Any ideas what I can do with this boxed in section of loft?
Discussion
My loft has been sitting empty and unused for ages now and I've decided to make use of it as a TV/guitar/work space sort of den thing. I'm broke, so can't afford to be kitting it out with anything lavish, but have started trying to make it comfortable enough, decor to come in the weeks ahead...carpet and paint. Ignore the water marks on the walls/ceiling, they were made before I had the roof redone.
I'm happy with everything so far apart from the fact that when the loft was done, the builders boxed in a large section at one end to cover a bunch of pipes/conduit etc. They went overboard though and instead of just boxing in the pipes, they build a...something; I don't know what you'd call it (a shelf?), that's 34" high by 34" deep and runs the length of the wall.
It's pretty sturdy (I can sit on the end of it), but is only plaster board over a wooden frame, so not solid over all its area. I don't want to knock it down or remove it because the floor won't stretch to the wall so I'd have to sort that, extend the the walls (quite tricky where the staircase is), plasterboard the end wall and then box in the pipes...way more hassle and money than I can spare and I really don't need the floor space I'd gain.
Thing is, I really don't know what to do with that long, flat surface. Too high/not strong enough for seating (not that I need more seating), too big and deep to be a regular shelf. I did think of having that entire wall covered with book shelves, but I don't have enough books that aren't already shelved to necessitate it and the depth of the 'shelf' would make access awkard.
I did think it would be perfect for a model railway, but I'm not really into that. I really liked the idea of boxing it all in up to the ceiling with perspex and having a giant vivarium for a couple of carpet pythons, but I can't find any species of snake that'd be happy in that much space (other than breeds that would be too big to be practical).
Anyone got any ideas or inspiration for me?
Pics to show what I'm whittering about:
I'm happy with everything so far apart from the fact that when the loft was done, the builders boxed in a large section at one end to cover a bunch of pipes/conduit etc. They went overboard though and instead of just boxing in the pipes, they build a...something; I don't know what you'd call it (a shelf?), that's 34" high by 34" deep and runs the length of the wall.
It's pretty sturdy (I can sit on the end of it), but is only plaster board over a wooden frame, so not solid over all its area. I don't want to knock it down or remove it because the floor won't stretch to the wall so I'd have to sort that, extend the the walls (quite tricky where the staircase is), plasterboard the end wall and then box in the pipes...way more hassle and money than I can spare and I really don't need the floor space I'd gain.
Thing is, I really don't know what to do with that long, flat surface. Too high/not strong enough for seating (not that I need more seating), too big and deep to be a regular shelf. I did think of having that entire wall covered with book shelves, but I don't have enough books that aren't already shelved to necessitate it and the depth of the 'shelf' would make access awkard.
I did think it would be perfect for a model railway, but I'm not really into that. I really liked the idea of boxing it all in up to the ceiling with perspex and having a giant vivarium for a couple of carpet pythons, but I can't find any species of snake that'd be happy in that much space (other than breeds that would be too big to be practical).
Anyone got any ideas or inspiration for me?
Pics to show what I'm whittering about:
1. I want that room
2. Why is the beer fridge empty? I just hope you drunk it all the night before the photos were taken.
3. That colour would look awesome behind the guitars.
Can't you just use it as storage? Get that beer fridge in the corner, rest stuff up against it. If you say there are pipes behind it, I reckon you're better off having a big shelf like that rather than a small 10x10inch box on the floor. It'd be too impractical.
2. Why is the beer fridge empty? I just hope you drunk it all the night before the photos were taken.
3. That colour would look awesome behind the guitars.
Can't you just use it as storage? Get that beer fridge in the corner, rest stuff up against it. If you say there are pipes behind it, I reckon you're better off having a big shelf like that rather than a small 10x10inch box on the floor. It'd be too impractical.
This is the worst "look at my loft conversion" thread EVAH! 
For the 'shelf' couldn't you get some artwork in frames and simply rest it along there rather than mounting on the walls?
Oh, and yes, get some beer in the fridge!
(I'd love to convert my loft into a space like that.... too damned expensive in these here parts though. *sobs*)
For the 'shelf' couldn't you get some artwork in frames and simply rest it along there rather than mounting on the walls?
Oh, and yes, get some beer in the fridge!
(I'd love to convert my loft into a space like that.... too damned expensive in these here parts though. *sobs*)
Yes, the beer fridge will be getting stocked once the room comes into full swing!
Ha, if I wanted to show off, I'd not come to do it on PH, given the fanciness of the homes posted here...
I think the wall behind the guitars will be going that grey, even though it's way darker than I'd planned when I got the tester pot. The rest of the walls will be grey too, but way lighter. Thinking maybe a light lime coloured carpet.
Ah, but which slippers? The monster feet or the Freudian Slippers:
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Ha, if I wanted to show off, I'd not come to do it on PH, given the fanciness of the homes posted here...
I think the wall behind the guitars will be going that grey, even though it's way darker than I'd planned when I got the tester pot. The rest of the walls will be grey too, but way lighter. Thinking maybe a light lime coloured carpet.
Ah, but which slippers? The monster feet or the Freudian Slippers:
Quite the "Man-Cave" you have there.
If you're short on funds, and it won't take too much weight, based on it just being a plasterboard box, then maybe rest some nice posters in frames on it.
Alternatively, get a massive fixed Scalextric track, hinged at the bottom, so it can drop down and be played with, then folded back up against the wall.
Nice problem to have. Also, if you have water marks on the ceiling, you can get fairly cheap cover up paint for them...
If you're short on funds, and it won't take too much weight, based on it just being a plasterboard box, then maybe rest some nice posters in frames on it.
Alternatively, get a massive fixed Scalextric track, hinged at the bottom, so it can drop down and be played with, then folded back up against the wall.
Nice problem to have. Also, if you have water marks on the ceiling, you can get fairly cheap cover up paint for them...
Why not take a bit fo the paster off and get a look inside to see the frame dimensions. Then, make some simple MDF boxes to fit in the part of the void that doesnt neet to be there, get the pieces cut up at Homebase FOC, then just butt joint them together, and stick them into wall to make some recessed shelving and display areas? Do them a bit random and it would look quite cook, maybe paint them in contrasting colours.
It would be simple, cheap and mean your not hacking it all away and having it all replastered andpainted for maybe getting 6 inches back? On top you could continue with some MDF box shelving. You can get things from a company called ICube, that do some simple brightly coloured boxes in MDF for vinyl, DVDs and CDs to continue the theme up the wall, without being imposing.
Having said that, I oredered some items from them, and after near 3 months waiitng for them, gave upa nd got a refund, so whther you'll have more luck than me, who knows. Have a look, could maybe "french" them in the bottom void also.
It would be simple, cheap and mean your not hacking it all away and having it all replastered andpainted for maybe getting 6 inches back? On top you could continue with some MDF box shelving. You can get things from a company called ICube, that do some simple brightly coloured boxes in MDF for vinyl, DVDs and CDs to continue the theme up the wall, without being imposing.
Having said that, I oredered some items from them, and after near 3 months waiitng for them, gave upa nd got a refund, so whther you'll have more luck than me, who knows. Have a look, could maybe "french" them in the bottom void also.
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