Also a slow decorator. So, enjoy the simplistic style that I have attained. Although, some of that is purposeful. The basement is where boys have other boys over and engage in Nerf wars and other escapades. I'd rather not have to worry about things getting broken.
When we bought this house, we knew we would aim to finish the basement. Our house is a ranch.....and I need to tell boys to go to another level sometimes. The basement has engineered trusses.....which is nice because then you don't have to have big metal supports in the middle of the basement. Plus, the basement ceiling was a little higher than most typical builds.
Here is a BEFORE picture that we took when considering to buy the house.
We started this project late last fall. Those early stages always feel like they move along slowly......Framing, electrical, plumbing, air ducts....Not always super exciting, but I suppose, very necessary.
There was that one time where we bought 96 long sheets of drywall. We even rallied a couple friends to help us carry them all to the basement. Once down there, we discovered that half of the sheets were the wrong thickness. The store had prepared the order ahead of time.....but I suppose Adam and his sidekick could have double-checked them upon loading. Soooo.....1/2 of them had to be hauled back out of the basement, loaded up, and returned to the store. And then the correct half had to be loaded, unloaded, and hauled to the basement. If I was a cussing woman, I felt that would have been a time where a few would have flown.
We (meaning Adam) do most of the work. We hire out a few things. He had someone come and double check all of his electrical work. He had a few extra hands help him insulate. He had an expert double-check his plumbing and install a pump (Yep, you have to buy a pricey pump if you are going to have a toilet in the basement. It's purpose is to pump out any solid waste. If you didn't know that was necessary, well, now you do. I suggested just never letting anyone go #2 down there......). And Adam always prefers to hire out the drywall mudding.
We even employed our boys.
I did my fair share of hauling supplies to the basement, sanding walls and trim, taping, and all of the painting of the walls and cupboards. I'm also very good at asking, "So....what's next?"
The sink in the cupboards is not installed. And we are still debating on installing a microwave above the sink. Adam wants to have a hidden entrance to his mancave/storage area. He'd like to put a bookcase behind the sliding barn door that goes to it. So, when you slide the door, you'd initially see the bookcase, but then the bookcase would also slide open. Tricky, eh?! (If you remember the hidden trick door at our GR house, you'll not be surprised at this idea.)
We've already hosted a handful of guests. And we're ready for more!
This is the third basement we've taken from unfinished to finished.
