Saturday, September 26, 2009

Artful Endeavor


THE PERSON: Married mother of two wants to turn a seldom-used storage area into a studio that will satisfy her artistic drive. She sells some of her wares at local shops and galleries.

THE SPACE: A lively circle motif is upbeat and fosters creative energy. A palette of pink, white, and brown provides a cheerful backdrop for the artist’s peppy paintings. Products such as window boxes and peg-board are used in clever ways for organized storage that’s easily accessible.




1 The homeowner’s new table gives her ample room to work. A sheet of peg-board on the wall puts the vertical space to good use, and handy peg hooks keep the artist’s gear organized and within reach. A shelf below the peg-board provides an
additional storage area.

2 The homeowner added a utility sink to a nearby bath for rinsing off her hands and paintbrushes.

3 Painted metal planters and window boxes mounted to the wall create ideal places for supplies and finished artwork.


DESK PROJECT
1 door (30-inch plywood door, unfinished, #10678)
4 legs (Colonial turned post with ball, #42602**)
2 (10-foot-long) 2 x 4s**
desk accent (Wall Pops, Lots of Dots, Pink Blox, #244255) paint (Valspar Ultra Premium; Safari Beige 6006-2B; Sawyer White 7002-16; semi-gloss)
4 (3/8- x 31/2-inch) lag bolts
1 box (21/2-inch) screws
1 box (21/2-inch) Kreg pocket hole screws, coarse thread
1 box 8d finishing nails
4 (3/8-inch) washers
wood glue (Titebond II, #41217)
paintable all-purpose adhesive caulk
primer (American Tradition by Valspar, #83181)

ORGANIZATION
shelves (24-inch, white)**
shelf (36-inch, white, #61129)
peg-board panel (#15484)
peg-board hooks (#62612)

LIGHTING
fluorescent ceiling fixtures**
pendants with glass shades**

PAINT
walls and trim (Valspar Ultra Premium, Sawyer White 7002-16; walls, eggshell; trim, semi-gloss)
accent paint (Valspar Ultra Premium; Homestead Resort Parlour Raspberry 1006-3B, semi-gloss)
floor paint (Quikrete Multi-Surface Concrete Stain, Teddy Bear, #224169**)
metal primer (Rust-Oleum, #130950)

SINK AREA
utility sink (American Shower
and Bath, #72672)
shelf with hooks (#165352)
green planters (5-inch, #178106)
soap pump (#243386)

EXTERIOR DOOR
door (32-inch, Reliabilt, #21698)
entry knob (Kwikset, Hancock, Venetian bronze, #34706)
dead bolt (Kwikset, Ultra Single Cylinder, Venetian bronze, #36229)

ACCESSORIES
cedar window boxes (#148475)
metal planters (24-inch, #20222)
rug (Wooly Bully, natural, #243047)
drapery panels (white, #59738)
tension rod (#85713)
pink and striped bins (#102545)
pink fabric drawer (#148646)
pink planter (7-inch, #145924)
rattan trash can (#130260)

* Does not include labor costs or applicable taxes, which vary by market, or the cost of tools.
**Availability varies by market.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Storage by Design


THE PERSON: Up-and-coming interior designer seeks room for storing supplies, additional desktop space, and a comfortable, inviting area to meet with clients.

THE SPACE: A townhouse basement is turned into an edgy model of organization where cabinets and shelving, such as industrial garage units, are used in new, successful ways.

“A colorful space with lots of texture and patterns inspires creativity.”


Urban Home

Homasote walls offer workspace and provide soundproofing for this urban space. Also, Homasote is made from post-consumer recycled materials, and it’s recyclable.




1 A laminate countertop, placed on top of the storage units, provides a work surface with a splash of color. The concrete floor is painted a complementary blue, and carpet tiles create a stylish, low-maintenance rug. The individual tiles can be replaced if they get stained or tattered.

2 Sawhorse brackets, lumber, and a laminate countertop yield a customized desk. The designer cut the 2 x 4s into eight 28-inch pieces and two 24-inch pieces. The countertop will rest securely on the 2 x 4s and sawhorse brackets, but you can use L-brackets for extra support, if needed.

3 Metallic-finish peg-board creates the perfect spot for hanging supplies.

4 Cool blues and purples enhance the silver-toned storage units in the room. The cabinets’ graphic texture is mellowed by the whimsical countertop pattern and the varying floor stripes.



CABINETRY AND SHELVING
4 base cabinets (Gladiator, steel, #30622)
2 large cabinets (Gladiator, steel, #30928)
5 (4-tier) galvanized steel shelving units (#200482)
1 (4-drawer) rolling cabinet (Kobalt, black, #207312)
laminate countertop (Formica
Laminate, Skylark Boomerang, Model 6940-58, special order)

SAWHORSE DESK PROJECT
laminate countertop (Formica Laminate, Skylark Boomerang, Model 6940-58, special order)
2 sets sawhorse brackets (#128355)
4 (8-foot-long) 2 x 4s†
paint (Valspar Signature Colors, Eddie Bauer Home, Sailor Blue EB7-1, gloss)

LIGHTING
table lamps (Portfolio, chrome, #168755)

PAINT
wall (Valspar Signature Colors, Eddie Bauer Home, Globe Thistle EB30-3, satin)
wall and Homasote board (Valspar Signature Colors, Eddie Bauer Home, Honeysuckle Bloom EB13-4, satin)
floor stain (Quikrete Multi-Surface Concrete Stain, Lazy River)

FLOORING
carpet tiles (FLOR, special order; Orchard, Model FL26-63; Geranium,
Model FL21-14; Mixed Media, Model FL22-22)

ACCESSORIES
Homasote boards (#14101††)
5 (4- x 8-foot) peg-board panels (brushed stainless, #211606)
peg-board hooks (#62612; #62677)
galvanized utility bins (#66661)
fabric drawers (blue, #154859; green, #163278)
drop cloths (#74135)

* Does not include labor costs or applicable taxes, which vary by market.
**Does not include lead time for special-order materials.
Availability varies by market.
††Available by special order in some stores.