Studio site selection

[Croft Eeusk]

After too much no studio I'm ready to figure out where to put the new one after moving house. It was fairly easy placing DHs 'clean' studio, but requirements for mine are a bit more difficult. There are several spots, but all have some drawbacks.

This is the first choice: All carpet beyond entry door needs removed - has concrete floor under. No outlet for kiln. Not near bedroom if I want to rock out at 3am working.

Entryway: bathroom on left, brick wall and stairs on right, two small double doors


First small room, being used to process boxes ATM, another small room opens off of it to left, closet door on right, grill looking thing on wall is air return - brick wall


Small room to left where I'd like to place studio, opens w/big double doors, window only opens at bottom, brick wall [did I mention this guy must have owned a brick factory?].


Looking back into entry room. You can see how close the closet door is across the other room


This is what is in closet. HAV system, natural gas.


Not sure about ventilation, HAV system so close.

Plan on running at least one other spot by you peeps as well. Help me please, oh Hive Mind

dj

[ESC]

You had me at 'concrete floor, brick walls and a functional window' but I'll hold my opinion until you show the alternatives.

[KJohn]

windows opening at the bottom is fine for ventilation exhaust. I use something similar in the garage. I like all that light! That small room is plenty big and I love all that brick. You can really make that nice & cozy. Regardless of where you set up, you will need to run a dedicated line for the kiln. And probably another one for all that goes with it, the ventilation system most definitely! Then the oxycon, fans or heater if needed, any extra lighting...etc. Especially if it's an older house.

So nice to have choices! yay

[Croft Eeusk]

Yep, this one is my first choice. Do like the smaller space; maybe I wouldn't be as tempted by empty space to fill with something

Ripping up carpet I can do that.

I would be in the basement again, but it's a very nice basement; a bathroom right next door! And has added advantage of not having our bedroom above or below the studio. Most glass, equipment and crap would have to be carried down one flight; might be worth hiring muscle for that part.

Frank [sorry, for those who don't hang in the Bathroom, Frank is the name of the house] however, was built in 1974 -- electrical outlets were usually one per wall. I think an electrician has a chance down there, there might be a work-around the brick walls since some interior walls are sheetrock. Major problems even thinking about trying to do anything w/brick; those aren't walls, they are brick buttresses holding up big rafters. The electric would be largest expense for the project. She said hoping equipment made it intact in move

I'll have to get pic of air return and measure distance to HAV system - natural gas that close sort of makes me nervous. And those air returns, one per floor, really suck air when heat or AC is on - found that out after lighting incense. Replacement air might be a problem.

And also pics of the only other real contender for a studio space - the guest bedroom - not odds on favorite location.

Still have two Ott lights from before, love them - complete w/magnifiers and note holders - for more light wherever studio ends up. That's good, because for all the windows Frank can be strangely dark - snerk, did I mention brick and a house half dug into a hill? Most lights are ceiling cams which are grand for spotlighting, but not so good for working just outside the lit area.

dj

[KJohn]

Perhaps you can get an electrician out for a free estimate of what it will take to run a couple of lines in?
And for the rest of the house too, you need a lot more than one a room these days!
And then you will be able to better decide on the studio.

[Lorraine Chandler]

How fun!

You might want to check with your insurance underwriters though before going to all the time and expense of setting up a studio inside the home.

There are many threads on this forum about insurance woes. Many homeowners policies were cancelled because of home studios not legally set up or approved.

http://lampworketc.com/forums/showth...ight=insurance

[Croft Eeusk]

Second possible site

Looking from kitchen into utility room: screened porch on right - sliding glass door takes up middle of wall; opposite wall has garage entry, double door pantry/storage and broom closet - no space to place anything on that wall


Far wall has small sink and laundry behind double doors - no space to place anything on that wall


Looking from utility into kitchen

Utility room -

Positives:
Tile floor
Readily available electric connection
Screened in porch to side, great ventilation easy to install
Sink in room
Good light
Sliding pocket door
Enough space

Negatives:
Right in already used area, path between garage and kitchen
Laundry in closet
Too close to bedroom for rocking out late night sessions
Too accessible to cats - they really like that porch
Big chance of dragging glass fragments into rest of house
Lack of wall space for equipment and glass storage -Propane tank placement Kiln placement?
Enough space?

Some problems, no huge ones - except wallspace and likely cats Everything would have to be cleaned up after a torch session; not known for a tidy workbench at the best of times

dj

[Croft Eeusk]

Third option. Leaning more to this site or first option. But both of those would be unusable once mobility problems really set in; utility room is on main level.

Guest bedroom on second level - in current destruction mode 360 view:

Entry, A Door That Keeps Cats Out, carpet already removed, big built-in storage stays, doors stay off - a pair of shutters crafted by DH will be inserted in wall for better airflow, big window does not open - we plan to change that - ventilation onto roof easy after that. This is the rear wall of house


Corner would make a great spot for workbench, bathroom [! the older one gets, the more important that feature is ] through door


WHere bathtub OMG used to be makes for a lot of wall for storage


Other window opens on bottom, this is the front wall of the house


Do I need to say brick wall?


Positives:
Cats restricted by door, less chance of glass tracking
Lots of space ready to be made to order
Good natural light, in spots, otherwise poor to fair lighting
Electric should be fairly easy to bring up from utility room
On same floor as DHs clean studio

Negatives:
Second level
It is supposed to be a guest bedroom, didn't get many at Eeusk but might get more here. Nice bedroom; I camped out once there was more than a mattress on the floor
Too much space is almost too much temptation to spread out
Need to add various flameproof flooring and possible wall protection
Right above main bedroom - I tend to be a late night worker w/loud music
On same floor as DHs clean studio

dj

[ESC]

I'm still in the option #1 camp. And I totally understand the mobility issue. I had steps revamped into a ramp going up into my studio.

