Manner again once I first began planning the structure of the studio, I meant to construct my very own cupboards from scratch. Doing so would enable me to make the cupboards and countertop any top I needed it, so I deliberate to make a typical 30-inch-high countertop, which is a typical top for tabletops and desktops. I designed every part to work completely with 30-inch-high counter tops, from the peak of the home windows to the place of the countertop accessible electrical shops 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’d save me a ton of time. However one downside 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 if you buy IKEA cupboards, the cupboard bins themselves are 30 inches excessive, and you then’re supposed to buy their cupboard legs that screw onto the underside of the cupboard bins, and you then 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 top (30-inch) counter tops. It’s no huge deal. I don’t have to make use of the IKEA cupboard legs. I could make my very own base and make it the proper top 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 shops and lightweight change. There are six desktop-height shops and one desktop-height mild change on this wall, and 4 desktop-height shops on the opposite cupboard wall. With the intention 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 top.
So earlier this week, I discovered a handyman who stated he might do the job (each transfer the shops after which restore the drywall). He got here early Monday to take 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 shops moved up. I already don’t have an entire lot of wall house on this wall for my mural, and I didn’t like the thought of what little wall house I’ve being cluttered by all of those shops and a change. So I made a decision that I needed simply the one mild change moved up, however I needed the entire shops moved down under desktop top.
After which I began questioning if there was even going to be sufficient wire within the wall to maneuver the shops in any respect. So I took two of the shops off to see how a lot further wire was in there, and because it seems, there wasn’t sufficient wire in any of those shops to maneuver them up or down.
I tugged on the wires a bit of to see if that they had 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 by partitions which are crammed with spray foam insulation like you possibly can with inside partitions which are simply empty house between the drywall.
So after spending solution to lengthy racking my mind and attempting to give you any answer for fishing new wire by the froth insulation-filled partitions, I lastly determined that the simplest answer can be to take away the drywall from the shops down, transfer the shops the place they should go, after which put up new drywall.
With the intention to try this, I needed to take away a number 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 way in which, and since the entire items got here off simply and intact, reinstalling them can be very easy.
So now with the drywall gone, I’ve full freedom to place shops wherever I would like them, and as I run the brand new, longer wires between the outlet bins, 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 at present, however clearly, that needs to be pushed again a few days whereas this will get completed. It’s not simply the lengthy wall that must be redone. I’ll need to 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 might be most likely questioning how I’m going to plug issues in simply if I’m transferring the entire shops down, behind the decrease cupboards, as an alternative of up above the countertop. I’m going to make the shops simply accessible and usable by buying several of these countertop grommet outlets. (That’s an affiliate hyperlink.)
These countertop grommet shops are put in proper within the countertop. I’ll drill a 3-inch gap within the countertop wherever I would like shops, after which the grommet outlet screws into the countertop and the wire under the desktop will plug into the newly-placed outlet. So these countertop grommet shops will give me handy entry to shops to be used at desktop stage whereas eliminating the necessity for shops on the wall above the countertop. I feel it’ll work completely!
It appears like just a few steps backwards, however it was crucial. And even with this setback and extra electrical and drywall work needing to be finished, it’s nonetheless an entire lot simpler and fewer time-consuming that constructing cupboards from scratch! So it’ll nonetheless be a internet constructive when all is claimed and finished.
Addicted 2 Adorning is the place I share my DIY and adorning journey as I transform and enhance 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 can learn more about me here.
