Tuesday, May 24, 2011

New 52 | Week 21: New DIY Craft Island

Well, just call me Martha.

As you may know from my blog post last week about the mini-book I made, that I am venturing back into the world of paper scrapbooking again. I still love digi, but paper and hybrid are fun too! And sometimes it's just fun to work with your hands and get them dirty. Part of the reason why is I love feeling the different textures and thickness of a physical mini-book. The tactile sensations combined with photos + stories make me extremely happy.  :)

A few weeks ago, when I was beginning my journey back into crafting, I realized that I did not have a viable work surface in my craft studio. I wanted a big work surface AND I needed more storage. So I looked about on the interwebs for some craft studio storage and work station inspiration. I fell hard for the Pottery Barn Bedford Project Table. But as you can see by the $1,099 + taxes + shipping price tag, me and the Bedford wasn't to be. So I googled around for some Bedford knockoffs and found some here and here. $600 is definitely better than $1,099, but I still wanted to pay less than that. So I googled "Bedford table hacks" and "DIY Bedford table" and found out how I could make a DIY knockoff for about $140-170. Heck yea!



I essentially followed the instructions in this article: How to make a designer-style project table or craft table for less than $150. Mine cost a little more because I bought some canvas storage bins that go into some of the cubicles. Here are my materials and cost. I bought everything at Home Depot.
This came to a total of around $168.  When you purchase the sheet of white melamine, Home Depot will make two cuts for you for free.  So I asked the guy to cut one side to 41" and another side to 55".  As you can see from my photo above, the edges on the sides are not finished, so I will still need to get some "edging" to cover the raw melamine.  If anyone has any good ideas about what to use for that, please leave me a comment!  ETA:  Actually, I have an updated post about how we used white iron-on melamine strips to finish off the edges of the table.  Looks fantastic!

UPDATED photo here:


I like working at the table both standing up and sitting on our bar stool.  Both positions work great for a table this height.





I also have an old rolling storage cart that I put under the workspace.  The first drawer is my current projects.  The middle drawer has white and kraft cardstock and some essential cutting tools.  The bottom is a mish mash of ribbons and stickers and other embellishments that I still need to organize and sort. 




I'm extremely pleased with this DIY craft island/table, especially at this price.  My craft studio is still a work-in-progress.  I need to label everything and perhaps move things around until I'm happy with my workflow.  But for now, I have been super-creative in here and I can't wait to evolve with it!  :D

I want to thank my husband Todd for actually putting the cubicles together.  He is an expert at that and did an awesome job!

While I was researching, I found instructions to actually make the Bedford table knockoff from scratch!

Craft Table Build
Craft Table Top For The Modular Collection

This person was WAY more DIY and handier than me, but it was great inspiration.  The site even includes the project plan with tools you'll need, and materials and cuts.  What I LOVED about this version is that they also built two drawers into the bottom of the table top.  BIG drawers that you can shove your projects-in-progress and supplies into, to keep the table top neat!  I may need to make the drawers as an addition to my table top.  Some day!

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About This Project

New52 is a project started by Peppermint and I to encourage each other and others around us to try something new every week in 2011. The "new" each week doesn't have to be something big. It could be something as simple as ordering a new dish instead of old standbys at your favorite restaurant. It's simply opening your heart up to NEW possibilities.

Don't worry if you're late getting started on joining in. It's totally OK if you miss a week here or there. We encourage everyone to keep an open mind about trying something new. This is a life project, and a photography/blog and even scrap challenge if you wish. If you participate this week, please leave a link to your blog post in the link list below. You can also post images to our New 52 Flickr Group! We would love to see what you were inspired to do.

16 comments:

  1. OK, so I thought you couldn't get any cooler...

    This is AWESOME! I now have all these ideas on making something similar to serve as school tables...I love the cubicles on the sides...hmmmmm...gotta go measure the school room!

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  2. Oh wow! I would never leave that space! I'm inspired.

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  3. This looks amazing! I can't believe this is the same room I saw when we were out there!

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  4. Awesome job. What a great craft room!
    Ann

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  5. Love your craft room, I too love PB but can never fork out more for shipping to Hawaii than the actually product cost. This is a great alternative for my one day dream of actually having a craft room to call my own.

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  6. Nice! I can't wait to get caught up on New52. I'm taking next week off so keep your fingers crossed. :)

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  7. Now that is an awesome craft table - in fact, I'm loving your whole craftroom! x

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  8. You can buy the white melamine iron on edging at home improvement stores. The 25' roll was less than $6 at Lowes!

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  9. Just made this table!!! It turned out great!! Thanks for the tips

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  10. Did you attach the table top to the bookcases? If so, how? Thanks!!

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    1. No I did not. I wanted the option of taking it apart and putting everything to the side of the room when guests come to stay with us.

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  11. What height stool do you use for this table?

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  12. I would cover the raw melamine edges with some cute polka dot, or gingham print wide ribbon. Hot glue!

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  13. I also have one of these. I bought my cubes at Target and had Home Depot cut my Melamine sheet to 35.9 inches deep (depth of the cube units) by 48 inches deep.

    http://www.target.com/p/closetmaid-9-cube-organizer-white/-/A-562700#prodSlot=medium_1_7&term=cube+storage
    $39.99 each (got mine on sale $29.99 ea)

    Bins here (13 different colors)
    http://www.target.com/p/closetmaid-cubeicals-fabric-drawers-1-pack/-/A-12444532#prodSlot=medium_1_2&term=storage+bins
    $5.99 ea

    Two of us can sit on tall chairs across from each other and scrapbook. My husband drilled holes in the melamine top (one on Left, one on Right, and also in top edge of cube set, put in the dowel that comes with the cube sets for stacking, and the top does not move at all. Super sturdy!

    OH! Almost forgot. I purchased quarter-round (already painted white) at Home Depot, couple of bucks for a 12 foot strip. They cut it for me (the guy even mitered the edges!). I tapped it onto the edges with small finishing nails and it looks awesome, finished and smooth. Hope this helps!

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    1. I actually have an updated post here on the iron-on melamine edging that we put on the tabletop. Looks really finished now! Thank for stopping by and commenting!

      http://www.listgirl.com/2014/02/diy-craft-island-update.html

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