Studio remodel....

tiggybubba · #1 2008-07-13, 5:57pm

As some of you may know, I have had to stop torching for a while for health reasons. Completely self inflicted....torching with a less than adequate ventilation system.
So I thought I would use this time to completely redo my studio. I plan on taking the room down to bare walls, redoing the floors, storage and finally getting a proper ventilation system.

I am going to keep kind of a log here showing my progress. Today was day 1. Worked for most of the day clearing out the room. Got about 1/6th done.

But to show what I am up against, and show what NOT to do for ventilation, here are some before pics....There are quite a few so I will apologise in advance.

This is a smallish room 9 x 12 but when I am done, I will have a torch table, a sewing table, all my glass in one spot and the wire shelving redistributed.

I think this will probably take me about 3 months to do if I work rather diligently. Wish me luck.

barbaracollins · #2 2008-07-14, 12:47am

Luck, Luck Luck!!!

agw · #3 2008-07-14, 12:51pm

Leslie, from one who has a similar room for jewelry, sewing and needlecrafts, I know exactly what you are in for. Lots and lots of luck!

I put my torch and kiln in my basement. It just worked better for me: and I didn't have to clean up the other room too much!

Elleth · #4 2008-07-14, 5:20pm

Good luck with your studio remodel!
Cant wait to see the progress...
Have fun!

tiggybubba · #5 2008-07-15, 7:21pm

Well here is the plan for the new room.......

tiggybubba · #6 2008-07-19, 10:47am

Yay, I have an electrician. He just came by and looked at the room and what I want and its totally doable!!

I was so afraid that he was going to say that we cant add circuits but its going to be ok. Now for the estimate....

Fran · #7 2008-07-19, 5:29pm

Looks like it's going to be great when you're all done

Mustang Dawn · #8 2008-07-24, 6:50am

You will be so Happy (and Healthy) once your new studio is done! I can't wait to watch your progress

Your plans Rock!

Dawn

Glassy · #9 2008-07-27, 9:42pm

Hope you don't mind me asking - were your health problems a direct result of the glassblowing? - and if so, what symptoms did you have?

We "thought" our ventilation system was good enough, but have our doubts know, we have two work stations with extraction fan under a hood, but fresh air only via open windows.
Hubby was diagnosed a few month back with throat cancer, unusual for a non smoker - and I have had mouth and throat problems for nearly one year now (unexplained). - Have not found a way yet to test air qualitywithout spending over $1000!!

Anyone with any input - greatly appreciated!

Bright-eyed Beads · #10 2008-07-29, 8:30pm

I think that it is best if you post this in the technical forum as I am sure that someone ought to know there. But I have to confess that I thought that a ventilation hood with extraction fan, hopefully venting outside, plus at least two sources of fresh air intakes ie open window or door, that are cross ventilating should be fine!!! Now you have me worried too...

Hope Hubby is responding to treatment and that you both overcome all you throat/mouth problems. Take good care of yourselves and I hope we can all get to the bottom of this problem

Cheers

Jenny

tiggybubba · #11 2008-07-31, 4:13pm

Ok just got the bill from the electrician, OUCH! But its done and he's coming back tomorrow to change the plugs to white. (dofus that I am, I forgot to specify white) and he'll put up my new light fixture at the same time. I am down to bare walls and floor. The nasty 70's brown shag is now at the dump.

Got the ceiling painted today and this weekend is wall repairs and then painting.

I am stuck in town (our only road out is cut off by a rockslide) for at least the next 5 days so while off of work, I am trying to get as much of this project done as possible.

szglassy · #12 2008-08-01, 6:35am

Nothin like a fresh coat of paint and brand new studio to get your creative juices flowin........

Beadanna · #13 2008-08-04, 6:23am

WooHoo Leslie - Good Luck!

I'm setting up and making D... Sure I get good ventilation (asthma)

I'm looking forward to seeing it done. Remember the word "Effortless" - it doesn't mean you don't have to do the work but it will go easily.

Beadanna

tiggybubba · #14 2008-08-04, 6:53pm

Time for an update.

You know how my room was packed? To the gills even? Well, here is what I did with it. Every available space in the upstairs is now full.

This is the guest room, yes there is a bed in there somewhere!

The hallway

The small guest bathroom....even the bathtub is full!!

Guess I'm not going to be looking for a book to read anytime soon, this is the library,...

tiggybubba · #15 2008-08-04, 6:57pm

Now for the room itself...

