Long Time Lurker Needs Advice

[KathyPhDRN]

I've lurked here for a very long time, and feel as if I know many of you.  (I lurk on Patternreview as well).  I am blessed to have a dedicated sewing space, and a generous and thoughtful (though not handy) husband.  This weekend, my ddil  and I are going to be installing wall cabinets and a laminate countertop in my sewing room/space/studio.  We can't agree on the color of the laminate.  Please look at my slideshow and weigh in with some advice!    http://www.flickr.com/photos/21564180@N07/sets/72157624573152281/show/

Thanks.

Kathy in Jax

[Liana]

What a nice DDiL to help you like this.    I vote for the lighter color, and if it were me, I might go for white, just because I've gotten to the point where any help in making things brighter and easier to see (need squinting icon here   )  is what I want.  In fact, I just had my kitchen painted white (I have dark blue countertops, which I love, but they make it dark) because it was the lightest color I could get. JMHO.  

[marciae]

Definitely do the lighter color.  I do a lot of work on my cutting table because it is white and I can see things better!!

[Lisa]

You may want to put together a collection of small sewing notions.  Hook & eye, sew-on snap, single pin, needle, etc.  Lay them on the proposed laminate (each tiny item separately) and see if you might have trouble finding things.  Just a thought!

Lisa

[corinne kelly]

Oh fun !  I'd pick white cabinets and the lighter countertop.

[KathyPhDRN]

Thank you Lisa; placing small objects on the samples is a brilliant idea!  Wish I had thought of that.   

Kathy in Jax

[lessalt]

White would be my preference but definitely the lighter color.

[Janis]

What a great sewing space!  I vote for the lighter color laminate.

[Marianne]

The lighter sample. Lovely space.

[Gigi Louis]

The lighter the better!  I have white and it nicely reflects light (which my aging eyes appreciate!).

[Jeanie B]

I definitely agree with the lighter color. I think it helps to consider the light in the room, both natural and artificial. A south or wet exposure will be warm, if not hot. The light will be warmer than neutral. A northern exposure will be much cooler.  When my DH was in the color separation business the whole shop was painted white with white fixtures and a gray floor. No conflict with the customer's product. ( I haven't gone that far at home )

Actually, once you take care of the practicalities, choose something you love! It is YOUR SPACE.

[BetsyV]

Another vote for plain white. You'll lose things on even the lighter mottled surface. Forget the darker one.

[KathyPhDRN]

Thanks for everyone's input.  I originally was going to go with the white, but when I saw 10 feet of it, it looked so stark and sterile.  The other laminates are beautiful, no question...but from a functional viewpoint, I will go with the white.  The comments about finding stuff on the faux granite made so much sense!  Amazing how our vision changes with age, isn't it?  When I purchased my first Pfaff (in 1993) when the dealer demonstrated the automatic needle threader, I thought "Why would you need that?"  Now pushing 60....I keep putting brighter lights in my sewing room, and require assistance when threading needles the old fashioned way. 

I  hope to get this done this weekend, but ddil's wrist is bothering her, so I may have to put it off.

I will post pix when it's done.

Kathy in Jax   

[fzxdoc]

All of the furniture, cabinets, and cutting table in my sewing studio are white laminate and I love them. I agree with you, Kathy, that as the eyesight is compromised, high contrast is a good thing. And the surfaces won't look so stark when you get your sewing paraphernalia on them.

What a great DDIL you have, to help you with the updating of your great-looking sewing studio. I hope her wrist is better soon so that what you have now envisioned can come into reality soon.

Are you still sewing on your Pfaff from 1993, or have you updated? Just curious.

Kathryn

[KathyPhDRN]

Just found out that the project will be delayed until next weekend.  We are buying closeout cabs (flat in box) from a local lumber company.  They offered to assemble them for free, and I couldn't pass that up!  Guess I will just have to sew this weekend--darn!

I replaced my 1475 with a 7570--which has been a great machine with great buttonholes.  I am lusting, however, over the new Janome Horizon. 

Kathy