Sewing Room à la Hillary Duff
I couldn't resist watching My Celebrity Home last night when I found out that they were creating a sewing room based on Hillary Duff's sewing room. It's not so much that I'm a Duff fan, actually, I'm not a fan at all, but I am insatiably curious about other people's sewing rooms. (If you missed it, don't worry, it will be playing again all weekend: schedule.)
Duff's room was kind of disappointing, but after about ten minutes into the show it became clear that she was still starting out. Two walls were lined with floor to ceiling cabinets. The tops of the cabinets were open like bookcases while the bottoms had doors that hid the contents. Various knickknacks such as decorative boxes, colorful pillows, an old sewing machine and vases all filled the shelves. There was a small idea wall, a cork board in a beautiful frame, where Duff put up pictures and drawings that inspired her. A large and intricately carved desk dominated the room, and a very nice embroidery sewing machine sat on the desk. I caught a brief glimpse of rolls of fabric in one corner, but otherwise no fabric was in view. Duff had a small side table, the purpose of which is still unclear to me, and a pretty beaded lamp sat on the table. Finally she had a clothes rack that had some really pretty curls on it. All in all, I would say that Duff's sewing room bore a greater resemblance to an office than a sewing/craft room.
Apparently for this show, the designers try to replicate the celebrity room as much as possible, though of course on a smaller budget. This meant, especially on the show that I watched, that they passed up many interesting things that would have improved the room because they were trying to make the room exactly like Duff's. I think that is a real shame though because they could have made better choices in many cases. I think it would have been much more interesting to take Duff's sewing room as a starting point for ideas and then made changes and improvements to reflect the contestant's personality and needs.
So I decided to do just that. Here are my suggestions on how Duff's sewing room could be improved.
Reflections on Hillary Duff's Sewing Room
1. Knickknacks--No room! Except for those few things that have personal signifigance or meaning, I think putting knickknacks in a sewing room is a waste of space and resources. Some things, like decorative boxes, that serve a purpose as well as enhance the room are worth including, but otherwise that space can be better used.
2. Fabric--The number one reason why sewing rooms don't need knickknacks to make them pretty is that Fabric is Beautiful! Having fabric around me, inspires me and pushes me on. Of course, if said fabric is cluttered or messy, then that isn't too inspiring. For me the fabric does need to be neatly arranged...Something that I've NEVER managed, but I live in hope! Clear boxes are a great way to see what you have and brighten the room.
3.Books--What is a sewing room with out sewing books and magazines and patterns? A few pictures are cute and they can be inspirational, but books, books are portals to creative ideas! Those bookcases need to be heavy laden with inspiration manuals! And if we must have kickknacks for the sewing room, book ends could be useful since those skinny books never stand up by themselves. I also buy tons of those plastic magazine boxes.
4. Cutting board/table--The desk was beautiful, but it would totally be scratched up if it were part of my sewing room. A good sized cuttting mat is a necessity. Quilters use these all the time of course for rotary cutting, but even when I cut out a dress pattern, I like to have a cutting mat underneath. By putting a large piece of glass over the top of the desk, the pretty desk would be safe and still pretty.
5. Functional Furniture--What's the point of a useless sideboard? Why not get something more practical like an ironing board? The clothes rack was cute and a good idea, maybe the same person/company that made the clothes rack could make an attractive ironing board too? Personally though, I'd want a cabinet that had and ironing board top...more storage for fabric!
6. Something Missing--The one thing that really surprised me about Duff's room is that she didn't have a dress form. I'm wondering if the producers went through the room ahead of time and took out anything that they didn't want to buy the contestant. A dress form for a clothing designer seems like such a must have!
6.5 Something else?--I don't sew many clothes, so I'm not sure, but I thought Duff's room needed a design wall where she could lay out fabrics and play with them before she sewed them together.
