Search Results for: studio loft
studio loft: explorations in storage
First of all, a huge thank you for all of the congratulations and well wishes for our big news! We’re excited to share this journey of how we transition to a family of 3 while staying in our small home. Lots more posts to come, that’s for sure!
So back to the loft…a few weeks ago I wrote about how we decided to convert our mostly empty loft (which we’d been using as extra sleeping area for guests) into a studio/office space. I’ve been pinning different ideas and so far this is the image that has struck me the most:
[note: all images are linked]
With our limited head height and restricted access, we have to think short and small. Similar to this photo, the most logical arrangement would be to have a desk or work surface against the taller gable end wall with low-slung shelves flanking one or both short walls.
As a reminder, here’s a wide-angle shot of our space:
[It looks bigger in this photo, but the footprint is only about 13’x13′.
I also pinned this image because I love the idea of having a chaise or bench that could double as a twin bed if someone needs a place to crash. I’m not sure if we’ll have enough space, but I like the possibility. [The other option is to leave enough floor space in the middle of the loft that we can still inflate the Aerobed that is currently up there.]
This floating storage featured in an Apartment Therapy house tour was also appealing, especially with the mix of drawers and larger cabinets.
Unfortunately, after checking out the resources section I learned that it was made by the Italian company Vitsoe and was (no surprise) not affordable. Not even close.
Without a good affordable option, the other alternatives were to build something or buy something used. But with the looming basement project and a few other DIY ideas for the loft and nursery, I couldn’t really ask Kyle to whip up 20+ linear feet of storage.
So last weekend I resolved to hit up some local second-hand and salvage stores in hopes of a lucky break. I went to Goodwill (the big one, in South Seattle), Second Use and the RE-Store. I found plenty of cool things, but nothing that would work for the loft. In addition to our short wall height (about 32″), whatever we use also has to fit through the floor opening.
Disappointed but not deflated, I decided to hit up IKEA while I was in the area. Kyle wasn’t with me, so I took iPhone photos of any possibilities.
Confession: even though it’s slightly more traditional I actually like a lot of the Hemnes line. I thought this sofa table was about the right size and shape and appreciated that it is made of wood. The only downside is that I wouldn’t be able to place 2 or 3 of them side by side without a gap between. Also, at almost $200 a piece I didn’t really want to buy 2 or 3.
In the back of my mind I knew that this Expedit unit was the right size and look that I had been imagining for the short wall. I was also intrigued by the new high gloss finishes like this gray (though I do think that the horizontal surfaces would scratch easily). But I don’t know…I’m just not an Expedit girl I guess. I think it has something to do with the proportion of the outside frame to the interior partitions.
Moving on.
I’ve seen some nice things done with the Effektiv line and thought I could just buy several frames like this and install them side by side. At $35 a piece I liked the price but realized I’d have to buy additional bins or boxes to organize everything within the frames. A good solution for books and magazines, but not for supplies.
The Vika Alex line was also on my list (as was the wider Alex drawer unit), but at $80 and $120 a piece, the costs would add up too fast for how many units we’d need (though I do like how they were used in that first image). Besides, we would still need another solution to hold non-drawer items like books and magazines.
On my way out and empty-handed, I decided to swing through the As-Is section just to see.
Well hello. Who are you? You look a lot like that expensive Italian stuff that I pinned. Stolmen? Hmm…sounds familiar. You’re part of a wardrobe system, aren’t you?
Although I try never to do this, I made a second loop through IKEA to investigate the matter further. Sure enough, in a small display next to Pax was the meager Stolmen. Although it’s still particle board, I was impressed with the design and quality of construction. The larger drawer unit (about 44″ wide) is $100 which seemed reasonable since I’d only need 3 to line one of the short walls. To sweeten the deal, there is also this cubby unit which is the same height (though slightly shallower) and would be perfect for books and magazines.
Although the units are meant to attach to vertical posts, I didn’t see any reason why we couldn’t assemble them side by side, either on legs or attached directly to the wall. When I got home, I hunted around on Google to see if the Stolmen had been hacked. Surprisingly, I didn’t find much, but I did find this:
See what I’m thinking?
This 3-unit configuration would cost around $300 for 11′ of storage. Not bad at all.
[Has anyone else worked with the Stolmen products? Thoughts? Opinions?]
We still have to figure out the actual desk part, but we’ve come up with a few creative ideas that could work. One step at a time.
studio loft
2011 was certainly a big year for design books and over the holidays I added several to my collection. (I love that on more than one occasion I was asked if Undecorate was a sequel to Decorate.) I also received some (much-needed) sewing books, many of which were recommended by you guys!
While flipping through one of the sewing books, I came across a section on all the necessary supplies one should have. And that’s when I realized that I was going to need an actual space to get all crafty and what not. For some reason I always assumed that part of the basement would eventually become a multipurpose room of some sort, but we’re just not going to have enough space.
[Side note: check out this awesome tool quilt that my mom made for Kyle for Christmas! For the record, there is nothing cuter than seeing your husband curled up with their cat and dog under a tool quilt.]
