What a great day. We started the shelves in my art studio, which in turn starts the ball rolling to finishing off my studio and finally “moving in” to it.
Let me say that I did finish my big project so that is good to have that off my plate, and I have a seemingly happy client so win-win. With that done, I set aside today and tomorrow to work on the studio with my brother.
First things first though, the plumber showed up at 8am to replace the master bath drains. I won’t go into the details again but suffice to say that fiasco is finally resolved, albeit at the cost of another $170 in parts in labor (plus $80 for the new drains). I forgot to take a picture; I try to get one for you tomorrow.
By 9am my brother showed up with a truck full of wood parts; everything that would become my studio shelves, save for one unit that he’ll bring out tomorrow. I don’t know if you remember but here is the design I created:
My studio shelves design
Today we made the large set of ~35″ deep shelves on the big interior wall, the set facing you in the rendering above. We built the right side on the ground then stood it up. We finished the left side by installing the shelves and 1/4″ plywood on the back while the unit was standing. We then slid it straight back into place and secured it to the wall studs with cabinet screws. Tomorrow we’ll do the two units to either side of the window, and install the angled set of shelves in the studio alcove. Here are some photos from today:
-
- Building the cabinet on the ground, there are grooves in the plywood side to accept the 2″ thick shelf.
-
- We then stood up the assembled unit. Note we had to notch for a large pipe that just protrudes from the studio wall.
-
- Here the left side is being assembled standing up. The three pockets are for simple box drawers.
-
- Cool screw pocket making tool. It drills an angled hole in a flat panel.
-
- My brother made this cool half round “hole” (look left) for a dowel pin. I learned a new trick. Start with the drill bit at a 45 then slowly pivot it until you have a perfect half round “hole” on the side of the board.
-
- Detail showing simple drawer housing construction.
-
- My view standing behind the shelves waiting for the dividers to be installed (I had to fasten them from the back). You can’t see it but there’s an 8 inch slot that was our exit from back here, as the shelves took up most of the room. I had to squeeze a bit to get in and out during construction.
-
- Placing the second top shelf section into place.
-
- Has nothing to do with shelves, but here’s the dried sunflower I picked the other day.
-
- While I was back behind the cabinet I decided to leave some art for the next generation. When some dude is ripping out the shelves in a hundred years from now, he may stumble upon this.
-
- Screw pocket holes for attaching perpendicular boards.
As I sit and write I can smell the fresh wood just around the corner. It smells good. With all the complexities of life, it’s nice to have something so simple help keep the world at bay. Tomorrow will be awesome, getting all the other shelves in. I’m actually going to get an estimate for having our painter paint the studio and shelves. They’ll do a much better job than me and probably in half the time. I already have two gallons of the cardboard colored paint for the walls (they will need more if we do all the walls that color). I just need to decide what color the shelves should be. We’re thinking a complimentary tan / brown tone. Not sure though.
After the paint dries I’ll be able to start unpacking once and for all (If I ever move again I won’t need any of my stuff wherever I’m going). I’m even going to put up my deer head and plastic fish…not sure where yet.
The wife had some great ideas for making the space hospitable for hosting clients as well. (Though I guarantee the deer head was not in her plans.) I’m going to figure out something table-wise so I can have a conference table with chairs around the table. The room already has an outdoor access door so clients can come right in that way. I don’t have a great need but occasionally (like this Tuesday) I do have clients that will come out to the estate. I’d like to have a space where we can meet uninterrupted, without tripping over toys or my wife’s grocery list. Maybe the table will have a flippable top so I can paint on one side and have a smooth surface on the other for meeting.
Heck, I’d like to be able to serve dinner in there if we ever got the notion. I think it’d be cool to have a “studio” dinner where we can sit with guests in the studio…eating and drinking. Maybe I’m crazy. Maybe I’m the only one who would think that is cool.
Well regardless it’s going to be an awesome space once it’s done. I can’t wait.
-Chris
