Approach again once I first began planning the format of the studio, I meant to construct my very own cupboards from scratch. Doing so would permit me to make the cupboards and countertop any peak I needed it, so I deliberate to make a normal 30-inch-high countertop, which is a normal peak for tabletops and desktops. I designed every thing to work completely with 30-inch-high counter tops, from the peak of the home windows to the place of the countertop accessible electrical retailers and switches. It was all calculated and positioned with precision to work completely collectively.
Nicely, quick ahead a few years, and after contemplating the entire choices, I made a decision to forgo the made-from-scratch cupboards and use IKEA cupboards as an alternative. I appreciated the thought as a result of they might save me a ton of time. However one disadvantage to utilizing IKEA Sektion cupboards as studio/workplace cupboards was that IKEA Sektion cupboards are 30 inches excessive.
These cupboards are meant to be kitchen cupboards, and kitchen counter tops are usually 36 inches excessive. So while you buy IKEA cupboards, the cupboard packing containers themselves are 30 inches excessive, and then you definately’re supposed to buy their cupboard legs that screw onto the underside of the cupboard packing containers, and then you definately add the countertop of your option to the highest. That usually places the completed countertop at about 36 inches excessive.
Nicely, I didn’t have room for 36-inch-high cupboards since I had designed the room for normal desktop peak (30-inch) counter tops. It’s no massive deal. I don’t have to make use of the IKEA cupboard legs. I could make my very own base and make it the right peak that I would like to ensure that the countertop to return slightly below the window sills. So whereas that requires a workaround, it’s not an issue.
However the problem I knew I’d face was the retailers and light-weight change. There are six desktop-height retailers and one desktop-height mild change on this wall, and 4 desktop-height retailers on the opposite cupboard wall. As a way to make the taller IKEA cupboards work, I deliberate to maneuver all of these up about three inches in order that they’re above the window sill peak.
So earlier this week, I discovered a handyman who mentioned he might do the job (each transfer the retailers after which restore the drywall). He got here early Monday to have a look at the job and provides me an estimate, after which scheduled to return Tuesday morning to do the work.
Nicely, to make a really lengthy story brief, I began having doubts. First, I made a decision that I didn’t like the thought of getting the retailers moved up. I already don’t have a complete lot of wall area on this wall for my mural, and I didn’t like the thought of what little wall area I’ve being cluttered by all of those retailers and a change. So I made a decision that I needed simply the one mild change moved up, however I needed the entire retailers moved down beneath desktop peak.
After which I began questioning if there was even going to be sufficient wire within the wall to maneuver the retailers in any respect. So I took two of the retailers off to see how a lot further wire was in there, and because it seems, there wasn’t sufficient wire in any of those retailers to maneuver them up or down.
I tugged on the wires a bit of to see if they’d any slack to them in any respect, and that’s once I remembered that this room has spray foam insulation within the partitions.
It’s the one room in the home that has spray foam insulation within the partitions, and it was sprayed after {the electrical} wires had been run in the entire room. That spray foam actually grabs onto and encapsulates the wires, so there’s actually no solution to fish wires via partitions which can be stuffed with spray foam insulation like you’ll be able to with inside partitions which can be simply empty area between the drywall.
So after spending solution to lengthy racking my mind and attempting to give you any answer for fishing new wire via the froth insulation-filled partitions, I lastly determined that the simplest answer can be to take away the drywall from the retailers down, transfer the retailers the place they should go, after which put up new drywall.
As a way to try this, I needed to take away a few of the window casings, however I’m okay with that. It’ll make putting in the brand new mural a lot simpler with out these casings in the best way, and since the entire items got here off simply and intact, reinstalling them will likely be very easy.
So now with the drywall gone, I’ve full freedom to place retailers wherever I need them, and as I run the brand new, longer wires between the outlet packing containers, I can carve out neat, exact little channels within the spray foam insulation in order that it stays intact as a lot as doable. And if wanted, I can fill in any voids with canned spray foam earlier than placing up the brand new drywall.
It’s undoubtedly not what I had deliberate. I had hoped that I’d be putting in the brand new mural in the present day, however clearly, that must be pushed again a few days whereas this will get completed. It’s not simply the lengthy wall that must be redone. I’ll should repeat this course of on the opposite cupboard wall within the “workplace” nook of the room, the place I’ll have to chop out this part of drywall…
So a few of you’re in all probability questioning how I’m going to plug issues in simply if I’m transferring the entire retailers down, behind the decrease cupboards, as an alternative of up above the countertop. I’m going to make the retailers simply accessible and usable by buying a number of of those countertop grommet retailers. (That’s an affiliate hyperlink.)
These countertop grommet retailers are put in proper within the countertop. I’ll drill a 3-inch gap within the countertop wherever I need retailers, after which the grommet outlet screws into the countertop and the twine beneath the desktop will plug into the newly-placed outlet. So these countertop grommet retailers will give me handy entry to retailers to be used at desktop degree whereas eliminating the necessity for retailers on the wall above the countertop. I feel it’ll work completely!
It looks like a number of steps backwards, nevertheless it was obligatory. And even with this setback and extra electrical and drywall work needing to be achieved, it’s nonetheless a complete lot simpler and fewer time-consuming that constructing cupboards from scratch! So it’ll nonetheless be a web optimistic when all is claimed and achieved.
Addicted 2 Adorning is the place I share my DIY and adorning journey as I transform and adorn the 1948 fixer higher that my husband, Matt, and I purchased in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do bodily work, so I do nearly all of the work on the home on my own. You may study extra about me right here.
