i don't know how many of you saw it ... but my blog was linked over in the making memories newsletter that went out yesterday ... along with some other fabulous designers. this month their blog is featuring a ton of good info on organization and storage. i get emails all the time about my scrap island in my studio ... and i've gotten tons of request just in the last day. so i figured i'd give you some info here in case you're just stopping by.
took these pictures this afternoon really quick. so ignore the toys on the floor ... the girls have had stuff out there for a few days ... and i didn't want to mess it up. and my desk does not always look this clean. well, it does in between projects ... i always pick up and put everything in it's place. plus, the stuff i'm getting ready to work on is all downstairs today. lol!
everyone always asks me where i bought my island. unfortunatley, i did not buy it. i had it custom built! i drew up all the plans for this ... and then my mom built it for me (if anyone is local and interested, i could ask her about building more. lol!). the island actually consists of 4 seperate shelves. they are arranged end to end to form a rectangle (so the center part actually had some empty space) ... and then the top was placed right over the top of the 4 shelves (kind of like a puzzle).
the island is 4 feet by 8 feet ... the size of a sheet of plywood. then i basically figured out what i was going to store on the shelves ... and then drew up the measurements to fit everything. i knew i wanted the 2 longer shelves to be deep enough to hold paper trays and my 12x12 containers with the lids. so i made those sides 14 inches deep. since the long sides are so long ... there had to be some side pieces in for support. so i figured how much space i needed to put 2 stacks of paper trays ... and measured that in. the smaller shelf with all the metal baskets ... i knew i wanted those to be smaller shelves so i figured 6-7 inches tall on those.
each side has a few permanent shelves (for support and to hold it all together) and then a few adjustable shelves. i'm not a big woodworker (luckily my mom is! lol!) ... so i pretty much drew up a rough plan of what i wanted ... including how much space i wanted in each area. then my mom did the exact measurments working with what i had. it's made with basic plywood ... and then she stained it with the color stain i picked out.
and this is the girls side. so ignore the mess! i havn't quite figured out how to organize them and their stuff yet ... seeing as they just like to toss things all over the place! lol!
ok ... just basic info there really. i actually have all this typed up and saved ... i learned after the first 10 times or so that people asked. so i always have this ready to copy and paste when i get asked about it! let me know if you have any other questions! and thanks for stopping by!!!
THanks for the info Laura! Its awesome to have such a handy mom!
Posted by: Carla | January 09, 2008 at 03:25 PM
I am always in awe of that island every time I see it, it is an incredible piece of furniture! Your mom rocks! I have been stressing over this tiny little unfinished shelf/ledge I bought for Drew's room and I can barely figure out how to stain it. So your island is just amazing to me.
Posted by: Erika Follansbee | January 09, 2008 at 04:28 PM
I SO want your room....jealousy again.
And I recognized the Littlest Pet Shop toys, lol!
Posted by: Linda | January 09, 2008 at 05:01 PM
Thanks again for posting!!! I have to give my father a call tonight (lol).
Posted by: Laura T. | January 09, 2008 at 05:09 PM
how I wish I live near you so I can have your mom build that for me... urmmm... maybe I shd migrate! LOL!
Posted by: Sasha Farina | January 09, 2008 at 05:17 PM
Wow - your mom is an amazing woodworker...or "builder" as my boys would call it - they so want to be BOB (the builder) when they grow up, lol. I also think you are an amazing organizer to know how you wanted it built - and it always looks so beautiful!! :o)
Posted by: wendy sue | January 09, 2008 at 05:26 PM
Everytime I see this island, Laura, I am just amazed! This is awesome and how lucky are you that your mom was able to make it for you! :) So so so very cool!
Posted by: Molly | January 09, 2008 at 05:36 PM
Thanks for the pics Laura! You're room is awesome indeed. Now only if I lived about 1500 miles closer to you, I could have your mom build one for me.
Posted by: Carla | January 09, 2008 at 06:36 PM
OK you can now count your Mom as another fantastically clever & creative woman that I admire!! She ROCKS! LOVE your organization & how much open space you have to work on!! TFS!!
Posted by: Sara | January 09, 2008 at 08:21 PM