Laundry room to mud room (Oh yeah)

<p>Hello there! Hope you had a wonderful weekend! We had a great one – I got some DIY time in, some quality kiddo time and even a date with the hubs! And it wasn’t 101 degrees – bonus! :)</p> <p>I’m sharing a before and after today that’s been a loooong time coming. I’m giddy about it. Grinning like mad. Elaine Benes dance happy. It’s not anything Pinterest worthy, but let me tell you…it’s <strong>BIG</strong>. (To me.)</p> <p>This weekend was momentous – the former laundry/mud room is now just a MUD ROOM. <strong></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5">Can I get an AMEN??</font></strong></p> <p>I took this picture minutes before the waster and dryer were moved out:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2BfroRJ5VQMzlgztr8xdpP3z6BROnj6iUPwzgmNlBut83YgV-ee04_lBOTxf7RRXaNrcENjxbeSwxlIe3QCYcEjtD0v1ibKJH2VBbE1-J8FiwMDBRkHYDeMbLUX7IZ6cKYP88kxukLLc/s1600-h/photo%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="yes, this is real" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2v6yEECWtqZB_sxvl8Yl8rLw0SvUIaBbHGMz7vhaBPRHDVYeP7xaEXaYM_FHP0QEKhQkMRKXQSsSWyhGZGTpwjadzGOjThw3jOwfdAGakohCNROGSFI4PEOyfYA7avGsCgmXqicGJ5Q/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="yes, this is real" width="360" /></a></p> <p>It looked like that all. the. time. Every time thought to myself, “Self, are you <em>sure</em> you want to move the washer and dryer downstairs?” I would walk back into this room. </p> <p>Yep, yep I do. </p> <p>I tried. Tried to make it work, tried to keep it organized. It was not within my realm of…well…anything. I couldn’t do it. </p> <p>This room has a long road ahead of it, and all I’ve done so far is move everything that was on the left over to the right (where the washer and dryer were), and it’s made all the difference in the world:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8I62W0BC9ZyGZPa4RrKAORgY5jmhYcOA_C6nqaWraweuLwXv8QwcfGuR2w6UuyooaPl3JsjNDw6cJ-AKKYyVjdBvoivRlhyphenhyphenh3vRso48_3n-KkNWuyhThj9l_K1pkoYrt_IyYUiQ8VcJY/s1600-h/IMG_2347%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCJBPpPZ2sgo-zufRPG0HvQqpRfaIwH2UWN5ppyCyWJQNv-pwxuOgBGDqOapzeKl7wF2mxCjqOz3o-lCQPiFL7tPKu2C-vMtaFO27wVRcjnXlD4CaDU3OJJ265ohTUL9eCsV0EktEDRY/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="325" /></a></p> <p>You can now see when I painted this room I didn’t bother to move the W/D – I just painted around them. ;) No one could tell. Till now. </p> <p>I also didn’t move them to install the beadboard, so that’s coming soon. For now I moved the shelf up about a foot and took the hooks that were on the long wall on the left and hung them underneath:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9QVJgLd2FnYK4b0ZhqYVqhQHsizlevYePDgUBeZFhPwv5fzCUS5200KozM36Nw4EZO-GxFwetJE38rFy9AdGQ_3DNXRsM1t7noHqkQ1FMkpDt03qQPvKk5IfoD8Fy50IlVpUliybJGU/s1600-h/IMG_2350%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="in between mud room" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjHHSZkX8zYbrI8AaV4TsdaSVphvPVtCr2aecvNB8MiF9l5NUR48xijFHk-1KPQ8Vi9ISs0U74EU0nw19TpX7jK96EuKYz30lVRqKPLBAGB0pOUUCHwWZTBa5DmOkafyA36c9F2rG1ptA/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="in between mud room" width="320" /></a></p> <p>My