Creating a Quilting Corner

BEFORE

Attic/bonus room renovation by Closets by Design, 3811 Tarheel Drive, Suite 109, Raleigh, NC 27609, (919) 850-9030, www.closetsbydesign.com

Every artist knows how important it is to have a creative space to work in. One Triangle quilter and sewer, who had just moved into a new house with her husband at the start of their retirement, was ready for a room that would offer plenty of light, working space and storage for her crafts. She knew the upstairs bonus room had plenty of potential, but as it was, bad lighting and boxes were taking over the space. Randi Johansen, senior designer at Closets By Design, helped her create a room that is aesthetically pleasing and useful.

To lighten the space, skylights were added, along with an overhead light and fan that is sleeker and more elegant than the original, and lighter-colored carpeting. Against the walls, the pros at Closets By Design installed large cabinets and drawers for the fabrics and tools the homeowner would need; on top of the cabinets, framed paintings and photos add to the room’s creative atmosphere. In addition, a large island was placed in the middle of the room, which not only provided additional storage with open shelves, but also created a large workspace. On the far wall, a desk sits next to a window whose white cotton drapes let in plenty of natural light. “When the design was completed,” Johansen says, “both the artist and her husband were thrilled to have a place for all of her sewing supplies and the many stacks of cut fabric squares needed for her quilts to be neatly stored 
and organized.”