The most emailed questions that I get are about my Dining Room that we turned into my Office/Craft Room. It’s one of my favorite rooms in the house and definitely the room I spend the most time in. So I thought I’d write a little post about what we did!
Before it was a plain dining room. It’s a great shape — kind of square and has a pretty detailed ceiling with lots of molding. The problem was that we are very casual people and only used the room maybe 2 times a year. And it’s such premium space in our home. The light is great and instead of making an office in the basement, I thought it would be a great place for my office/craft room. Plus, it’s right next to the kitchen, so I can work on dinner while working on a project.
I knew I didn’t want it to be on full display like it was as a dining room. But I also didn’t want to close up that space completely, because the light flows from the front of the house to the back through that space and also, if we ever sold the house, maybe someone would want a formal dining room.
So we decided to drywall in the arch and install some wide french doors. I love the way it turned out. The only problem is that you can still pretty much see through the doors in to my mess. And let’s face it — that room is always a mess with all of the projects I have going on LOL! So I am in the process of putting Silhouette frosted vinyl on the panes. That way the light can still come in but you can’t see through as well.
I have had a lot of questions about the furniture for this room. The desk is from PB Teen. It’s the Mega desk.
We used a tax refund to pay for it one year. And, yes, it is expensive, but I think totally worth the money because of the quality and the piece is a great size! I love that I can be working on a project and have my kids in there with me doing their homework. And if we have a big poster or something like that to work on, it totally fits on that desktop.
Another idea — I bet you could make this table with 4 file cabinets and 2 doors cut down a little. I’d love to see if anyone tries this!!!
The top is wood and was getting pretty banged up, so I had a glass installer make a piece of glass to fit over the top. And I love the way it looks. It protects the top and it’s easy to clean too.
The tall and short cabinets are all from Ikea. Totally affordable. I love the white, clean look and the scrolly design.
This post sponsored by
I actually said…”WOW” out loud haha! That looks amazingly gorgeous!!! Thanks for the inspiration – we just might have to do this!!
Very intersting design. I am really like the numer 2 photos. Will used to decorate my new house
Overall how much did the product cost, it’s very nice exactly what I would like
Read more at https://tatertotsandjello.com/2011/03/my-dining-room-turned-craft-roomoffice.html#aktYwuvg6ZJoARpQ.99
I love looking at these projects!
my mega desk was just delivered yesterday and i’m in love! i’m curious about the glass overlay-is it true glass or plexiglass?
It’s gorgeous!!
Question: Where did you get the cabinets/shelving units that are against the wall?
Thanks!! 🙂
Hello!
Came across your blog via Pinterest. I’m looking into the mega desk and I’m curious to see the dimensions of your room? How much space did you leave around the table for movement/chairs? Thank you!
Overall how much did the product cost, it’s very nice exactly what I would like
Hi Jen, I received a comment on my blog with a link to this post. I noticed it was weird because the comment said it was from a “new blogger” named Stephen but this post is from 2011. Anyway, just thought I should let you know since he is listing your blog under his name! Maybe it is just a mistake but I put the comment info below in case you want to look into it. Beautiful blog by the way!!
This is what the comment was….
“Stephen
tatertotsandjello.com/2011/03/my-dining-room-turn…
[email protected]
192.119.144.192
Submitted on 2013/04/05 at 1:25 am
Whats up are using WordPress for your site platform? I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying
to get started and set up my own. Do you need any coding
knowledge to make your own blog? Any help would be really appreciated!”
Looks like what I did with my quilting room! I bought my house with the express purpose of turning my formal dining and living rooms (which are very often adjacent or open to one another in floorplans here) into my quilting studio. And I also painted my room green because It’s my favorite color! My paint color is Martha Stewart Beachgrass green, though, which is a bit subtler than your color. (But it kind of has to be because my room is much larger! It probably account for at least 25% of the living space in my house!)
My goodness I am so inspired..I am going to convert. My dining room into my weaving room. Two years ago I turned my living room into my artist studio. I have enjoyed it so much. The dining room is attached and is going to be for weaving ..just have to get it together..your ideas have helped me so much..thank you for sharing….I am going to put all your ideas to good use….by the way, I am retired and now it is time for me..our home is 45 years old and time for rooms to be changed for my needs now. Thank you again…lynda
I love this site! Your scrap room is gorgeous! And, I looked at each scrap room you listed! They are all so inspiring! They make me want to redo my room! Thanks again!
