“The thing about costume design – and any serious sewing, really – is that you need space,” Shirley said. “Fabric takes up an incredible amount of room. I’ve got four dressmaker’s mannequins. Sketchbooks. A sewing machine and serger. And you don’t even want to know how many books and magazines and paintings I keep on hand for reference – it’s nuts!”

For years, Shirley tried to keep her sewing confined to one corner of the living room. “But that wasn’t really working out,” she said. “Either I’d have a hard time controlling the situation, or the kids would get into my stuff – we just needed more space.” Remodeling the basement didn’t seem like a viable option at first.

“It was dark down there, and I absolutely need light,” Shirley said. “It’s very hard to sew in the dark.” She was also concerned about sharing a space with the home’s boiler. “You don’t even want to know how much some of these fabrics cost,” she said. “I don’t want any of them being spoiled by grime or soot!”

Consultation with a Boston, MA basement remodeling company changed her mind. “Once I saw the design sketches, I was hooked,” Shirley said. “The basement wall system meant I’d have a sewing studio that was completely separate from the area where the boiler, panel box and whatnot were located.”

Special time was devoted to providing a lighting solution that resulted in an extra bright studio. “If I had known how nice everything was going to turn out, I would have done this years ago!” Shirley said. “If you’re a creative person, and you’re struggling to find space to do what you do, look at having your basement remodeled. It’s a great way to get the studio space you need to do great work.”