Basement layout help PLEASE!!

Hey everyone! I'm looking for a little layout help with my basement studio plans. I've attached some pics and the best drawing I could do with Photoshop (I downloaded CADintosh, but I'm unable to figure it out as of yet, and wanted to get going). I do have a couple more pics, but could only post three with this first post, as there must be an attachment or size limit to uploads. I will need to wall off the boiler/oil tank area, as the boiler can get loud. There will need to be access for maintenance and repairs, so I thought about putting a wall running north/south more or less where the western I beam is, and making a laundry room and workshop pretty much where the laundry stuff already is. This would leave a decent amount of space for the studio, which hopefully can consist of a generous control room, a small, well isolated recording area for vocals and guitar amps, which doesn't have to be bigger that 8 X 8 or so, since I won't be doing drums here, and a machine room for CPU, drives, and media storage. As you can see, there are a lot of little annoying things, like the radon pipes, the water supply, breaker box, and soil stack that will have to be dealt with, not to mention the I beams and lally columns underneath. I'm not worried about neighbors too much, since I don't get loud, and the space is almost totally below grade. I would like to have a physically attractive, comfortable space where I can do my composing work without feeling claustrophobic. I do plan on doing as much insulating between my ceiling and the floor above, but whatever results I get with fiberglass between the joists and a couple of layers of staggered sheetrock will have to do. I plan on re-routing the radon pipe so it runs against the I beam, and then runs east between some joists. I can't move the soil stack, breaker box, water inlet, or any of the vertical radon pipes, so the layout will have to take that into account. Also, the water meter attached to the inlet pipe does make a slight noise sometimes, and there is some kind of drain about a foot north of the water inlet that I forgot to put in the drawing. The washer and dryer could be moved to make more room for a workshop or something else, and as long as there was a way to use the existing drain pipe, the sink could probably be moved a little as well. I've monkeyed around with a couple of layouts but none of them have the elegance and simplicity that so many of the designs I've seen on the board seem to have. I think all of the clutter of pipes, beams, etc. is throwing me, and I just can't visualize a good layout. Any help from you guys would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks, Jim

That's a lto more space than I am going to be able to work with for my little studio area.. but I think I might follow this thread and see if I get any great ideas. I hear what you are saying about the elegance and simplicity of some of the designs here. I have reworked many concepts for my plans and still am not 100% happy. Good thing I am not starting actual work on it till the fall.

Hey all! This is the best thing I can come up with so far. I'd love some constructive criticism or suggestions of any kind. This plan gives me all the spaces I need except the machine room, but I think the CPU and drives will fit under the stairs. The beam will be exposed in part of the live room, so I don't want to get into trouble there if that is a problem. I added a couple of pics I couldn't post earlier. Anyway, fire away!! Jim

Yes - your drawing is the way to go IMO cheers john

John - That's great!! It always looks so much better when a pro gets their hands on it. I have a couple of quick questions about the layout: 1. It looks as though you have sliding glass doors indicated between the CR and live rooms. If that is the case, do I still need the door in the southwest corner of the live room? 2. There is only a 73.5 inch clearance under the I beam. Will that present difficulties with the sliders? All of the patio doors I could find online were at least 79 inches high, exclusive of mountings. I could make the control room a little narrower and have the entire glass door assembly start to the RIGHT of the I beam. What do you think? 3. My choice of angles for the front/side wall of the CR was simply based on the minimum waste of space while still hiding the breaker box and radon pipe. How critical is the size of the angle, and if it is critical, what is the exact angle I should use? Thanks so much for your post. It really gets me revved up to see the possibilities. I will continue to refine things and add to this thread. Thanks, everyone!!! Jim

beautyfish wrote:

John - 1. It looks as though you have sliding glass doors indicated between the CR and live rooms. If that is the case, do I still need the door in the southwest corner of the live room?

I left it for gear to get into the studio.

2. There is only a 73.5 inch clearance under the I beam. Will that present difficulties with the sliders? All of the patio doors I could find online were at least 79 inches high, exclusive of mountings. I could make the control room a little narrower and have the entire glass door assembly start to the RIGHT of the I beam. What do you think?

I'd get the door makers to make up special doors - shouldn't cost too much extra plus you can make sure they build you proper sealing doors with thick glass - 3/8"and 1/2"

3. My choice of angles for the front/side wall of the CR was simply based on the minimum waste of space while still hiding the breaker box and radon pipe. How critical is the size of the angle, and if it is critical, what is the exact angle I should use?

I drew the standard 12 degrees which seem to fit ok. cheers john