How did you determine to go with 15 lite doors instead of 10 lite doors? We are about to close in a formal living room with 8 ft tall x 6ft wide french doors. I cannot decide if I want 18 lite doors or 10 lite doors. Wondering if the 18 lite door will look to busy. Thanks for any help as to how you determined to do 15 lite doors.
I’d love to know if the mega desk is able to be separated into two separate pieces later? It looks like the top is divided?
And I’d love to know if you think it could be painted?
I love the space!!!! Thank you for the idea!!
I knew I shoulda gotten that room cleaned up! What a fun party!
Great space! I was trying to look through Ikea’s website to find the cabinets and came up with zilch! Could you please post what they are? I love how they look. Thanks in advance.
Wow! Look at all of those clean, organized, bright, organized, colorful, organized creative spaces! I love my studio, but I’m currently doing a major overhaul. Now that I’ve seen these posts I think I should also paint!
WOW! I wish I had a craft space/office to share…unfortunately, my dining room table is where I do my crafts and the closet under the stairs is where I store my craft stuff…someday!
WowZa! I can’t wait until my craft room is done!! I might be here all night….looking thru the inspiration! Thank you for putting this together
Thank you for sharing your beautiful craft room! I am in the process of redoing a space for my quilting room and love your ideas! Could you please provide a product number for the scolled shelving units from Ikea? They are just what I am looking for and did not find them on the Ikea website. Hope Ikea still carries them! Also, did you purchase the green storage baskets at Ikea?
Wow! I love this too and am now thinking of doing the same thing to my very similar (and seldom used dining room). Problem is that I also can’t find those Ikea cabinets and am so disappointed since I LOVE them! Please let me know if you find out any info on availability or an item number. Thanks much!
Lisa
I adore your craft room! Thanks for linking up to Scatter Girls!
I just stumbled upon your blogspot for the first time today – it awesome! When I was looking at your room redo, the floorplan is just the same is ours! We did the same thing – except turned the dining room into an office – we closed the living room shared wall in and added the french doors, the window looks to be the same size to. My question is this… did you do anything to close off the door to the kitchen? We've had ours redone for about 10 years now – always thought to close that off but wasn't quite sure how. We thought of an exposed sliding wood door. With the french doors opening into the office, it makes it a challenge. What are your thoughts? Thanks!
My first link ever! Thank you for posting your room and giving me the courage to post my own 🙂
Thank you for giving me something to aspire to! I just posted my own – but I plan on showing this to my husband so I can start working on him "early". 🙂
This was such a great idea – I just posted my own but it sure pales in comparison to your space! Thank you for giving me something to "aspire" to. I plan on showing this to my husband so I can start working on him "early" 😉
I have really loved checking out all the cute spaces here. So glad you did this! I'm slowly working on my space but I'm not great at organizing so seeing these beautiful organized spaces helps so much. Thanks so much for your post. It is bookmarked!
I'm in love with your craft room! My stuff is spread all over the house!
I'm in love with your craft room! My stuff is spread all over the house!
I HATE it when people don't use their homes to their fullest potential. If you did not use the dining room it was a waste of space and this space works wonderfully.
I grew up in a 1300 square foot home and there were four kids. My mom had her "nice" room which was the biggest in the house. We weren't really allowed in it. I was so annoyed by it.
I encourage friends to use every inch of their homes. We have our "nice room", but the kids are welcome in it and we actually use it on a daily basis.
You have my wheels turning for my new craft space!
bookmarking this page for all the great ideas!! and because my sister has a huge room that would be PERFECT to try the filing cabinets/doors idea! once we do it I will let you know how it turn out! thanks for the money saving tip!!! i am in love with your craft room *one day*! when i'm not on a budget and in debt to my neck with student loans! *one day!* hahaha
WOW~
Love all of these CREATIVE spaces Jen!
Thanks for the inspiration!
I'm creating a sewing room!
Happy Day!
xo
Oh I had this bookmarked and then I still forgot. I hope I am not too late to join the party!
I love your craft studio, that big desk is awesome and the color scheme so refreshing. A dream to work in I am sure!
I love your new craft room! Now I want to do that to my french doors 🙂 I can't wait to look at all of the other craft rooms for inspiration too. Great idea!
Thank you for hosting such a fun link-up! I can't wait to go through and get tons of inspiration!
