Sunday, January 23, 2011

Simple shelter part two

I really appreciate all of you that posted about my workshop woes and your input was extremely helpful for my decision making!!!!! I did some checking and as long as my studio does not exceed 12' in any direction I am good to go without a permit. I'm not going to have electricity right off, lots of windows and a drop cord will work for now. So I sat down at my drafting table, got out all of my drafting skills and tools from my previous life and laid out a 12X12 space, measured all of my tables and my wheel and shelves and it all fits very nicely. I won't be having in big parties in there but it's room enough for me, I like small spaces for working. Now to figure out what the outside will look like..... here are some buildings I found that would fit nicely in our backyard and go with all the found junk I have. The workspace I have now is 9x10 so I will actually gain space! I would like to just go for it, get a big loan and build a huge studio, but we aren't going to be in this house for that many more years, and I'll save the dream studio for our farm!



this one is hard to see, but it is just a collage of windows, really nice.....

18 comments:

laura weant johnson said...

absolutely love the lime green one with the red door!!!! good luck with your new adventure!

Judy Shreve said...

Sorry I couldn't chime in on the last post - have had a houseful of company -- I am so excited for you! And these pictures look like your work - :))

I'm sure there will be some frustrations - but you are going to be so happy when you move in to your very own space!
YAY

Peter said...

Hi Tracey,
It would seem that you and I are thinking about similar projects on either side of the world. We desperately need studio space here, and/or living space!!! and I have reached a similar conclusion to you about designing and building a small one. I found some web sites about Tiny Houses worth a Google... there seems to be quite a lot of people going small and some nice ideas about using space. I did look at one or two kit sets that are available here, but most look rather nasty, and don't quite fit the requirements, so I think I'll design and build. We are allowed up to 10 square metres here without a permit... which is about 10 x 10 feet.., not a lot, but just about enough.

Julie Whitmore Pottery said...

the second one looks like one of your house/barn sculptures.
there is a great story of how a potter studio was made here:

www.makikohastings.blogspot.com

she has running water. A luxury I crave. I'm always lugging recycled containters of water to my studio and there is never enough. (water)
maybe you could rig a hose bib just outside? you won't regret it.

Hollis Engley said...

Sounds like you've hit on the solution, Tracey. Good not to have go through all the municipal hocus pocus.

cindy shake said...

All good news! Love all of those out building/cottages. Very charming and would be fun to work in. Of course I couldn't consider anything that wouldn't hold up under 5 feet of ice and snow...lucky ducky :o)

Linda Starr said...

I carry a bucket of water in and out my work area here, but it's a small price to pay for a dedicated space, if you design the building with character, you will add to your real estate value too. At my studio I had built in California I fudged and added covered porches to the rooflines which added to my storage area with chiffarobes I put under the eaves to store supplies out there.

At two other locations in California I was able to utilize used building materials to help defray costs in free standing buildings like windows and doors so cut costs significantly. Good luck.

12 x 12 that's larger than most areas allow, California allows 10 x 12 without a permit or 120 square feet however you design it. A friend on the coast of California built a 1.5 story with a mezannine to get around the square footage limits and add to his storage area.

ang design said...

yeh trace just build yourself a corner... you know you like em :P

brandon phillips said...

i'm glad you've hit on a solution. here they include porches and overhangs in the square footage, stupid. most locales don't do that though.

my studio at school is 10x20, and i make a good amount of pots. the nice thing about a small studio is that it forces you to be organized.

cookingwithgas said...

take it to the bank!

Michael Mahan said...

I like that next-to-the-last one. Lots of light. But what about summer?

Unknown said...

Go Girl!
:)

Mr. Young said...

I like the first one, and the last one...

Sister Creek Potter said...

Be careful about the windows--they cost wall space for pots. One of your samples had nice windows on front but none on side--that might be a good compromise. For light you could conside transon windows across the top so you could have considerable shelving below. My space is so chopped up with doors and (few) windows that I long for more shelf space.
Exciting to be at the beginning of a new studio--like new notebooks at beginnng of school year!

Lori Buff said...

Yay for finally getting your studio. You've got to be overjoyed.
I have "walking water." I refuse to run with my bucket:-)
Lots of windows are great, especially in a small space, think about a skylight too. I love looking up and seeing trees. You can put shelves in front of windows if some shadowing and too quick drying will not be a problem.
I'm so excited for you.

chaetoons said...

Love the first one and the last one and a skylight would be great ! With windows on all sides, it will help the imagination as the light changes and reflects your ideas in new perspectives.
BUT -- make sure the windows can be opened for summer breezes !!!
Hugs
Chae

Kari Weaver said...

My last studio was a 10x12 outbuilding (biggest our neighborhood would allow. I had to cover it with the siding on our houser so it looked pretty dull. You've got way more options!

I had electricity, but no water. Inside I had my work table, electric wheel, kick wheel, and my 7 cu ft electric kiln. It was tight, but I made it work.

Can't wait to see what you decide to do.

Liz said...

Tracey, your options are fantastic. I adore the yellowy green one with the red door and purple window frames. My first studio was about ten by twelve, we put it on posts and had two walls of huge windows. The passive solar heat was fantastic, even in our Canadian cold. as long as you insulate and skirt it you should be fine. We used a small space heater to get it warmed up in the morning, but all in all it was a great little space.