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I bought this house in 1981, and one of the reasons why I did so was because it had one entire room that could be my dedicated library. When I had my "epiphany" my library numbered over 6,000 books. Now it numbers 1,700-- and most of them are now housed in my living room.
After all that purging and moving most of my "keepers" into another room, that meant that I had a lot of empty bookcases. What could I do with all that space? After waiting several hours for Denis to wake up so that I could drag out my yarn boxes from underneath the bed (Denis works nights and sleeps during the day), I knew exactly what the next incarnation of the room should be: a craft room.
Now that I'm done pulling everything apart, moving things around, and putting new pieces together, I thought I would show you the genesis of one room in my house. It's changed a bit! (Click on any of the photos to view them in larger sizes in new windows.)
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| In the beginning: metal shelves & ugly brown carpet |
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| Stage 2: Bulging wood bookcases & wood floor. |
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| Stage 3: New rug, comfy chair & purged shelves. |
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| I bet you're wanting to see what it looks like now.... |
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| Stage 4: My craft room. |
For anyone visiting who sometimes stops by my Facebook page, I uploaded several more photos to my Operation Craft Room album. How do I like my new room? I love it-- and I still have more than enough books to make me feel at home!
I like all of the incarnations of the room. I could be comfy in any of them. But I do see how the craft room would be the most practical and useful.
ReplyDeletePractical and useful can be good things, especially in this instance!
DeleteFabulous, Cathy. I love the archway into your room. You are so organised!
ReplyDeleteI've always been organized, but it's gotten worse in the past decade because I have a husband who expects me to remember where everything is! LOL
DeleteOh my, I love to look at book shelves in houses. Why not show off our first love?
ReplyDeleteI love looking at everyone's bookshelves, too!
DeleteWonderful!!! I've always wanted to have a craft room. With two self-employed people in one house, all spare rooms must become offices. Grrr.
ReplyDeleteCan't you make him move his office out to the garage or something? ;-)
DeleteOK, I love both of them too. I don't do enough crafts to justify a craft room, but yours is lovely - organized and pretty. I do understand purging the books though. It just becomes necessary doesn't it? LOL
ReplyDeleteYes, especially since I can't afford to buy the houses on either side and turn them into libraries! LOL
DeleteCathy, I love the transformation. It seems like the perfect craft space or library.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful little room! How fun that you've taken pictures of all the different stages of its evolution.
ReplyDeleteTrish, I have to admit that the only reason why that room is well-documented is because I tend to keep track of my books! LOL
DeleteLooks great! I imagine you want to spend a lot of time in your craft room!
ReplyDeleteI do find myself scurrying in there to work on this and that. ;-)
DeleteEither with books or crafts, it looks like a refuge!
ReplyDeleteIt is!
DeleteI loved seeing the various incarnations...like one of those makeover shows.
ReplyDeleteFunny thing....mine is a "makeover" today, too, but I didn't show the "before" or the various incarnations. I thought about it afterwards, but couldn't find just the right "before" pix.
Here's MY SATURDAY SNAPSHOT
I'll be over to take a look. I can't resist books or makeovers! LOL
DeleteCathy - What a gorgeous craft room!!! You've made it a wonderful place; you really have! And as you say, you've still got lots of books.
ReplyDeleteAnd they're all where I can sit in a comfy chair close to a window with a view, and a fireplace.
DeleteHow nice to have space for the things you love! And you can send those bookshelves to me -- I've run out of room again.
ReplyDeleteBut I've filled them all up again! LOL
DeleteI love the way you re-purposed that room. It looks fantastic. That bin of yarn catches my eye.
ReplyDeleteThat's the bright spot in the room, isn't it? :-)
DeleteFun to see all the incarnations. A comfy chair and lots of books is probably my favorite, but I can see that you really ned room for you craft things. The archway is just great, I love the little shelves that you display stuff on.
ReplyDeleteI love to decorate that archway for Christmas. It makes a statement!
DeleteLoved all the photos! It does feel good to create space!
ReplyDeleteHere is my Saturday Snapshot post!
Reducing & Repurposing has become a mantra for me in the past few years.
DeleteI love it! What an awesome space and I love the shape of the entry to the room!
ReplyDeleteWhen I bought this house, some of the remodeled bits were rather questionable, but the one good thing they did was the archway!
DeleteWay to make a space your very own! I love the entryway, too! Looks very 'Craftsmen architecture' to me!
ReplyDeleteIt does, although Craftsman has little to do with my 1952 ranch house! LOL
DeleteWow...beautiful. Love it.
ReplyDeleteENJOY!!
Thanks, I am!
DeleteInteresting chronology! The metamorphosis of a room. Wonderful that you have pix of each stage of development!
ReplyDelete:)
And that's only because of the books it contains! LOL
DeleteThat looks so organized, light and airy! I love how you changed the colors too!
ReplyDeleteThanks! The previous owners' decorating taste ran to what I refer to as "Early Cavedweller."
DeleteGreat job, Cathy. My study overfloweth with books. Lots of shelves but too many books to fit. A purging is necessary and the library is collecting books for the annual book sale now. We have another bedroom that has become a stow-it-all room but I do have my sewing machine and bins of knitting and sewing stuff in there already. You've given me a super idea, but first decluttering. I'm tired just thinking about it.
ReplyDeleteIf I had the money, I'd come visit to help you declutter, tote, and carry! :-)
DeleteThat would be fun, wouldn't it?
DeleteSure would, although we'd probably wear a few calluses on our vocal cords while we were doing all that! LOL
DeleteHm. I am glad YOU are happy about your new room, but I´d better not say what I feel about changing a library into anything else ;)
ReplyDeleteAh, but Dorte, most of my books are now housed in a room with more than one comfy place to lounge, a huge window with a view, and a fireplace! Besides, there are still five bookcases in the old library that are filled with books.... :-)
DeleteLooks like a wonderful room in all its incarnations! And I'm just fascinated by that doorframe... Also--1,700 books? Still a very impressive collection!
ReplyDeleteYes, I am in no danger of running short of something to read! LOL
DeleteI haven't crafted in years but this makes me want to turn my sewing room/library into a craft room too. Looks like you'll have lots of fun and inspiration here!
ReplyDeleteI know that I'm certainly looking forward to it, Debbie!
DeleteVery nice!! I love the doorway with it's painted molding and painted panelling. What a wonderful difference?! I love your new craft room, too, especially all of the shelving. Great job.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Marie. Isn't it amazing what a difference a bit of paint can make? I was so happy once the painting was done, I walked through the house with a big smile plastered on my face for months!
DeleteLove the craft room! I wish mine was that big.
ReplyDeleteI think we're lucky that we have one at all, Kris! LOL
DeleteI like the concept of the library room as much as the new craft space. Alas, my crafts/scrapbooking get moved out the dining room table, while I do still have a sewing area at the end of our recreation room. Enjoy your new space.
ReplyDeleteI have been! I never knew how nice it was to have a dedicated space for my crafts until I created one!
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