I haven't really been sewing very long either, five or six years seriously. Living with a Quilt-a-holic for most of my life has influenced my thinking, which is why I'm so opinonated. Seeing these rooms has inspired me though, and since I'm between semesters and not taking as many classes during the summer, I think I will set up a little sewing station again in my itty-bitty apartment. It won't be anything like as nice as Duff's, but I promise, they're be fabric and books galore! ;)
Duff's room was kind of disappointing, but after about ten minutes into the show it became clear that she was still starting out. Two walls were lined with floor to ceiling cabinets. The tops of the cabinets were open like bookcases while the bottoms had doors that hid the contents. Various knickknacks such as decorative boxes, colorful pillows, an old sewing machine and vases all filled the shelves. There was a small idea wall, a cork board in a beautiful frame, where Duff put up pictures and drawings that inspired her. A large and intricately carved desk dominated the room, and a very nice embroidery sewing machine sat on the desk. I caught a brief glimpse of rolls of fabric in one corner, but otherwise no fabric was in view. Duff had a small side table, the purpose of which is still unclear to me, and a pretty beaded lamp sat on the table. Finally she had a clothes rack that had some really pretty curls on it. All in all, I would say that Duff's sewing room bore a greater resemblance to an office than a sewing/craft room.
Apparently for this show, the designers try to replicate the celebrity room as much as possible, though of course on a smaller budget. This meant, especially on the show that I watched, that they passed up many interesting things that would have improved the room because they were trying to make the room exactly like Duff's. I think that is a real shame though because they could have made better choices in many cases. I think it would have been much more interesting to take Duff's sewing room as a starting point for ideas and then made changes and improvements to reflect the contestant's personality and needs.
So I decided to do just that. Here are my suggestions on how Duff's sewing room could be improved.
1. Knickknacks--No room! Except for those few things that have personal signifigance or meaning, I think putting knickknacks in a sewing room is a waste of space and resources. Some things, like decorative boxes, that serve a purpose as well as enhance the room are worth including, but otherwise that space can be better used.
2. Fabric--The number one reason why sewing rooms don't need knickknacks to make them pretty is that Fabric is Beautiful! Having fabric around me, inspires me and pushes me on. Of course, if said fabric is cluttered or messy, then that isn't too inspiring. For me the fabric does need to be neatly arranged...Something that I've NEVER managed, but I live in hope! Clear boxes are a great way to see what you have and brighten the room.
3.Books--What is a sewing room with out sewing books and magazines and patterns? A few pictures are cute and they can be inspirational, but books, books are portals to creative ideas! Those bookcases need to be heavy laden with inspiration manuals! And if we must have kickknacks for the sewing room, book ends could be useful since those skinny books never stand up by themselves. I also buy tons of those plastic magazine boxes.
4. Cutting board/table--The desk was beautiful, but it would totally be scratched up if it were part of my sewing room. A good sized cuttting mat is a necessity. Quilters use these all the time of course for rotary cutting, but even when I cut out a dress pattern, I like to have a cutting mat underneath. By putting a large piece of glass over the top of the desk, the pretty desk would be safe and still pretty.
5. Functional Furniture--What's the point of a useless sideboard? Why not get something more practical like an ironing board? The clothes rack was cute and a good idea, maybe the same person/company that made the clothes rack could make an attractive ironing board too? Personally though, I'd want a cabinet that had and ironing board top...more storage for fabric!
6. Something Missing--The one thing that really surprised me about Duff's room is that she didn't have a dress form. I'm wondering if the producers went through the room ahead of time and took out anything that they didn't want to buy the contestant. A dress form for a clothing designer seems like such a must have!
6.5 Something else?--I don't sew many clothes, so I'm not sure, but I thought Duff's room needed a design wall where she could lay out fabrics and play with them before she sewed them together.
I haven't really been sewing very long either, five or six years seriously. Living with a Quilt-a-holic for most of my life has influenced my thinking, which is why I'm so opinonated. Seeing these rooms has inspired me though, and since I'm between semesters and not taking as many classes during the summer, I think I will set up a little sewing station again in my itty-bitty apartment. It won't be anything like as nice as Duff's, but I promise, they're be fabric and books galore! ;)
posted by LNLisa at 11:48 AM
1 Comments:
I enjoyed your comment on the Hilary Duff "Sewing Room". I am not into sewing but while watching the show I got the sense that the room was also a home office and they went in and decorated with some yarn and sewing thread for the show sake. I loved the desk, for my home office. I was not convinced that Hilary has ever sewn anything. May she will use some of your great hints as well.
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