Basement update

Our original plan was to finish the basement this Fall.  Then, we realized that this goal was happening around Christmas time.  So we've decided to give the children A Playroom; their presents are things that fit into that context- both for storage and play.  It's not too hard to come up with stuff to put in a playroom, while saying, "It's for Christmas," right?

We had made a list of things that needed to happen to finish the basement.  You think there isn't much until you see it written down.  On the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving, [the now-retired] Poppy and Mimi brought us Thanksgiving dinner and helped us knock out about half of that list.  It went from kinda-sorta... the new flooring and paint look nice to Wow, we're almost there!  It's amazing what a lot of trim will do.  The flooring project started in October and finished up last night with the thresholds!  We installed interlocking vinyl plank in Rustic Maple from Floor & Decor.

Now that we're nearing the end of the basement project, it makes more sense to post pictures of it.  Every time a new "something" went in, I was so excited about the progress that I went down and took pictures.  But I realize that these micro-accomplishments aren't too exciting if it's not your own basement, even if it took us all day to do!  So I'll limit this post to before and after shots.  There will be more "after" shots when we get furniture and toys in place; that's part of the kids' surprise-- and our ongoing work.

There's a nook under the foyer that was a bit cave-like, and the kids have always loved to hide in there.  We added vinyl beadboard to cover up the ripped drywall give it a cottage feel, and New Daddy has materials to build a small, built-in bookcase under the lower staircase in the back of the nook.  That bookcase, and installing closet doors and closet shelves/rods are the outstanding items on our list.

While we were installing flooring everywhere, we went ahead and did an "oh, why not?" laundry room update.  Egregious drywall holes were repaired, the walls got paint for the first time, and the cabinets opted for "Barcelona white" and brushed nickel hardware.  It feels a little French country to me, and the color is Eddie Bauer Lavender Heather (lavender is from French laver, to wash).  After I realized that the hole to the left of the cabinets was for the old owners to hang a bar (there was another hole on the opposite wall... ghetto, yes?), I've realized that this is a great place for a hanging bar!  We'll be installing a shelf/bar over the dryer the correct way ;).

 

I've realized that you can't expect kids to hang up a wardrobe of dress-up clothes and play silks on hangers, or to fold sheets and put them back in drawers after they've made five tents that day.  Instead, we're going for visible, do-able storage.  We got Expedit cube storage from Ikea, and I've gotten ideas from my mama reading the book, Organizing Solutions for People with ADHD.  We're using things like see-through mesh cubes, and lots of hooks and wall knobs.

  

More before and after pics...