Somewhat finished...

Not final but certainly way different from initial ideas.. yup yup, all those walls of pegboards filled with tools makes no sense. Why create the look of a bikeshop just because everyone else is doing it. Besides I started out with an almost impossible list. A full bike room in the middle of a 1200 sqf apartment without disturbing the minimalist "Zen" aesthetics of the rest of the place.

Overall I like it better now. Easy maintenance. Most things are out of sight but still within easy reach. Additional pieces of most often used tools nicely tucked in the 2 hand made wooden boxes from Thailand. Just need to clear out the "workbench" for a cleaner look once I get my lazy ass off the chair after typing this.

Update: Its been 9 months now... added another bike to the stable, a big FAT one, bled all the brakes and generally have been using the place quite a bit... Pros and Cons?

Ok my initial hunch is confirmed.. a display wall of tools in my setup ain't gonna do much good other than to tell people "its a bike work room"

My preference has always been to sequence things and go pick out the tools needed for the job. Once finished... it will be cleaned and packed away again. Common tools like hex keys and measuring tape are in the pockets or waist pouch.. Not hanging on some faraway wall when I need them most.

The bad? My "minimalist" theme in the apartment extended to  the bike room didn't work so well as things start to accumulate.

Ok maybe my de-cluttering effort has not been as thorough as it should be. Maybe I do need to build up something on one of the wall to hang the multiple spare forks and bigger items lying around now.

Oh wait...I entirely forgot about my "Hidden Frames Crouching Forks" compartment behind the front of this workstation... :)

And the lesser used bike stuff? Now I doubt any guests in the house would have guessed what they were actually sitting on...

... while looking at whichever 'art piece' I happen to choose to adorn the bare empty section in the living room that doubles up as a  3rd work area on bike stuff.

Bikes: Working and storage

Nov/Dec 2012: Nuthin' but wet miserable weather of late... no better time to spruce things up in the bike den a bit.  Been literally sitting on it giving off one excuse after another for lack of time. Including err.. having to build up a new bike and testing new toys/ components....

The  finished part of the "garage" is now looking more like a semi conductor clean room and guess that's how things will  stay eventually. There really isn't much space in an apartment even though its bigger now  with an entire room plus some (actually quite alot more) dedicated to bikes. But like everything else-- an uncluttered and bright  space is much easier on the eyes and to work in... all possible now since I decided a wet/ dirty work area would be setup outside instead of inside here... And nope, not building any ugly monoliths cabinets to house wheels, rims forks and frames. Just have to find different ways to tuck things away eventually. Even the tiny set of cabinets from IKEA kiddie section  now wouldn't have been considered if they didn't happen to fit the small recessed area to a T. Well, almost a T.

Pretty much the unfinished section in the room that will be housing the work bench area.
For now still experimenting to get things to right height and depth.. no rush.

Jan 2013... Finally! The Workbench/ AV station. from old pieces and kitchen reno leftovers after much hacking.. Decepticon workbench with hidden storage for frames and fork  accessed via sliding worktop and a hoop slot section. More work still needed for lighting, electrical rewiring for a "cordless" fussless working environment eventually.