Hi Jen,
I just linked up to your crafty space party. I love what you did with your dinning room. My husband and I have been talking about doing the same thing, as we never use our formal dinning room either. But, ours is wide ope to the foyer and great room, so I didn't want my mess being open to those areas. But, you have given me something to think about, by dry- walling in the area and installing large french doors to keep the open feeling. I'll let you know if we do it. Thanks for sharing!
xo,
Sena
Your space is totally inspiring. My craft room is in the basement so I have to wait until everyone else is doing something to get to go down there. I think that making the dining room into the craft is brilliant! The kids always want to be with us anyway, it might as well be in the middle of the house. I also love that you went with a bold happy color. Thanks for sharing!!
Hey Jen! I have had plans to make one of those flag banners (like the pottery barn kids) for my twin boys room. Can you tell me how you did yours, what materials you used? I would greatly appreciate it! I love your craft room!! Im "green" with envy. LOL
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Kelley-Iheartthishome.blogspot.com
How smart you are to use your space so wisely. The room is beautiful and functional and right in the center of family life. It looks like a win-win situation to me. Thanks for the inspiration!
I love the french doors and the GIANT desk. I'm working from a teeny tiny space in Brooklyn where my sewing room is a corner in my bedroom and my cutting table is the kitchen table covered with a mat. I can only imagine having that kind of space!
OHHHH WOWOWOWOWOW! That room is AWESOME! You lucky lucky lady! Thanks for sharing!
Your craft room is so pretty! I love the big desk, and it was a great idea to close it off.
I wish I had a craft room because I definitely would have linked up. 🙂
you know i adore you office & craft room. i think that's one of the smartest ideas – ever! seriously. i would even do that to a "formal" living room as well. we are so casual here. of course you know i love the bunting as well.
it is so dreamy.
i'm soooo behind in blogland. i've been either busy with bags or being the tooth fairy. 😉
i linked up my older post of my craft room/office place. it's an oldie post but still looks the same other than i BIG MESS! hope it's ok i linked up an older post.
i'll be back for the wrap up party!
hope you have a lovely weekend.
xoxo
Love the whole space and the green is perfection!
Is it a surprise that I LOVE this room? No, it is not. It is awesome. I wish you could travel down here and help me transform my bonus room into a craft room. And um, finish all those other prjects languishing up there….
LOVE it and a clever use for an under utilized room! The glass top was a GREAT idea and if I had that under the glass would be full of inspirations, photos, etc BUT I am betting you like the clean sleek look!
Your office is swoon-worthy! I'm in love with your PB table…great suggestion on the filing cabinet/door table. We'll be moving into a new house soon (well, hopefully), and I'm looking for all kinds of ideas for our little office.
Your space is phenomenal and all of the linked spaces are inspirational. Makes me want to scrap my whole room and start over, LOL!
beautiful! i love the doors!
i MUST know what color green you used for your paint! love it! i have been wanting to do my craft room in a lovely shade of green but its so hard to find the right one…but i LOVE yours! hugs!
Hey, Jen! I just wanted to let you know I featured this post today in my Weekend Bloggy Reading round-up. I can't wait to have some time this weekend to click through some of these awesome links!! 🙂
LOVE THIS! Thanks for sharing. We have been thinking about doing the same thing, but I haven't gotten quite brave enough yet. Plus, I wonder what we would do with our dining room table and hutch. For now, I am glad to have my little closet!
-Vanessa
Fabulous space you have now…and looks tidy to me! lol…know what you mean about so many projects and the always mess though
We moved house almost 12 months ago to gain creative spaces for us both so l'm now so lucky to have a 22'x12' conservatory with fantastic light and space…would share it but right now it's too untidy..on the to do list then l will add a pic
Great post
Wow, you've really struck a common chord with this dining-into-work-room! Just look at all these links and comments. Your room looks like a DREAM to work in! Good for you!
What a great craft space!!! I love that you turned your dining room into that wonderful space!
PS – thanks for the input on the "readers" number for FeedBurner. You were right, today the number was back up. So weird!
I love this room!!!! What more can I say, it is absolutely beautiful! I am excited about this sharing of craft spaces, I have already checked out a few of them and have gotten some great ideas!! Can't wait for the feature! Thanks for all the work you put in, I really appreciate your blog!
It's just beautiful!
perfect timing on this post, I am trying to brainstorm ideas for turning my dining room into a craft room… now i have tons of great spaces at my disposal to gain inspiration from! Thanks
wow! what a nice job you did on drywalling that arch in and adding french doors! how awesome it must be to work in there! so much light and space! it is lovely! thanks for hosting the linky party. there are some really great crafting spaces out there!