goal was to make this room functional before the Bub starts school in a few weeks. (Kindergarten. Sniff. No, I don’t want to talk about it.) </p> <p>I feel a meeeeellion times more organized already. I feel like we can breath when we walk in and out of our house:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgioh_GdCyDDYomwICeb4I1dK63BWIwNhiR2bUeihFrT18n4CYv_h4z60iVplBjz0kXXE7B1dY6c05LlTNUWU9i6rLHnHAk3nOnlFKHeN_xVROB_FNKDTrS5t153QomGUqs2DzKLD5wnOA/s1600-h/IMG_2356%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpPN1ReyIaftySwhZa4xpLSEAJg_76B57VcV6wrD2awGvjR-rYJSMVvSK39Z81Rad26PW7_6g5YAHJRdfHH6WzxZg-z73lLHf5H1VUK-7hn7KssvPA3Ej0OmKsExZJlkZBK8Lu7TqMy0/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="320" /></a></p> <p>Doesn’t it look AMAZING????? OK, I know it’s kind of a mess still, but I have rose-colored-mud-room glasses on and I think it’s stinkin’ beautiful. ;) I am so thrilled to have such a large, open space as a mud room. (It feels HUGE to me now.)</p> <p>I have big plans for this room, of course. Beadboard, paint, new trim (casing, baseboards and crown), maybe new lighting, a bench, coat storage and cabinets and storage up to the ceiling in that cubby area. </p> <p>Oh, and I can take that vinyl down cause <em>it’s not a laundry room anymore</em>: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2GuaWlzv2n-spvGzC7YUkX_nYwrUT3QLnxrByZT26D-r-T0LwkMRHUaQ4RhQufmHjqhrNQ35lt78sUXF0n2eoCzBc8lYObd7VwMBM2ozZ6xpKO9nMFBJKLo5NeJYLhCnWfyPrxIrbf04/s1600-h/IMG_2351%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="yellow and black laundry room" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_LPzWrccUiyNDuLBDfLTs4ljhWSnuVwx9dt-EGS0yoTgzI52MDTd5aCkPd6tFRUX2-KOHX0P2P7GTtkq9sV6yHdwwdpw3WN0g5-l9DGJHoKy8EB-YTfk1LAewXHZiUyRB_jGhXVTxZY/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="yellow and black laundry room" width="320" /></a></p> <p>Booyah.</p> <p>Best day <strong>ever</strong>!! All weekend we noticed the little things – like we can walk out of the house as a family instead of lining up single file. It’s fantastic. :)</p> <p>I’ve been trying to decide on a wall color for months and I <em>think</em> I found it this weekend. Right now I’m just really excited to put baseboards back in here. See, the little things – it doesn’t take much to make me happy. </p> <p>Do you have a dedicated mud room? Do you love it? If you don’t have one, have you figured out a way to make your main entry more organized? Do tell! </p> <p> </p> <p>**You can see how I changed out the ugly metal utility doors <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/05/laundry-list.html">here</a> and how I installed the peel and stick tile <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/11/hello-all-hope-your-week-is-going-swell.html">here</a>. And if you’d like to see how this room looked after it’s first redo, check out <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2008/10/spray-paint-finger.html">this post</a> from way back when. ;)</p>

Laundry room to mud room (Oh yeah)

Hello there! Hope you had a wonderful weekend! We had a great one – I got some DIY time in, some quality kiddo time and even a date with the...

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The new laundry chute!