This is about a week after I started....

My cool new light fixture...

All primed and ready to go....

Yay! it only took one coat of paint!

Its kinda hard to see in the first batch of pics, but the table that I was torching on was a mexican desk with the drawers taken out. It was a grungy brown ugly thing...here is the first hint of my new sewing table!

I will be building a torch table from scratch. Wish me luck with that!

All in all, it has been a productive week. I have been stranded unable to work because of the landslide so I worked on this instead.

Rudy · #16 2008-08-05, 5:07pm

WOW! I'll be sure to follow your progress....good luck!

agw · #17 2008-08-06, 4:52am

Leslie, looking great! I see you are a quilter too!

I didn't have the option of keeping all my things in one room as there was just no room for my torch at all, so it ended up down the basement. Probably not a bad idea for me anyway as I live in a very old wooden framed house. I didn't have any problem ducting my exhaust out thru the basement window, but would have out the window in my sewing room on the front of the house.

Keep the photos coming! I love watching the progress of what looks already to be an awesome room!

margaret · #18 2008-08-30, 7:39pm

it is really fun to see all the pictures! I made my torch table by getting some table legs-(there are lots of choices , like at ikea)- then I put on a plywood top (mine is 30x48" ) and some molding around the edge, I also put a reinforcing extra board down the center lengthwise -- then I got some nice tile- I used large 12x12- put it all together. at home depot they have a product that is both the adhesive and the grout. Its a great surface to work on, was fun to make, and its fireproof. hope all continues to go easily on your project-

Lorraine Chandler · #19 2008-08-30, 10:38pm

WOW!! I LUV the color. Can't wait to see more pics when it is all finished...

Lorraine

one-eared pig · #20 2008-09-04, 9:36am

You are making great progress!

tiggybubba · #21 2008-09-04, 12:51pm

Well progress has been hard fought. I had the guy come out this morning to finish the flooring. Found these great vinyl tiles but you have to buy them by the box, 45 sq ft per box. So I got a box of white and a box of black to do a checkerboard pattern. Guess what? We are about 8 sq ft short! So I have an unfinished closet. I hope I can buy some loose tiles because I am not spending $150 to finish 8 sq ft!

Will take and post some pics tonight.

tiggybubba · #22 2008-09-04, 8:03pm

Well as promised here are some pics of the shelving back up and the flooring.

The area in the corner bordered by black is where my torching table will be.

I wont show my pathetic unfinished closet!

Miss Kate · #23 2008-09-06, 6:29pm

Looking Good! What a lot of progress you've made!

mtarara · #24 2008-09-06, 6:46pm

OOOH!! This is fun! I will be keeping an eye out on your progress! Great start!!!
Mary T.

tiggybubba · #25 2008-09-21, 2:27pm

Getting down to the end....today I started putting together my torching table. I have all the leg units done and am just about to head up and put together the frame for the top. Once that is done its time to cut the top and get ready to tile. All the flooring is done including the trim. All the shelving is up. Closet included. Apparently my dad is making good progress on the glass cabinet.

tiggybubba · #26 2008-09-24, 12:25pm

Ok here is the exciting part. My dad is making me a cool cabinet for all my glass. He sent me pics last night of his progress. There will be 3 drawers just under the middle shelf. This is going to be so cool.....

Fran · #27 2008-09-24, 2:01pm

Your studio is going to be lovely! Is the shelf unit your dad is building where all those fence railings are going? LOL I still find bits of white from getting all that railing, my van is still messy in the back! I'm waiting for my oldest daughter to move to her new place in a few weeks and then I'm setting up in her old room.

tiggybubba · #28 2008-09-24, 6:19pm

Yes I think I have about 160 pieces of fence rail now. And yes, I still have white shavings in my car! LOL

tiggybubba · #29 2008-09-29, 4:20pm

Well a bit of progress and a bit of a set back. Finally got someone to quote on my Ventilation hood. Great. $720 Not great. And no that doesnt include the fan. I have to talk to hubby tonight to see what I can do. I really cant afford that. But I cant torch without it. Crap!

tiggybubba · #30 2008-10-06, 9:05pm

Well move in day is tomorrow. I just want to be able to get all that stuff back in but in an organized way. Hubby wants to just throw it all in....

Here are some pics of my new torching table (I cant believe I built it myself!) and my refinished sewing table.....

Torching Table

Sewing Table