I am loving this room but I also love that blue wall color and those chairs! I want 2 chairs just like those!!!
I am just curious what the dimensions of your room are. I want to do something similiar with a large desk in the center of our office but I am not sure if the desk you have is too large. Thanks.
You are a lucky lady! That's a fabulous room!
I am so crazy jealous. That room is amazingly gorgeous!
The Mega Desk is mega amazing! Totally love the french doors, too! Fabulous space, Jen! 🙂
I {heart} this post! Because I'm currently turning my dining room into my craft/hobby space. So excited for the next couple weeks to finish it! Yes, it's gonna take me that long… but oh so worth it!
French doors. Sparkling apple. IKEA. WIN!
Love your office, it is gorgeous and right up my alley! I actually just finished assembly my new desk this weekend from IKEA this weekend….love that store! Any my walls are a similar shade of green too!
Jennifer ! You are simply amazing ! What a fantastic job outta that dinning room ! Your room turned out brilliant. Its a dream ! Its like a crafters haven. Love it. Love the paintjob, your cabinets and your organized baskets. Simply amazing girl !!
Even, most of the ladies craft rooms are fabulous. I have a small room too but deciding between the choice to clean or to create, has left my room, very basic. But I love it still. Its the best part of my home after my hub and boys.
Also loved reading your blog too. Just turned your follower, will visit again.
Naush
A creative Mom in Dubai.
Doodlebuddies
I keep telling hubby that that's the mind of space that I need for my studio. Especially with all of that awesome day light! Great space.. I am going to have to share this with him!
Your craft room is amazing. I love it. I wish I had something like it. I have a space in the basement but there is a lot of storage in there. We don't have much storage room. I usually bring things upstairs to work on.
Ruth
Your craft room is to die for! Quit making us all jealous! I have a craft "space" but it is not yet ready for its blogland debut!
Hopefully it will be ready before summer and I can post it on my blog.
I love your color scheme! I amd ebating about putting doors on mine as well, we have almsot the same room configuration so it is nice to see how you closed yours in! All these gorgeous rooms linked up, I am excited to peek through them!!!
Jen,
I just adore your craft room. I love everything about it. It's so cheerful, inspiring, and fun! Just like you my friend!!!
So… I went ahead and linked up my pretty much embarrassing craft cave… haha!!! But I'm hoping to have a nice little craft room in our new house soon! 🙂
Yours is just beautiful!!! Definitely aspiring to something like that now.
Totally stunning!!! love it and thank you for making a space available us to show our creative spaces too I have so enjoyed looking at all these inspiring links. Yvonne
Great room, the green is awesome! I love to see other's creative spaces. This link up is a great idea, thanks for doing it. I added my link and now am off to be inspired by some wonderful rooms 🙂
GORGEOUS!!! When can i move in!! heehee 🙂
This is such a fabulous space! I *wish* I had something like it.
WOW- it looks fantastic!! Awesome space!!
This is just ONE more reason why I should NOT love you.
But I do. **sighs**
BTW: what color blue is that in the other room??
Seriously…that is amazing. A MUCH better use of space than a formal dining room. I hope someday I'll have a formal dining room that I can turn into a craft room. And I love the doors you've added.
I have always loved your desk. Loved. It. I went and looked at the PB Teen site and I shouldn't have.
Oh goodness what have you done to me Jen?!? 😉
This is a beautiful room! I love everything about it. Do you have a specific link for the bookshelves that are from Ikea? I looked around and tried to find them on their site, but couldn't. Maybe I just need to keep looking… Thanks!
Jen, one of my teams just did blog posts on our studios/spaces yesterday.
Yours certainly wins the prize in my mind. Not sure where you are, but I want to come bead there and eat chocolate cookies. When can I come, please?
Your craftroom is lovely! We are about to undertake a similar project. The dining room is becoming the living room and the living room will be my craftroom.
I'm so very, very excited about this – I'm about to bust with excitement! The work begins on Monday and I'll be sharing it on my blog at http://www.theoldblockhouse.blogspot.com if anyone would like to follow our transformation.
Love your space….wish I could share mine, but it's currently a DISASTER!
Well, you know I love it! I'm not sure I could have given up my dining room…but, I'm sure it gets so much more use than a dining room would. I love all the whites…it is just perfect!
Looks fabulous! I love looking at these types of spaces. Their so FUN!
Oh the irony! I just finishing up my creative space/ guest room. I'm sure I'll have it finished in time for this link party but I'll definitely make it in time for the weekend wrap-up!
