Posts Tagged ‘Creating’

Creating a Hideaway Office in a Guest Room Closet

November 2nd, 2011

Creating a hideaway office in a guest room closet is simple, affordable, and can be easily done by homeowners. A hideaway office allows a homeowner to utilize every available space in a home while still allowing for functionality. Creating a hideaway closet is so simple, the hardest part is finding an unused closet to turn into an office! Always remember, when doing any project of this sort, there are steps that require the use of a partner for your own safety.

The first objective is to prepare the closet. You should first remove any clothing, shelving, hinges, tracks, and hanging rods. You also need to remove screws and nails and fill in the holes with spackle. A crowbar would be helpful to remove any built-in shelving, as they tend to be difficult to remove. Once the spackle is dry, sand the closet walls with 100-grit sandpaper and then vacuum up the dust. Once that is done, prepare the area for the next step, painting the closet walls in your favorite color.

After the closet space is ready, it’s time to start the transformation. After measuring the closet space on all sides, draw the measurements on a piece of plywood that will serve as a desktop. Making sure to wear safety glasses, cut the plywood on the drawn lines and then place the cut desktop 30 inches above the floor using 1×2 inch cleats just below where you want the desk to be. Keep in mind that you should measure before you purchase the wood or other material for the space, that way you can ensure that you will have sufficient materials for the project.

After the desktop is in place, your imagination can fill in the rest of the space. If you need a file cabinet, you can either create one with stackable totes with or without lids, file crates, or you can find a file drawer unit to fit under the desktop. You can also create shelving on either side of the desktop by utilizing the narrow space of the closet walls. You can also install a long shelf in the same fashion as the desktop to create additional storage space. If you have space, you can also install a simple cabinet above the desktop as well.

To conceal the office to guests using the guest room, you can either hang closet doors, bi-fold doors, or install a curtain using a shower curtain rod. If you choose to use closet doors, you can install locks to be certain no one will access the office area without you knowing, thus protecting your personal items in the guest room. If you use bi-fold doors or a curtain, be certain files are locked and other items you might otherwise be uncertain of their safety are protected. If you wish to use the doors but would also like to hide the area, you can install curtains over the doors using every day curtain rods.

Posted in Closet

Creating Your Ultimate Gathering and Entertaining Space

August 2nd, 2011

Creating a unique space for family gathering and entertaining in your home is fun and rewarding. You have probably noticed when visiting friends and family that each recreation space is unique and reflects the owner’s design taste with a sense of whimsy. There is no wrong design for a recreation space whether it is the family room or a basement area. This is your space to let you and your family’s personality and design style come through. With the multitude of furniture, games, and decorative art and accessories available on the internet; getting the right pieces is as simple and easy as click and go. The best way to begin is to simply look carefully at the area you have chosen to create your entertainment space. Note permanent fixtures such as doors or stairs that will affect how you place your decorative items. A sketch may be helpful.

Next, consider the decorating theme for the area. A family discussion over dinner often leads to some unique ideas. You may want to use a theme based on a country or culture you like; such as, Italian, Hawaiian, The Far East, or a Caribbean Motif. You may want to build your theme on a particular era such as the Wild West, or an English Pub (Often works well when you have a lower ceiling as in many English Pubs.) A more formal Victorian Era look may fit your style, or perhaps the exciting night life of a Vegas Lounge. If you like wine, why not go for a Wine Cellar look. If you lean towards beer; posters and steins from around the world create a relaxed and fun feeling. Another simple motif is the Sports Bar. This is also one that easily becomes a family project. Sports posters and photos of your favorite teams and players with other sports memorabilia create the mood and feel often focused on a large TV where family and friends can meet and enjoy their favorite teams. When considering your decorative items, make sure you allow enough free space around game tables or the TV for everyone to enjoy without the feeling of being cramped. As you can see, there is almost unlimited ambiance that you can create with a little thought and planning.

Simply consider the area’s space, layout, and feel, your family’s inclinations, and how the theme that you will create will interface with the balance of your home decor. With a little imagination, the correct wall paint colors, readily available decorative accessories, you will create an entertaining area the whole family will enjoy and flock to.

Posted in Remodeling Tips