But anyways, back to the matter at hand. In addition to needing a more permanent location for my sewing machine and its entourage, I also wanted a space for all of our architecture/art supplies (which have been packed away in the crawl space for the last several years).
Then I had an idea. Once the basement is finished, we will no longer need to rely on the loft as extra space for guests. Therefore, STUDIO LOFT! So last Sunday I started hauling things up from the basement with an MO to purge and organize! (Kyle was out snowboarding that day – please tell me I’m not the only one who loves to dive into an organization project when I have the house all to myself?)
In the soon-to-be remodeled basement, we had a small bookshelf that housed all of our magazine back issues, remodel books and these cardboard magazine holders. They were an attempt to organize all the important paperwork that comes with 5+ years of remodeling, but I knew the system could be better. So one by one I emptied each holder and went through every single piece of paper.
When it was all said and done, I had whittled everything down to this. Instead of individual files, I’m going to create a master homeowner’s manual. We’re talking 3″ binder here. With colored tabs? Maybe.
We’ve also developed a small collection of reference books over the years and along with the sewing books, they’ll be moving up to the loft as well.
By mid-afternoon I had made some good progress. Right now I’m just lining things along walls until I figure out the overall design and storage system.
After graduation, Kyle and I purged 5 years worth of architecture supplies and sold what we didn’t want to unsuspecting freshmen. Although neither of us have busted out the acrylic paints in the last 8 years, we might. Someday. (The middle tub is “adhesives”. Always a good idea to have plenty of options when you need to adhere something.)
…and my Dwell collection! I bought my first issue in 2001 when I was a sophomore in college. 2001-2006 is a little spotty, but I have every one for the last 5 years or so. (As I reorganized them in chronological order, I noticed how much thinner the publication has become.)
So here’s the thing – some girls are attracted to guys with fancy cars or big houses…and some girls are attracted to guys with an extensive Chartpak marker collection. True story. As second year architecture students, I used to roll by Kyle’s desk and borrow a marker or two. He was the only one in studio that had the complete collection. Not only that, but he had made a COLOR CHART to go with it. In fact, it was probably at that moment when I thought – back away ladies…this one is mine. =)
The only other publications we keep are Fine Homebuilding and IKEA catalogs (though I regrettably recycled 2000-2004 during a purge a few years ago).
So the next step is to figure out the overall design and storage system. I have a few ideas but nothing is clicking just yet. It needs to be inexpensive, able to fit through the loft opening, and preferably not too IKEA. (I know, I know…I just knocked IKEA after showcasing the catalogs I’ve hoarded. But you know what I mean.)
studio zerbey / alaska surf shack
Earlier this year, we started design work on a new custom home in Alaska. Located near Seward, Alaska, this 1,725 SF “surf shack” will be home to our client, Kari – an outdoor enthusiast, local mariner and all-around awesome person.
The home is designed with a 24×30 footprint to maximize efficiency of the form and is built-up off the ground due to local flood and tsunami hazards. It’s also located in a high-level earthquake zone. The lower floor has concrete walls that house a one-car garage and water storage system that captures roof water run-off before being filtered into large cisterns. Given the cold climate, we’ll be using extra insulation and high-performance black fiberglass windows and doors. (Click on floor plans to enlarge.)
The main floor consists of a bathroom and storage area behind a living and kitchen area with panoramic views of the bay.
A cozy loft above serves as a workout space and sleeping area (the bed will be placed under the vaulted ceiling of the bump-out).
Due to a short building season, construction on the home started in April and framing is now mostly complete! (The house is being built by local contractor, Harmon Construction.) Here are a few “real life vs. rendering” comparisons to show you how it’s shaping up.
The exterior will be clad in clear cedar siding (with stained vertical cedar siding at the bump-out) and a high-performance standing seam metal roof. A wood soffit at the underside of the roof enforces the inside-outside relationship and a steel and wood deck provides an elevated outdoor space during the winter months.
A steel awning structure with a standing seam metal roof will help shed snow away from the garage door.
Hefty glulam beams span the length of the house, supporting the roof structure and additional snow loads while deep overhangs protect the house from the elements.
And finally – hello, view!
Looking forward to sharing more progress photos as construction continues! (And to see more renderings of what the interior will look like, check out the project page on our website!)
duvet for the loft
In the past, having overnight guests has meant pulling out our one set of twin sheets and stretching them over the cushions of the couch. If you were special, you also got the Land’s End quilt from my freshman dorm room.
Now that we have a second bedroom and a loft, we thought it was time to step things up a bit. Plus, Kyle’s parents and my dad and step-mom are coming to visit in July. It’s been 3-4 years since they were here and needless to say, a LOT has changed. In fact, this will actually be the first time they’ll be staying at our house instead of a hotel. I have already started my to-do list.
So, the loft. We have some long-term ideas for this space (hairpin steel legs – I will find a way to bring you into our home!), but for now we are going to keep it simple and cheap. We have one of those deluxe, queen size Aerobeds that we bought from a friend and the short-term plan is to simply dress it up. We have a second set of neutral, light brown/tan sheets and a down comforter that is also from my college days. The only problem is that it’s forest green. It was also a victim of Bailey’s puppyhood and now sports some less-than-awesome mending. So basically I’d like to buy a duvet cover to hide its ugliness.
