posted on July 23, 2001 02:39:48 PM
My husband is going to convert most of the garage (single car) into a seperate eBay/office for me!
He wants me to let him know what all I want in there, obviously a phone line, outlets etc.. for the computer. (He's an electrician)
Does anyone have any suggestions on what else I should have him do, I would hate to get all done with it and then say " We shoud have..." " I wish it had.."
The space is only about 8x10 feet, how can I maximize the space?
posted on July 23, 2001 02:44:19 PM
shelves on the walls!! all the way around, at the top, but far enough down to hold stuff, then another row below those......you could use one row for "to be listeds" another for "listed" another for "sold", etc. My stuff is ALL over my house! I am jealous! (We have a 12 by 14 with an attic in the back yard full of woodworking tools...maybe I will kick them out and take over!)
posted on July 23, 2001 02:49:55 PM
Thanks yumacoot, I thought about shelves too, I sell a lot of clothing, I may have him install some bars to hang stuff on. Right now all my half.com books etc... are out there on makeshift shelves and in a couple bookcases, I will have to re-organize those onto the new shelves.
posted on July 23, 2001 02:55:28 PM
Hi,
I guess it depends on what you sell. I sell a little bit of everything. I have a room a bit bigger but I have to the ceiling bookshelves on both of the long sides, and a wall to wall closet on the third side for all my shipping supplies. The shelves are adjustable so as my inventory changes I can adjust. That's important as the market changes almost as often as my mind.
My desk is located so I can see most of it, and helps to motivate me to keep going.
I haven't figured this out yet, but I need some kind of area for packaged stuff as that tends to get in my way while waiting for payment etc..
Since you have an electrician, I'd have him add extra outlets you never know when you'll need another one, or just want to re-arrange where you want things.
I did have my husband put some hooks in the closet so I can hang rolls of bubblewrap, packing paper etc..I run string through them and hang them at a comfortable level.
I don't know if any of this helps.
Jay
[ edited by jayadiaz on Jul 23, 2001 02:57 PM ]
posted on July 23, 2001 02:55:53 PM
If you are running all lines from the house run TWO pair of phone lines, some day you may want a separate computer phone line you never know, easy to do now hard later.
Might as well run a pair of coax cables while he's at it. Never know...
I assume these will all run through plastic pipe underground. Keep the electric in a separate pipe but he's an electrician I don't have to tell him that.
posted on July 23, 2001 03:43:12 PM
I sell lots of different things so I invested in about 75 plastic tubs with lids, fill em up and stack them. Each time you open one it is like Christmas all over again!
posted on July 23, 2001 04:10:45 PM
Well I dont know about anyone else but if someone asked me How and what I would want !!!
I would start with haveing one of the 10' walls just for one large Self unit desk size and height just for Computer equiment two selves above that wall lengh one at the height so it just above the monitor for lighting floppys cds paper labels phones and other assesories the other over that.
under the desk about four or five File cabinet size draws stacked by two for a total of 8 to ten draws for paper work scales cameras bateries tape tape gun and other such supplys in the center of the desk size shelf I would want a keyboard draw.
I would want at least two if not three power surge strips on the backwall of the desk i would insist both surge protector be on separate breakers and one or two phone jacks and at least two desk chairs on wheels.
On the other 10 foot wall behind the big desk I would want wall to wall ajustable shelveing and one of the other two wall I would want the top half done in peg board and cork board good for pinning hooking and hanging things.
and one 6' foldable type table for packing and takeing pictures ..
several 4' or 6' foot shop lights over head and a good bright portable flood light.
Then again I can assure you no one will ever offer me or ask me how I would like my office designed ....
posted on July 23, 2001 04:15:42 PM
Look at some home mechanics, home woodworker type magazines, if you can get ahold of them. Also Better Homes & Gardens. They both have a lot of really beautiful home office ideas to get the most out of your space. One good idea I saw in Home Mechanics was for a fold down counter top. It was attached to the wall with a piano hinge and could be folded down flat against the wall to save on space. (It was actually a cutting table in a sewing room) Another good one was bookshelves around the perimeter of the room, above the windows. Usually just wasted space.
When you figure out which things you LOVE, make sure to include them in the plan. Your hubby's gonna expect you to spend lots of time in there after all his hard work!
Don't forget a refrigerator- you may need beer out there while you're dealing with outages, fee increases, deadbeat bidders, retaliatiory negs...
posted on July 23, 2001 05:02:10 PM
Ooooh, you have a wonderful hubby bevhead! Go for the max and really get what you want! Schmooze if you have to
I went to Home Depot and found many ready-made cabinets at great prices that were either customer returns or floor models at HUGE discounts!
I installed 3-drawer units (had deep drawers on the bottom, then medium sized drawers and the top drawers were suitable for storing pens, scissors, labels etc. I constructed my own drawer dividers from inexpensive thin boards (simple to cut with utility scissors and glued together with hot glue. Delivery Confirmation, Insurance, stamps, pens, scissors, etc all have customized holders now. Looks like Martha Stewartville Then we also got matching base cabinets that hold a variety of USPS Priority boxes in bulk. We topped off the cabinets with a ready made counter top (again, cheap at Home Depot!) which he drilled a huge slot across the back so bubble wrap can be threaded from the floor up to the counter top for easy wrapping. This makes a perfect workstation for shipping with all the supplies you need right in front of you and fits nicely on a 8-10' wall.
Over the base cabinets, I hung wall cabinets that holds all the excess books, computer software rack, binders, etc. Keeps everything neat, orderly and out of sight. Under the wall cabinets, i hung a steel pipe/rod that easily slips from its holders so I can slide tape rolls, scissors on a chain, folded tissue paper in bulk, string, Postal rates hanging from a plastic sheath, etc. For added lighting, an under-the-cabinet strip flourscent lighting was installed. The only things on the countertop itself is the scale to weigh packages and a tape dispenser bolted to the counter. Everything else is up and away so there is plenty of room.
For a computer center I have a huge armoire that was converted to hold the PC, keyboard drawer, printer, scanner, fax, CD player and even has a lateral file cabinet that makes filing a breeze (reports go from printer right to the file folder without getting up!) It has several shelves, bulletin board on one door and a wipe magnetic board on the other side where i write my "To-Do List". There are several smaller shelves built in to hold jewel cases for CD's. I used the decorative "hat box style" boxes to hold things like paper clips, push pins, rubber bands etc. Looks cute and very functional.
One warning about converting a garage--make sure you have heat and AC and adequate lighting. Many garage spaces do not have windows so lighting is very important addition and a comfortable temperature year round is vital.
Floor to ceiling shelving, plastic bins with lids, and a large garbage bin and you are all set.
posted on July 23, 2001 05:26:16 PM
I'm losing my office and a little sad about it - Moving to Oregon soon, and into an apt. My office has no window (plastered over) and the door is solid wood, in the back of an alarmed house. I always figured nobody was ever breaking in, the only thing that could get me was a fire. Now I will have a desk and a closet - sigh...
posted on July 23, 2001 05:58:29 PM
Remember to leave a comfortable area for ironing. A fold down ironing board in a good size is a life saver. A nice rack nearby to hang things on and perhaps a couple of shelves for flat items after they are pressed. Your mannikin can be in the same general area with a nice drape (neutral color fabric) behind it.
I have two rooms right now--both good sized and it still isn't enough!
