Over the holidays, my husband and I finally decided to overhaul our communal workspace using the Ikea Kallax worktable hack I posted about a few months ago. The room is a medium-sized, guest bedroom that is used as an office/studio/catch-all in our small 2-bedroom house. We replaced a small wall shelf with the largest Kallax wall unit book shelf with a row of cupboard and a row of drawer units in an effort to try to clear away a bunch of small, assorted rolling cabinets. Then we replaced a thrifted oval conference table with the Kallax worktable-on-wheels which also includes several drawer units and usable storage space underneath.
The horror was what the studio looked like before. So here it is:
I always forget what a pain it is to assemble Ikea furniture but its such a sense of accomplishment once its done. And it really is quite sturdy. The key with this Kallax shelf unit was to build it in the room. I’m not sure we could have gotten it into the room assembled as its basically 6 feet square and rigid and would not have fit around the corners of our tiny hallways. So if you are planning a similar project, plan accordingly.
We still need to get a couple good, adjustable stools to use with the table but overall the workspace looks so much better. Its brighter, more organized and so much more usable.
Assembly in progress above.
See how clean and perfectly stained the table top is? Took me less than a week to get an ink stain on it.
Bob used the instructions from the Kallax hack and mitered the trim perfectly. So professional!
No, I do not have a book problem. And those drawers are not full of pens and ink. Nope. Okay, that is a stack of typewriters.
That is not a book problem, just a small working library. I think the whole room looks great and well organised. You both deserve a pat on the back for a job well done.
Much too neat! 🙂
It won’t stay like this for long.
whew!
Your “before” is how my craft room space looks right now. I’m inspired by the transformation!
I LOVE your FLS in the first pic! Lovely job; what yarn and color? Is perfection.
Thanks! It’s mission falls 1824 in avocado.
Nice work and a portable typewriter addiction is a bit silly but a cast iron typewriter collection makes sense…….
Those are in the basement.
Well, I know what I am building in my next studio. Damn that looks great!
Thanks for the tour! Each photo is a treat. Love seeing Mr Desk peeking out from the island work table.
Wahooo! I have always wanted a peek (OK, a long look) at your studio! Next, please open all those drawers. . .
Tina
This looks so bright and lovely! Wanna come to DC next and organize all my supplies in the studio half of the shop?
Man that’s a lotta STICKERS on that poor laptop! I wonder how the laptop feels about that?
At this point, its the only thing still holding it together.
I have a craft room that is in way worse shape than yours was. I’m in the process of looking for ideas to make it a fully functional space for knitting, sewing, paper crafting, and fountain pens/papers. I love those Kallax pieces! I’m gonna give a serious look at that option.
The before picture gives me hope that if I put my mind to it I too can wrestle order from chaos.
Sarah
that is some great reorganizing you guys have done! looks amazing!
<3