Sunday, July 25, 2010

Storing and Organizing: I got new Shelves!

Recently my daughter returned from college and had to move all the things she accumulated away back into the same space she left. (Darn it, I hoped to get her room sooner than later.  Oh well.)  She mentioned she wanted a desk. 
Well, I had a spare desk that we had used as an entertainment center / storage that we didn't need for the tv anymore as I had gotten a flat screen for Christmas.  Here's what it looked like before the new flat screen was moved to the wall above the desk.

Yes, I was still using it.  I agreed that she could have it and I would figure out another solution.  I do afterall have a shelf in my closet used for shoes (but not so well) that could be re-purposed for my studio area storage again.  Had this shelf for years, it even had been previously used by DH and I as a entertainment stand so had the cutouts in the back.
My daughter had previously been using our old entertainment center in her room and she offered it to her brother who was willing to accept her hand-me downs.  So we moved the old entertainment center to my son's room (he got rid of an old computer workstation he was using as an entertainment stand that is yet to be determined where it goes) from my daughter's room.  Next we moved the desk from my room to her room. Not sure she really got what she wanted, but hey I was willing to let it go.
Then I set to the task of setting up an entertainment unit under the wall-mounted tv and re-storing my studio stuff.  Not an easy task since I lost some storage shelves. 
Well, I just couldn't stand it.  I lost too much upper storage.  Instead of asking for the desk back, which wasn't what I wanted in the first place, but it was given to us so I didn't buy it for the purpose we used it for.  It did serve us well while we used it our bedroom/my studio.
My storage solution was to purchase wall-mounted tracks and shelving.  It cost more than I thought, but I had decided now was the time to upgrade.  I am quite pleased with the results.

I choose the tracks so I had fully adjustable shelving. Ok, it is not fully adjustable as I choose to not interfere with the chair rail that is in this room.  The track runs under it and above it.  Also the tv location versus the chair rail loses some flexiblity as well.  But I like what I was able to come up with.
I still have some arranging of things but nearly everything is in place.
In this photo we can see the mags I have stored in contact paper covered laundry detergent boxes.  More deterent boxes that hold my paint that were cut down to paint height before I covered them in contact paper.  Shelves adjusted to fit what I have - even the entertainment units.
I also have room for displaying works in process and also the storage up high is for those too be started projects and other boxes that I don't get to as often.
Yep, my desk is a mess, so I have some more work to do before I can play.  Actually, I feel like I have been playing. 
I told DH that this could be an early birthday present, but he said he would get me something else too.  Isn't he sweet?  I guess he's a keeper, handy and gives presents.