Here in south Louisiana, there are small, concrete block barns everywhere. We have one on our property from when a previous owner had dairy cows. It’s not a huge barn but it’s about 750 sq. feet.—24′ x 32′.
It’s divided into 3 rooms—one of them is about half the size of the whole building.
Don has had this idea of converting the barn into a rental cottage for extra retirement income. I don’t like the idea of dealing with tenants.
Not long ago, I had this brainstorm about turning the barn into a quilt studio because I want all this stuff out of my house! I asked him to go with me to the barn one afternoon and when we went inside, I said “Welcome to my new quilt studio”!!!
You should have seen the look I got. Lol. But guess who’s getting a new quilt studio in the barn? 🙂
He’s put a new tin roof on and new insulation in the attic. New electrical wiring has been installed in the whole barn. He’s put new windows and doors in and painted the barn inside/out but I’m pretty sure we’ll have to do a re-paint job. He’s put ceramic tile on the floor in one of the rooms. There will be insulation added to the walls.
My future quilting studio
He’s even been routing wood and putting in a stained, rustic ceiling in the rooms. It looks almost just like V-groove pine that is all the houses in Bellamy, AL where we grew up. Looks pretty darned good! (And this is recycled wood)
New Ceiling
He’s had a new concrete floor poured in the large room so the floor will be smooth and level. The original floor was uneven, not to mention years and years of dust & dirt. I guess the cows didn’t care. 🙂 My Grace frame/Juki will be happy on the new floor. The guys who did the new floor wanted to know if this was going to be a “man cave”. NOT.
New concrete floor in large room
This is the room I’m planning to use for the main sewing room. It’s big enough for several tables where I can have friends over to sit & sew.
He’s adding a kitchen, dining area, and bath which brings the floor space to almost 1100 sq. feet. Since we’ll have a kitchen, we can even have lunch! Doesn’t that sound like fun? When I get my stuff moved in, I’m going to see if I can find a dinette table/chairs, love-seat and chair on Freecycle. I believe in re-using whenever possible.
Kitchen, Dining, Bath--no inside walls yet.
We’re going to put paneling on the walls. I don’t want to fool with sheet-rock.
Outside view of kitchen addition
He thinks my occupation of the barn is going to be temporary. He says he’s going to have a studio built onto our house for me. He thinks he’s going to move me out of the barn at some point and back to the house. 😉
Quilting Tizzy 
Janet Parde
/ January 17, 2011I like that studio! It’s wonderful to be able to have one, I would think. Good luck to Don on moving you out, lol!
Quilting Tizzy
/ January 17, 2011That’s what I think too, Janet. Lol. We might just have to have a quilting party one day….how far from Nebraska?
Janet Parde
/ January 17, 2011It’s about a two day drive, I think. Used to take us 24+ hours to drive to Port Arthur. I’d come, though!
Joy Webb
/ January 17, 2011I am so envious! This looks like it will be a wonderful quilting space with room to spare and share! Congratulations!
Quilting Tizzy
/ January 17, 2011Thanks Joy. He’s over there working today.
Lindy
/ January 17, 2011HUGE congrats on your quilting space…By the way you word your husband’s thought, ‘temporary’, me-thinks he thinks in vain! :?}
Quilting Tizzy
/ January 17, 2011He thinks I’ll get tired of going to the barn to work. I haven’t broken the news that I’m still going to have a sewing room here in the house too. Lol.
Joyce in OH
/ January 17, 2011Sheryl that is so exciting! Thanks for sharing.
Quilting Tizzy
/ January 17, 2011I’m excited to see it coming along. He’s making pretty good progress.
Shirley
/ January 17, 2011Wow! That is going to be fabulous! Putting in a kitchen – you may just take a cot and move in! lol Everyone will know to find you in the studio. You just have a house because it comes with the property! I’m totally green with envy!
Quilting Tizzy
/ January 17, 2011Shirley…you’ve read my mind. Lol. I’ve already thought a sleeper sofa would work really well!
Barb in MI/FL
/ January 17, 2011Wow! How fortunate you are that he can do this! I’m envious – our house is MI is not much larger than your quilting studio. (We live in what was once our vacation home.) Now you can offer ‘day-retreats!’
;>)
Quilting Tizzy
/ January 17, 2011I think I’m going to love it!
Lynette
/ January 17, 2011What a lucky possom you are. It’s going to be fantastic and I would not be moving out any time soon. I have a single room with a single bed in it!!! Lyn
Quilting Tizzy
/ January 18, 2011I’ve had to sew at night in our bedroom after Don went to sleep. I could sew all night long and he would never wake up! Lol.
Right now, fabric and machines are all over the house. There’s even an ironing board in my bathroom right now! Something has to give. Lol.
patchkat
/ January 18, 2011Love iT!!! All that room and a kitchen too!
I have a 15′ x 29′ room with a 1/2 bath and windows….but it’s pier and beam floor (means I need to re-level the machine occassionally). I do have a window unit A/C and a Deerborn propane heater and it’s right next to the kitchen, lol.
Quilting Tizzy
/ January 18, 2011That’s a nice size room you have, Susan. I know what you mean about the floors and re-leveling. I’m not sure what kind of heat/air Don is planning. I’d love to have central but that may be asking for too much! Lol.
Lynne McClure
/ January 23, 2011Wow, what a lucky girl you are!
Rebekah Crown
/ July 21, 2011This looks great Sheryl. Just putting the studio together is a big creative project in itself. Having a big comfortable space for creative work is a real blessing. Enjoy!