CRAFTS

As a needlepoint designer, I have worked and lived with many bulky supplies. There never seemed to be enough room for them. Once, in a studio apartment, I covered one wall with gallon ice cream cartons, one on top of the other, and tucked pounds of wool in them.

Now, I have a larger apartment and store embroidery frames and pounds of needlepoint wool in a trunk beneath my bed; stitched samples are hidden in file drawers.

But what about other studio supplies and my personal belongings? I followed the classic space organization rules--all the cat's toys in one box, paper clips in another, etc. And even after weeding duplicates, there are still several objects waiting to find a place in my pad. In my search for new ideas, I periodically check out books on storage suggestions.

If you, too, are long on things and short on space, you'll also be happy to learn about a new book, Stylish Storage, Simple Ways to Contain Your Clutter, by Paige Gilchrist. Gilchrist specializes in finding storage space. And she knows about products and techniques to help you find storage solutions.

The book contains many simple storage ideas using ready made products, and a few do-it-yourself projects requiring modest to moderate carpentry skills. Lark Books, which published the book in 2001, granted us permission to reprint the following project and photograph.

Equip a storage piece with wheels so it can easily roll from here to there. A fixture that was once set in its ways suddenly becomes a versatile problem solver-- happy to change location to meet your changing needs. Baskets and bins outfitted with casters allow you to wheel a supply of crossword puzzles or letter-writing materials right up next to your chair and then out of the way when you're finished.

Small tables and benches on wheels let you roll televisions and sound systems from spot to spot--or completely out of sight. And low platforms on rollers can slide effortlessly under couches or chairs to serve as hidden storage.

A variety of small casters From Stylish Storage by Paige Gilchrist, © Lark Books. All Rights Reserved.

Adding Casters: To make your storage go places, simply attach small wheels on swivels that support moveable weight. Casters are categorized according to how heavy a load they can handle (100-lb [45 kg] load-bearing casters, for example). Casters also come in two styles: one with fixture plates that you screw in place and the other with stems you insert in drilled holes.

Screw-in-place casters work best on pieces with a flat base, such as a platform or a wastebasket. If you're adding casters to individual furniture legs, stem-type casters provide sturdier support.

Create A Moveable Cart:

From Stylish Storage by Paige Gilchrist, © 2001 by Lark Books. All Rights Reserved.

Here's an idea that's a classy step up from that dorm-room storage staple: the plastic milk crate. This wooden shipping crate, perked up with a splash of white paint, flipped on its side, and fitted with wheels, becomes an end table, serving cart and portable bookshelf in one. Auctions, flea markets, and summer produce stands are great places to shop for similar-looking wooden crates.

See what you've missed If you've enjoyed this project, don't miss our crafts archive with projects including: You've Got Mail transforming an old shutter into a letter holder Bath Oils and Perfumed Skin Oils an economical beauty treatment Pressed Flowers and what to do with them Gift Tags and Wrap the perfect touch for that special gift and much more....

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