<p>Hey hey! How are YOU? And <em>you</em>? :) </p> <p>I’m back with a project I’m SO SO SO excited about!! You may remember that as a part of our basement finishing process, we decided to move the washer and dryer to the basement. </p> <p>I know, some people think I’m a little cray cray for doing it. I get it. I talked about our reasoning <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/04/case-for-basement-laundry-room.html">here</a>. And let me tell you, I am counting down the DAYS till it gets moved down there. It will be the best. day. ever. </p> <p>Anyhoo, one thing I wanted to do if we were moving the washer and dryer down a level was to install a laundry chute -- we made that part of the “finishing plan.” Laundry chutes are kind of like basements for me – I just think they are the <strong>coolest</strong>. At first I thought there was no way we could do one in our house, but when we decided to finish the basement, I started to really think about where we could put one. </p> <p>I did some sleuthing for a few weeks – a lot of walking up and down the steps, taking measurements, figuring our where things were. At first I thought we could put a chute down from the floor in our master closet. Then it was the upstairs bathroom linen closet, but I realized a while later that I was waaay off in my measurements. </p> <p>So I sat on it some more and finally figured it out. The idea only came to me because a former decorating client of mine did just the same thing – she had a chute installed in the bottom of a bathroom vanity. </p> <p>And the day I figured out we could do the same, I did a happy happy dance of JOY! JOY! (Name that cartoon.) The start of our laundry chute is at the very right, under the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/07/show-us-your-bathrooms.html">vanity in our bathroom</a>:</p> <p><img alt="maple bathroom cabinets" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivkmHWYScA1k6wbYIVrQiSAk25Mst_DkAUYyJ-n5QrrfHNH-f-yq5r4-oaa717IprWw6qRNkBiE0_V4V57TRVTHCCrzYfrIYma3WAZCLRAo-Oqee4Igaea9K3s_Z7bXqfY5Ehe8XYLAp0/?imgmax=800" title="maple bathroom cabinets" width="320" /></p> <p>I didn’t get a pic of the inside because I ran out of daylight and our bathroom has horrible lighting. Anyway, that’s where it starts. </p> <p>It goes down through our powder room closet, and then into the basement. Now I thought about doing this myself, but I’ve never cut through floors before (egads!) and didn’t have the tools to do so. I was also <em>scared to death</em> of cutting into something major, like electrical, plumbing, whatever. </p> <p>So I asked the guys who have done all our basement work if they were interested and if they thought they could do it. They were all into it and then came up with a brilliant plan to make it happen. </p> <p>I have to say, these guys have been around a ton over the past seven months and we get along awesome. It was SO fun to see them so excited about this project. They were practically giddy with their idea. </p> <p>And that idea was, instead of framing out a chute and then building it up with walls (that would have to be ultra smooth – metal or sheeting or laminate, but nothing that has any rough edges so it would grab clothes – they were going to use PVC pipe. </p> <p>Like this:</p> <p><img alt="" src="http://images1.americanlisted.com/nlarge/12_sewer_water_pvc_pipe_c900_c_900_12_inch_50_pipes_7_myakka_city_13731567.jpg" title="" /></p> <p>Thing is, the original plan I had thought up was going to require them to rebuild our linen closet in the powder room off to the side (long story, but the chute was going to take up a ton of room). This idea made it so they could run it through the closet, build new shelves around it and we’d save the cost of building a new linen closet. </p> <p>The pipe is not cheap – I think it was $20 a foot? So we paid a bit more in materials, but <em>a lot</em> less in labor. Especially since no new closet was needed. </p> <p>We ran into a snag going up in the bathroom