - so they seem to be the sewing cabinet of choice!

Well worth the money spent and the hours required to sort and store it all.

One day the old timber table and chairs will go as we have our eyes on another Ikea desk that would be perfect, but as it has sentimental and 'family political' attachment it might be a while down the track...

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

oh, yes, Ikea is wonderful. How organised now. I wish you luck keeping it tidy. I am quite a messy sewer.

Tas said...

Envy happening here. Hubby has no problem with my stash as long as I fit into the space that we have. So much for my idea of moving into a bigger house to accommodate my stash ;)

Cass said...

Looking good, Karen

Claire - Matching Pegs said...

It looks fantastic!

I too have a Billy in my sewing area.

Lots of the overflow stuff is stored under my homemade cutting table, (which is made of a door sitting on two IKEA kitchen cabinets, and has a curtain around it).

The red boxes are nice, and Jodie's work is the perfect finishing touch!

Well done!

LBA said...

That is fabulous!

It's amazing what a lift a bit o'IKEA can bring, and for a not-so-princely-sum ... go you! :)

Unknown said...

Looks great :) I want to steal some of your fabric too.

Cindy said...

Those new shelving units work wonderfully!

ARTwendy ... said...

love love Ikea .... It looks amazing! You will feel like a new woman! ... yes .... a ... bit ... green ...here ... xx

CurlyPops said...

Looks fantastic! I have to confess to having a few Billy's too.

nicole said...

oh well done!
it looks fantastic!

Shell said...

Well done, you must be feeling great :)

My sewing setup is Billy too, with an Ikea desk with shelving/magnet board above it - I love it, but it's on a smaller scale than yours & I'm already overflowing!!! I've even got the same colour boxes as you, with all my fat quarters in.

Liz said...

I love Billy cupboards..!! Really good storage space aren't they, glad to see your pear is wearing well.. :o)
Lizzie
xxx

Cath said...

Great work Karen! Looks fabulous!

ARTwendy ... said...

... realised before that i was staring at mine too ... hmm but they are looking a bit worse for wear now ... a LOT of use!!

Jane said...

Major sewing space organisation envy here! The sewing process is just inherently messy, isn't it.

Cas said...

wow, what a revamp. awesome job :)

sweet emmelie said...

Looks great, I have to redo mine. Mine is in the garage though since don't have a spare room. Thinking of putting a table in the laundry. Weird I know but there is no where else except the kitchen table! Wow and what a lot of fabric you have! Jealous!!!!

ARTwendy ... said...

i spy a ..... rathdowne bag ....

Tanya said...

oh wow...I have just seen this today. Love. Love. Love it. Sewing rooms are just lovely places to hang out- that's so beautiful I'd have a cup of tea in there!

justmejay said...

Looks great, Karen - nothing nicer than a lovely sewing room to sit in!
(& I heart ikea too!)

justmejay said...

Looks great, Karen - nothing nicer than a lovely sewing room to sit in!
(& I heart ikea too!)

Sally said...

Sewing heaven for sure!!! LOVE!!!