Indoor Workbench: Progress

This is how I redeem myself after a week of not working in the shop…

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Big tools. Barn beams. Copious amounts of sawdust.

Okay, actually, I’ve been working on this little project off and on for a few weeks. It is one of the five on my current project list, and for good reason. This is what my kitchen table looks like:

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On any given day it’s hard to tell if I’m eating breakfast, or wiring a small bomb.

I am actually devoid of horizontal workspaces inside the house, so the kitchen table gets the brunt of it. And you know if I’m not wiring a light fixture then I’m sketching out plans for furniture or disassembling some old door hardware. And I’d just sort of accepted the fact that probably I’ll end up eating a piece of wire insulation with my eggs one day. Until I saw this…

Um. I’m sorry. I don’t know if I fully comprehend… is that? Is that a workshop? Is that a workshop inside your living room? 

Oh, it is? Okay good. Please don’t mind me while I bring in my sleeping bag and cat and just curl up and live under your workbench here.

I mean, holy shit. Why didn’t I think of that?

I mean, I love my actual shop, of course, but I need a space inside this house for less heavy-duty projects and more tinkering. And, oh, hey, would you look at that…

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I have five hundred gazillion rooms in this house, and that one right behind those doors seems perfect for a little tinkering.

After browsing back through my pinterest boards and coming across this…

I knew what I had to do.

I headed out to my big old pile of barn wood and got to work.

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This interior workbench will go in the middle of my “office” (yes, for those of you keeping track, I’ve decided not to put it in the small room off the parlor).

Other than the barn beams, I’ve been acquiring pieces for it here and there over the last few weeks. The old barn wood wouldn’t work for the top, so I bought some rustic maple planks to create a work surface that fits with the theme of the bench without giving me excessive splinters.

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And some of 6″ casters so I can actually move this beast around. It’s going to weigh close to 250 pounds when I’m done with it.

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At 3’x5′, I’m actually going to have to bring it into the house in pieces and assemble it in here. Because a.) it won’t fit through the doorways, and b.) I won’t be able to lift it on my own.

So. There’s a little sawdust and progress for you. And something for me to look forward to checking off the list this weekend.

15 Responses

  1. You are amazing! What a fantastic idea. Building and woodworking is such a central part of who you are. Why shouldn’t you have a work area centrally located in your home???!!!!

  2. I think this is an awesome idea. And the inspiration is badass – as is the workbench you’re making. Looks great.

    I also think you’ve finally got a good solution for that over-sized foyer of yours. Take that inspiration picture and re-create the whole thing right there, right down to the floor to ceiling window walls.

    The foyer should say “welcome to my home, this is who I am.” I can’t think of anything that would say “this is me” more than a workshop in your foyer. The designers’ picture shows that such a thing can be rather beautiful as well.

    1. Yes, yes it is. But I actually mean to put it in the room behind the red doors, not in the entry. That might be a little too much clutter right in the middle of the house.

      But I think having it through those glass doors will keep it “open” to the rest of the living space.

  3. WOW…that is awesome. i love, love, love your blog. it is so inspirational. sometimes i steal some of your ideas. LOL keep up the good work.

  4. If you’re going to put it on casters, use locking casters. I have four work tables that range from small to HUGE that I roll around in my garage on an as-needed basis. Having locking casters means that they do NOT move when I position the tables where I want them. And if you can bring yourself to wear shoes for a change, you can easily put your toe under the locking lever to release it when you want to move the table.

  5. Those casters are great! I once wondered into an old casting factory and the large carts had a similar style. At least you know they will be be durable. I love the style too. Can’t wait to see the finished product.

  6. You are my HERO and an inspiration to women everywhere! I LOVE the old beams for the bench. If hubby won’t let me do this in our house, could I come hang out with you? Please…

  7. I’m just curious: is there a reason -other than cosmetic- for using what look like all metal casters? There are rubber-wheeled casters with locks that won’t damage the hardwood floors, which seems a hazard with with steel casters bearing 65 lbs of workbench each, plus any project weight. I only ask because I never cease to be amazed at how little pressure it seems to take to imprint my floors (chairs…shoe heels…and don’t get me started on antiques with the horrible tiny metal wheels on them!).

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