New Oregon Home New Studio in Process

ReNae Stueve · 04-10-2006, 11:57 PM

I'm fairly settled in my new Eugene Home. I've purchased and moved into a 2 bdrm 2 story condo on the south side up Spencer's Butte. Scenic Northern exposure. With floor to ceiling windows

Now the fun part. Setting up my studio/office. I scuttled a great deal because moving costly.

What I'm looking for are ideas on a functional cart to act as a taboret.

I''ve seen a few kitchen carts that have features I want but not all on the same cart..... Paper town holder, granite or stainless top, at least one drawer and a few shelves,on casters. Large enought to hold my glass palette and brush holder and wash pots.

I'm hoping some of you who are happy with your set up or know of a good item can post photo's of what you have or have seen.

What ever I settle on will have to be mail ordered or built here so I'd like to get it right the first time. Then on to the floor. This room is nicely carpeted. I'm thinking of a raised wood platform using 2x's, plywood and Pergo? something I could do myself?

By the way, Eugene is sublime. Everything I'd hoped for.

Chris Saper · 04-11-2006, 10:56 AM

Hi ReNae,

I've moved your topic to the Studio & Equipment area, where it will hopefully get attention.

ReNae Stueve · 04-11-2006, 11:00 PM

Thanks Cris

Steven Sweeney · 04-13-2006, 09:28 AM

Congratulations on getting to "the fun part."

Though I have a couple of taboret wannabes, small particle-board cabinets on casters that I think I found at Target, I tend to use them "merely" for storage, for which a wall-mounted cabinet would have served as well. Because I don't have the need for mobility -- not moving from one drawing space to another -- I'm tending to prefer larger, fixed tables for not only the brushes, solvents, paint tubes and such, but for the palette itself. I began to have problems with nerve damage in my palette-clenching hand and with muscle stiffness in my shoulder after the isometric hours' worth of holding the position, so for the most part I went to a glass palette on a natural wood architect's table (also from Target, I think), which is sometimes placed next to me and sometimes between me and the easel (a la, say, Scott Christensen's set-up -- without his results, unfortunately.)

I also found that the small area of the taboret top lent itself to things always residing there precariously.

Of course, if you need to clear your stuff out of that room from time to time, then mobility is back in play.

If you want a showcase model stand, then, sure, Pergo or the like would be attractive. But you can probably find a very nice neutral-color carpet remnant for less, and you wouldn't get the glare of light reflecting back up onto the model. Casters (lockable) on the model stand would probably be very useful.

Just musings -- we all come up with the designs that best suit us.

Debra Norton · 04-15-2006, 08:55 PM

I use an old hospital tray table my husband customized for me. I don't have a photo handy, but if you'd like I can take one and post it. The top is 40 x 20 with ledges around it. It has two shelves underneath that hold all my stuff. It works great for school since I can roll it around to the figure room or where ever I happen to be painting. Unfortunately it belongs to the school and I am going to have to replace it when I leave. I have a similar cart at my home studio, also customized by my husband, made from a printer cart. And I have another cart in my husband's workshop that will someday become or trade places with the cart I use at school - it is now doing duty in my husband's woodshop, holding parts for several still life stands. He seems to like it, I hope he doesn't "forget" why I bought it!

Debra Norton · 04-15-2006, 08:58 PM

Congratulations on your new home and studio. Washington is my home, and I'll be returning in a little over a year. Maybe we can get the Northwest forum people together sometime.

ReNae Stueve · 04-16-2006, 12:13 PM

Debra,

Thank you for your input. Your carts sound great, and I'd love to have a Northwest gathering.

Steven your right in guessing that I require mobility. I think the cart I've settled on is one made by Kitchen Aide. It has the towel holders, closed door selves and a large stainless steel top. It's large enough to hold wash buckets but not my palette. I'll have to leave that on the easel tray.
The flooring is another issue, again Steven your voice is the sound of reason in my over imaginative head. I have covered half of the room with a painters canvas tarp, folded to double. This will keep the surface I'm standing on as soft as the padded floor and keep the rug clean as well.

It's just so clean.... in here. I might just fling some paint on the wall over the table just to break the place in and get over it. Then I can relax and paint......

I'm painting Easter eggs this morning with of friends, and on that note.

Happy Easter to all, have a great Sunday