[KJohn]

I agree with considering mobility as an issue now. You don't want to move around your studio again LOL and if you ever sell anything you would have to carry it all downstairs to ship off. Yuck

Beautiful room though, really nice space!

[Renee T]

On the first option be sure to provide make-up air for ventilation. I realized I need to do that since in my case the hot water heater and furnace are on same level.

[Croft Eeusk]

That's the one thing I'm leery of on first option - the natural gas comes in and the furnace is 10'-15' away from where torch workbench, depending on placement, would be. And that big air return really, really sucks air when AC, heat or just circulating fan is running. Need to contact plumber/gas guy - one did the stove gas piping - to take a look.

But it's really nice to have options

Other than that, depending on what an electrician says, would be a hands winner. Dead last would be the utility room; just too much traffic and...cat problems - not to mention we'd love to convince them that would be a dandy place instead of our bathroom.

If electrician's eyes light up and he says 'OMG $' the guest bedroom may get more multi-purpose

dj

[KJohn]

Fingers crossed.

[Croft Eeusk]

Oh my. Got a better look at the gas line. Now I'm even more nervous. Dark back there, couldn't get a good pic, but it looks corroded as hell. So call pros no matter what.

Also concerned about where make-up air flow would come from since there are no windows close except for the one exhaust hood vent would exit.

dj

[echeveria]

Maybe the best approach is to pick a room that has the best setup for ventilation, makeup air, electrical service and overall safety, and implement a plan for future mobility issues around that. Otherwise, the rooms that will be hard to access will be hard to access for any use, not just lampwork.

[KJohn]

we need a map now, I think

[Croft Eeusk]

We have a whistle so we don't have as many 'Dr. Livingstone I presume' moments


dj

[Croft Eeusk]

Major woo!

Had a plumber/gas fitter in today for a look at several minor fixes. He said the gas line isn't a safety issue for studio to go into Option #1.

Studio got demoted on list for a bit, but back at it again. Now just have to explore ventilation more, and call electrician. And figure out where all those boxes can go

baby steps....maybe by winter

dj

[KJohn]

Its fun to putz around the house. I still have a room to do from when I moved in, back in 2019! and the garage needs some sorting. Do it as you can. But definitely get that studio up!

[Eileen]

This is reminding me of my house dream, where I live somewhere that I keep finding new rooms & such!
But it sounds like you are making progress and will have a great studio.

[echeveria]

Originally Posted by Eileen

This is reminding me of my house dream, where I live somewhere that I keep finding new rooms & such!
But it sounds like you are making progress and will have a great studio.

I have that dream all the time too! And I find amazing things in all the rooms. I am a magpie even in my sleep.

[Eileen]

Yes, walking down a hall and thinking "I have never noticed that door before" and finding a room or a long hallway with many rooms to explore!

[Croft Eeusk]

Well. Update. Electrician had major safety concerns about exit strategy for option #1; tossing a chair through a window didn't seem too reasonable to him. I can see his point of view And the other two options kind of major nopes too.

Went a totally different direction. Literally. It's going to take work, but so would others. Location? Em. It will do. Did I mention it's going to take work?

But sound doesn't travel well from basement to bedroom - can turn up the blues at 2am and DH will never hear it, and site isn't directly below so my loud working style - tend to dance sitting down when possible, so music at levels. It used to be a complete mini-kitchen so there's water/sink, spot access for 220v for kiln, lots of storage cabinet, basement so concrete floor, bathroom on the same level [Yea!] and a dorm size fridge. Also an, em, interesting? light fixture. And a great view if day working









Work:
Big bar will have to be moved and used for storage elsewhere as it takes up too much of space
Small bit of parquet flooring - isn't under bar - wasn't well done and will be removed
Big window will get replaced w/glass sliding? door
Vent/exhaust
New wall - must be eventually removable - to restrict some noise and cat access

So. I'd end up w/a torch space about 6-7' W x 13' L - not too shabby Still going to be a while before getting set up, but goal in mind.

dj

[KJohn]

Well I think that looks like a GREAT option. I feel wonderful vibes in that space, and a great view outside. You could put some planters there as well. I'm so happy, sounds like all the boxes were ticked. Frank sure has a lot to offer.

So when are you going to decide?

[Eileen]

That is going to be a great space!

[ESC]

That has everything going for it DJ.

[Croft Eeusk]

Ding, ding, ding! Last one seems to be it; lotsa, lotsa work to get there. And some $ to toss at the project; hope to find someone close to check out the oxy-concentrator too, since it sat too long.

The big dirty destruction part will have to wait for warm weather. Heh. Already have mask for the dusty bits and leather gloves So time to start plotting equipment placement and what will fit where.

dj

[Croft Eeusk]

Surprise! DH is in deconstruction mode; he took the top off the bar to see how cabinets were put together.





Much not to our surprise it's Frank funky; wood flooring does not extend under cabinets, neither top nor cabinets were in any way fastened together, cabinets not secured to floor, brick wall w/o any connection to unit - freestanding That wall....OMG Brick. Heavy. Freestanding! They must have never had anyone drunk enough to test it.

Cabinets are actually two units side by side; easier to move once we take a flashlight to see how they're fastened together. Great storage for somewhere else, and plenty for studio bits still there.

Baby steps

dj

[ESC]

I'm being highly amused at the construction techniques on Frank. Reminds me of the first home DH and I bought. 2"x12" creosoted planks in the kitchen north wall stood upright and nailed into the sill and top plate. Sturdy as heck and about as wind resistant as cheesecloth.