Nancy Golden shows how she transformed an unused bonus room into a workshop that would be any crafter's dream come true. The key to "crafting" this room is to utilize all the space available, and Golden plans to make the best of every inch the room can spare. On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the greatest degree of difficulty, this project rates a solid 4. Its completion took 18 hours, spread over the course of two and a half days (it would have taken longer had most of the prep work not been done earlier in the week), and the total cost for materials was $200. The first step in a project of this sort is to sketch a floor plan of the room to establish what will go where. Materials:
Paint
Paintbrushes
Wood putty and/or spackling compound
Saw and miter box
Wood screws
Finishing nails
Plywood
Molding (chair rail, etc.)
Caulk
Stud finder
Tape measure
Ruler
Painters tape
Pencil
Nail set
Hammer
Rubber gloves
Cork
Sandpaper
Level
Wire shelves
Wire shelving wall clips
Wire shelving brace
Utility hooks
1/2" dowel rod
3/4" spade drill bit
Preparation: - Paint a base coat on walls and paint the molding. Let both dry overnight.
- Remove the closet doors.
Expert idea: Don't throw the closet doors away. Use them to fashion a decorative screen in another room. Building a Corkboard - Measure the length and width of the wall to be covered by cork. Use a pencil and a tape measure to sketch where the corkboard will be placed on the wall. Be sure to determine the size of the corkboard according to your anticipated needs.
Note: When you're measuring the wall for the corkboard, take into consideration the chair-rail molding -- most chair-rail molding is 36" from the floor. - Attach the pieces of cork to plywood with adhesive.
- Slide a stud finder across the wall, marking the stud location with a pencil.
- Attach the corkboard to the wall with wood screws.
Tip: Attach the corkboard as low as possible so items tacked to it can be easily reached. - Measure the completed corkboard to make cuts in molding. Attach the molding to the edge of the corkboard -- Golden suggests using a chunky molding to soften the cork edges and provide an architectural interest.
- To finish, fill the nail holes on the molding with wood putty or spackling compound, then touch them up with paint.
Expert idea: Woodworking expert John Ferguson suggests that if you're planning to paint the molding, you purchase finger-jointed poplar because poplar mills well and gives crisp detail.
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