Let’s go shopping!
I do love the Draper Stripe duvet from Dwell Studio and not just because it makes me think of Don Draper (what is going on with Season 5 by the way??). Sadly, at $280 it’s not in the loft’s budget.
When we visited the West Elm store in Portland earlier this year, I was really impressed with their bedding selection. I could see using this Organic Matelasse duvet in either “gray” or “straw”. $139…we’re getting better.
I’m also drawn to West Elm’s Organic Seedling duvet and even better, it’s on sale for $59! It’s graphic, but simple. It’s modern, but a little earthy. These are things I look for in textiles.
This linen duvet from Coyuchi (via Velocity Art & Design) is also delightful, but also $360.
I also checked out IKEA’s website, but it’s so hard to view their textiles and nothing really caught my eye. I’m planning on stopping by this weekend so we’ll see. (By the way, am I the only person in the world that thinks a little weekend jaunt to IKEA is relaxing?) At this point, I’m definitely leaning towards the $60 option from West Elm, but I can still be swayed.
Anything else out there that I should be looking at?
Will I ever get tired of blue, gray and yellow?
the loft ladder: process
Most of our undertakings here at chezerbey follow a typical design process. First we brainstorm ideas and sketch things out on paper. Then we test out those ideas in SketchUp. When we’re happy with the design, we detail it out in AutoCad (not always necessary, but it was for a detailed assembly like the loft ladder).
Since we started out sending the design to local steel shops, the drawings were very detailed. After we decided to DIY, Kyle used the shop drawings to accurately measure and cut the various pieces (the design also changed a little bit in between). Unfortunately, I didn’t capture the total construction process. For one, cameras and molten steel don’t really go together. Second, while Kyle was welding, I was holed up in the basement trying to bring order back to the space. After six months as a storage unit and studio apartment it was stuffed to the gills. And then, it threw up on itself. Or at least that’s what it looked like. But that’s another post, back to the ladder!
Kyle started off by cutting the various pieces to size. In the photo above, he’s using a metal cutting saw to cut the steel rods for the lower and upper portion of the ladder.
Next, he used a grinder to bevel the edges of the rods and his drill press to slightly pre-drill the side rails, that way when he clamped it all up for welding it stayed in position.
Once the pieces were cut, the basic frame was welded together. We ended up swapping out tube steel for channels for the side rails. This lightened the overall weight and well, channels are just sexy and cast more interesting shadows. Don’t you think? Next, the rods and treads were installed. The treads had to be a precise angle so when the ladder is in place they would be level with the floor. This was probably the trickiest part of the process.
Kyle also pre-drilled and pre-counter sunk holes in the steel plates so he could later screw the wood treads into place.
I knew the carport would come in handy someday! Here, Kyle is grinding his welds to get a smooth joint.
After the ladder frame was complete, he moved on to the handrail assembly, comprised of 3/8″ diameter rods and 3/4″ square tube steel.
More grinding!
But it really did make a difference…the above shows a good “after” and “before”.
After the ladder and handrail assembly were complete and welded together, it was time to paint. Originally, we were going to have the steel powder-coated. However, we decided that since it’s not exposed to the elements and the steel portions won’t be regularly touched, a simple and durable paint was more than sufficient(and it would save us a considerable amount of money). After trying a half-dozen paints we settled on a dark grey paint used in the auto industry for painting motors. It sprays like a fan instead of a cone (like typical spray paint) so it goes on much more even.
After the paint was dry, Kyle applied a clear coat in a satin finish for a little extra protection.
For the wood treads, Kyle cut 2′-2″ lengths from 5/4×6 vertical grain fir boards (actual size is 1″x 5 1/2″). He then beveled the outboard edge and notched the underside to fit over the steel treads (detailed photo below). Where needed, he chiseled out the underside of the board to fit snuggly over the welds at the joint between the steel channel and plate.
For the handrail, he ran 2×2 fir pieces through the table saw to create the notch. At the bottom of the handrail where the steel ends, he used a chisel and hammer to complete the notch.
Where the tube steel turns 90 degrees and connects back to the channel, he used a small saw and chisel to notch out the wood.
(The photo below shows the completed handrail detail.)
After the clear coat was dry, we moved the steel portion inside and secured it in place with lag screws at the bottom angle and top flat plate (both sets of screws go into structural members so this thing is solid). The angle at the base also covers the exposed edge of the cork flooring. The gap between the ladder and the wall meets code requirements while providing enough space for the future barn door to slide past.
Bailey still doesn’t get it.
All in all, the ladder took about 6 full days of work but we saved a ton of money (even after you factor in the cost of the welding machine). This weekend we’ll apply the finish to the wood. We’re planning on doing a hardwax oil floor finish for the treads and a thinner polyurethane application on the handrails. At the same time, we’ll put the finish on the basement treads and risers (which are partially installed).
The big 2010 project is definitely stretching into 2011, but that’s ok.