P.S. your Craft room is to. die.for!
~Merrilee
Your craft room is pretty awesome – since I'm in school for the next few months my craft space is my whole apartment… No french doors to hide that mess!
it looks great jen!! 🙂 funny how we both used the adjective 'happy' when choosing the same green!
Your craft room is gorgeous and it's set up perfectly. It looks even better in person. Sorry, but I took a peek (walked around in there) when I was there in December.
Jen, I love your craft/office room! I may even move in someday. That's okay, right?
Hi Jen-I am in love with your craft room! That desk is totally amazing-Great Job!
I just did you "linky thing" and I forgot to have it link to my studio. I think it just linked to my blogs.
Here's my studio link with a neat little story behind it if you want to take a look!
http://bundlesofblossoms.blogspot.com/p/studio.html
Their is nothing better than having a great space to create!
I love these. They are all making me envious and wishing I didn't live in a tiny apartment.
My husband drew up plans in Google Sketch-up to make a craft closet. He has recently gone back to school for fine woodworking and I cannot wait for him to be able to get started on it.
Simply Amazing craft room, YOU ARE SO DARN LUCKY. I want one so bad, but don't have a room to turn into one. Its darling. I also love your springy chevron pennant, but what of yours do I not love? HA! love ya. winks-jen
Your craft room is awesome! Right now I am using my dining room as a make shift craft room. One day when I don't have kiddos in the study attached to our bedroom I want to turn that into my craft room:)
Hi Jen,
What perfect timing that you would post this today and I would be on here to read it today!
I was JUST talking to my friend about turning our unused dining room into my craft room, but I didn't know how I would set it up…until I saw this post! (I've seen some pretty sad looking converted rooms and was afraid….)
Love what you did here. It looks so cheerful and functional. Thanks for sharing!
Jen I love your craft room/office!! What a happy, fun place. I moved my craft room upstairs (to hide the mess) but we still do a lot of projects downstairs in the kitchen so I can see why you love having yours so close and convenient!
-heather
Love the vinyl on the door. Is that something that you can peel off at any time? Do you have to have a cricket type of machine to make it, or is available on the web? I need 3 big sliding glass door sheets of it.
That space if fabulous! I'm so inspired!
Jo-Anna
Your space is beautiful, Jen. That green is such a fun color.
super gorgeous and fun! my goodness thats the only thing i truly i wont be able to have until we buy our own home when hubby retires out of the army. its something i wish i had right about now…anyways, i love your stuff as always Jen. xoxo
Love it, Jen! The large workspace is the most important IMO and you've made it perfect! Your home looks gorgeous, your craft room looks happy. Congrats on your new space 🙂
Absolutely love this! I am in the process of trying to convince the husband that I need to do a makeover on our office/craft space. The boring white walls and hideous furniture are killing me!
*swoon* IF my husband would let me take over the "office" aka man cave, I would turn it into my craft space. Right now I'm working on the litte cubby I have upstairs!
Its perfect! Great work Jen!
Jen…you could make a paper bag look GREAT! Love everything you've done…A LOT!
all the spaces, especially yours are awesome. One day I hope I can have a craft space. Right now I work anywhere I can and still keep an eye on the littles.
*sigh* a crafter's dream. Can I come over and craft? Looks like you could host a workshop in there!
I am so glad you posted this I've been thinking about replacing my folding cutting table, it's so flimsy and the bolts unscrew themselves plus I love the storage areas in yours
That wall color is fantastic and I love the bunting you have hanging!
It's gorgeous and I love it. Unfortunately, we do use our dining room, so my crafts need to be finished by 6:00 each night!
🙂
xoxo
Love your space Jen!! I was so happy I got to see it in person when I came to the Cookie Exchange in December.
i wanna craft room! think that can be my birthday wish?
Jen, your crafty space is just stunning!!! Love that desk–I think the glass top was perfect. The Silhouette frosted vinyl on the doors will be great.
I linked up the area that I am *supposed* to use as my craft area, but I'm planning on moving things up to the spare bedroom. More room there, but haven't started yet. 😉
Thanks for hosting this impromptu party! 🙂
oh Jen! what a DREAM room!!!!!
I cant wait to have a space of my own 🙂
God bless you sweet girl!
xo!
Keren
I am jealous of your bravery to turn your dining room into YOUR space! Who needs a dining room anyway!!! lol! I love the pennants that stretch across your ceiling!!!
http://cookscleansplayswithpaper.blogspot.com/2011/03/my-art-room.html