Sydney Graham bought a semi-custom shed and then added her own ideas to create a perfect haven for her sewing tutorial business.
If Sydney knew one thing, it was that her business was quickly outgrowing her house. The 30-year-old seamstress has more than 150,000 followers on Instagram and 21,000 subscribers to her YouTube channel, watching her fun and easy sewing projects. She creates patterns and sells them, providing guidance and support to her customers, all from her cleverly outfitted sewing studio.
You can tell that neatness and organization are top of mind for Sydney, a former social media manager for a woman’s accessories brand. “My house just doesn’t have the adequate space to sew and create content without being in my family’s way,” she says. Her dream was to have a dedicated studio designed for her business. Then a chance conversation with a friend brought her from “maybe one day” to “right now.”
It All Starts with a She Shed
Her backyard was big enough to build a studio but instead of a custom studio costing $50,000 or more, Sydney’s friend mentioned a shed. It was something she could customize herself without the high price tag (and there are no restrictions in her neighborhood).
“You start with a basic structure and then … well, it’s like Sims,” she says with a smile. “The shed maker, Better Built Barns, offers base designs and then you choose the windows, doors, and size that you want.” The company came to the house a few weeks later and fully installed the shed.
The finished shed did not include finished walls, insulation, or electrical. Sydney’s father helped by bringing power to the shed from the house. Then he stayed on and helped with the drywall and mudding.
“You just start building in the things you want.” It was a huge job, and Sydney worked full-time on it for about seven weeks. She used a combination of ready-made items from IKEA and elsewhere, then added her own details. For example, she added a 2×4 base to her IKEA storage wardrobe so that it appears to be built-in. She also added a few leftover pieces of cedar boards from the ceiling to create panels on the face of the bench for a more upscale look.
The Main Zones
This 10 x 16 shed is big enough to offer the space that Sydney needed. It is divided roughly into three zones, going lengthwise. On the left is a “built-in” sewing station/desk area. In the center is her large work table for pattern making. Lastly, storage and a small bench are located on the right wall.
Her table is “the love of my life.” It’s standing level so she doesn’t have to stoop while cutting her patterns. Sydney cleverly sourced it at an industrial supply outlet to ensure that it was strong and sturdy. The legs are adjustable and the butcher-block style top fits right in with the ceiling siding.
Built-Ins for the Win
While building the storage wardrobe on one half of the 10-foot wall, Sydney considered what to do with the other half. “I thought about a little couch but it didn’t seem cohesive,” she said. She came upon the idea of a built-in bench but didn’t have the faintest idea how to build one. So she did what any other enterprising woman would: she Googled it.
With a bit of trial and error, Sydney still managed to build an attractive bench with storage inside. Then, feeling the wall above needed something, she fashioned a set of cubby shelves that connects to the wardrobe. Together, they form a high deep shelf where Sydney hopes to stockpile bolts of fabric.
Cedar Plank Ceiling Tops it Off
“My ceiling is a cedar plank ceiling, probably one of my favorite things,” Sydney says. The planks, available at Home Depot, are tongue-and-groove, allowing for a snug fit and smooth surface. They greatly enhance the shed’s vaulted ceiling and intersecting geometry.
This part also took several weeks to accomplish, but the end result is stunning. The studio, with its finished look and unique furnishings, stands out and looks professional. The videos and photos Sydney creates to showcase her patterns always has a clean, light-filled background.
Sydney lives in Oregon, which has temperate weather most of the year. In the summer, she tries to get her work done before the highest temps get uncomfortable. She did install a portable cooling unit like this one just in case, and relies on space heater during the colder months.
Having a dedicated studio has made a huge difference in Sydney’s business. “Previously, I had to set up and take down my sewing tools in my dining room every time I needed to sew or film content,” she says. “Now everything has a proper place and I can leave out projects until they are fully finished. It has saved me so much time and helped my organization-loving brain stay happy.”
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