Oh hey! I made the craft room of my dreams! I have been literally dreaming of having a space like this as long as I can remember and to say I built it all by myself makes it even better!
Story time –
When we were house shopping, we went in so many houses with amazing craft rooms. I was so excited at the idea of having my own space but was surprised by how my husband was just as excited (if not more excited) as I was. Now once I realized he was just excited because he thought it would contain my project messes to one room, his excitement made more sense.
So, when we walked through our home for the first time, I was disappointed that there was not already a craft room…but there was a room in the basement (previously used for a gym) that would make the perfect spot for a craft room.
Fast forward 2 years and this was not a craft room…rather a dumping ground for all my craft supplies, seasonal items, and home décor. Not your typical storage room…I’m talking full blown hoarder style.
I had taken on many projects around the house, but my craft room was not high on the priority list. Or maybe I was just putting it off because it was a huge undertaking, and I was a little scared of it. January rolled around and my husband told me I couldn’t do anymore projects around the house until I had a home base to make the mess in…enter the craft room!
I spent more hours than I can count on Pinterest trying to figure out how to design this space….it was an odd shape with lots of angles. I studied all the Ikea hacks thinking I could cheat my way to built ins. And then one day I got the courage and decided I could do it…I could install the cabinets, I could install the counter tops, I could install the flooring…all by myself…and so I did!
I started by emptying the entire room and ripping up the carpet. I’ll be honest, ripping the carpet up was the motivation I needed. It made me feel like I could do anything.
Now if you know anything about me, know that I am cheap. Like really cheap and will do anything to save a few bucks. So, after a ton of research and measuring, I found that the cheapest way to do this was with stock cabinets from Home Depot. I was able to save money by piecing together some of the larger sink cabinets and not actually using a sink with them.
Home Depot Stock Cabinets – https://www.homedepot.com/p/Hampton-Bay-60-in-W-x-24-in-D-x-34-5-in-H-Assembled-Sink-Base-Kitchen-Cabinet-in-Unfinished-with-Recessed-Panel-KSBF60-UF/302970443
I did let Home Depot deliver them (which was not like me to pay for) because it was too many to get in one trip and some were not in stock at my store. Once they were all delivered, and I got them to the room the real fun started. It did require about a million shims to level but was not nearly as intimidating as I expected. The hardest part was just getting the confidence to start.
I went back and forth on what kind of counters to use and settled on Ikea. Very affordable and I like the sizes and color options that it came in. I wasn’t willing to invest in quartz for this room but still wanted something durable.
Ikea EKBACKEN faux marble laminate countertops – https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/ekbacken-countertop-white-marble-effect-laminate-40335628/
One of the hardest decisions to make in this room was the wallpaper. I wanted it to go all around the room and also wanted it to make a statement. My favorite brand of wallpaper is Magnolia Home, so I always start there. When I came across this unique Market wallpaper, I knew that was it. Joana Gaines has always been a huge inspiration to me. This is the actual floor plans of Magnolia Market. I have always dreamed of flipping houses and I think having a piece of the silos (and fixer upper) in this room is the perfect motivation (not to mention a great conversation piece).
Magnolia Homes Market Wallpaper – https://magnolia.com/shop/product/4464599040051/the-market-wallpaper/
If I told you how many times I changed my mind on the flooring, you probably wouldn’t believe me. I went back and forth between tile and wood, but I am so happy with where I ended up. I found this at Lowes one day and it was not meant to go together but I decided it needed to. These are peel and stick laminate tiles and you can grout them even though I chose not to. You cut them with a razor blade and a straight edge. They probably won’t last forever, but I wanted something that I could easily wipe up and wasn’t worried about getting ruined. I mean it makes the room, right?
Peel and Stick Laminate Tile(White) –https://www.lowes.com/pd/Style-Selections-Sorrento-Marble-4-mil-x-18-in-W-x-18-in-L-Groutable-Water-Resistant-Peel-and-Stick-Luxury-Vinyl-Tile-Flooring-2-25-sq-ft-Piece/5014103471
I love brick!!! And I have no idea why. But I feel like every room could use a pop of brick. I had left over brick from my kitchen so choosing the color wasn’t hard this time. This is Old Mill Brick in the color Rushmore. This room had this random half wall, and it was just begging for me to brick it. Then after stressing over deciding the tile backsplash for weeks, I decided to just continue the brick. One thing about me…I suck at decisions!
I originally planned on putting brick all the way to the ceiling…then I realized how much it would cost so I needed another plan. And by this point I had already finished the wallpaper on either side of it so if I went with wallpaper the pattern would not have matched up on one side. I have always wanted to try vertical shiplap somewhere in my house and this seemed like a small enough spot to give it a try.
I got these pendent lights at a progressive lighting clearance event, and I had planned on using them in the basement bar area but by using them in here it was one less decision I had to make. Fun fact – they are not hardwired and have a battery lightbulb that recharges and have a remote. They don’t provide a ton of light, but they look pretty.
Battery light Bulbs – https://amzn.to/4bqyEel
Under Cabinet Lighting – https://amzn.to/3VuGUUC
Would you believe this beautiful champagne bonze/gold cabinet hardware is from Amazon? And super inexpensive!
Cabinet Pulls – https://amzn.to/3Vo6Scg
Cabinets Knobs – https://amzn.to/3Vo7cYw
Cabinet Handles – https://amzn.to/4coUb7S
By the time the room was finished I realized it had become so much more than a craft room. It is my design studio. And I am incredibly proud to say I did it all by myself!