upstairs (hit a water pipe) that they had to rework, and then going down, we were too far over into the basement. The clothes would have landed on a cement wall and studs in the basement. </p> <p>But they guys came up with a solution, and that was to get fittings that curved the pipe, so it landed in an open spot into the basement. It was only a few inches over but it was PERFECT:</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwUZzcVeLRZ5u1wPvDyVEZYgQC84mdK5aSQP4cULfFryT4KoSzqdhtax0SyyX1jPCfAg8L-DBTQdRJeK5SEqjvSAotreqbUcwYVJKO76-KjpIg06PJB_O_id77eqqTr8nXBbgh2Ky-Aqo/s1600-h/IMG_2316%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY laundry chute" border="0" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZk2NvPurAnuSbuItAx8wUAzT33KCI-2BGuOYjl2IBhzSR68GrsGQpZcp-ImORi1P3eHnjiQga5JXBmPFCC0TeCKPQBBRx9Mp_3bThbRVL_N_zmvybQWOpvgueqsSd7TU5bFx08wV6FU/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DIY laundry chute" width="290" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK9YQxl69L8jlOBHdKIxqRKjFKpj8D1lyJsAVz1ZG_rVNzvql8LnnvwEEJYYybdoYcCFnFPACUn3AyYUo0PNdeDNZBJVtZIdnZdWz0MxJ-qHUBLb6z8fkblYE-3Ir3YKNQtTdEWO03Dlk/s1600-h/IMG_2317%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="laundry chute pvc pipe" border="0" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgniFLGR7NJ7W6APJiTn3igkGQIwevujM0QG3wfY5gU6znkcByANtlHtHfD7mKZAofAx0pvkS-jYcQe7EHVRAgNvlwfllRfRX-mZ2wJNLnNmRgsCXar7dgZcnwBiH3XUzy9Zcr2sKhuz88/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="laundry chute pvc pipe" width="290" /></a> </p> <p>You can see that they were able to rebuild the shelving in there (done the same way I built the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/02/no-more-wire-shelves-pantry-redo.html">new shelves for the pantry</a>) so I am still able to get necessities into that closet:</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_wpq26lWgZobmGNO5q2pQsaNICpE4PpJn3tDk1MXPIBVHIdqIrwT156zDif5ztByMcWafC8oppMGi9xXbC879kXCoO0lYAUVuBj2Wwg93heNu3nFazknMnAMZn809iBC4Ce6YZhkj6ec/s1600-h/IMG_2319%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><img alt="pvc pipe laundry chute" border="0" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZ2PS5ZWOcpSa4KRovcz9Pzn6u638ZLlqHY-inVl-YJwgGgn9OVjPVqBUPYyUx-COlh2Jc_u0QuoCkZTvhOKn-IibNzwEJ0cGmqohoJBeGNQQ6j-skg-sWDiwTjjGstJjeJmjAlbQ0VI/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="pvc pipe laundry chute" width="290" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURWPLVAz9Sl9OhIFAUu59ESlg5cTaOu1T0bkTl4EdfvJJ15eCy2u5m-qRi7UuBxwY_yZTKN2BXw4N4nhuobGR2zDLVAZ3Fa_xH-7Z4RSvRW664ItXTybRek7WRn4oy0n6JeG5waxWJfg/s1600-h/IMG_2320%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq9ahHSeJm8zyo7hhJaZ6BvAKbqjkmBhOrU0DdpXaWwE850A0FBd-W4aBH37-nhG_pwLBJmu6wG431s9zeeKp9ZwKvuuspPprnv9PcH3ccA9B8WAIvpLXa0tcb88qlESsYQ8uuB2VtT_w/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="" width="290" /></a> </p> <p>I did a bit of a purge, so even though I lost about half of the storage, I still only had to move a couple baskets down to the basement. And eventually we’ll have mud room storage, so I’ll be able to use that if I want to keep the stuff upstairs. </p> <p>I still need to fill holes in the closet walls (from the old wire shelves), paint the wood shelves, and I may even paint the pipe. I wonder if paint would stick? How funny would it be to make it a fun color or something? </p> <p>I think it is hilarious when I open this door now and see this huge sewer pipe. HILARIOUS. It just make me giggle uncontrollably. Seriously. </p> <p>The chute ends in the basement and the guys made a little box with a door:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9FdmIMnyYZkwbZg2cZJBSmGK36XOogRFDfktoUhdYKZGBPz4_V0AlblZJhOPQBG4AsfETellg5KFYAEjb5BuiohRBGSF6LeBqk2YjHvzXcSFxfHlUpfR8zvXVlwnQC_XTmLrO4LMqos/s1600-h/IMG_2322%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFp1JfGirFlFOCV0SMYz0j93Y3lKtvn0KRjLRye5EIa_4cySog6fd8OIQrsR28xSVUT3mJJOuJLB8x1UNSYQAt-UQ8jXeZiO0b5WDhmWXUC0PwXDBZ8E8Gb0sZHdyuxGUN3z5jHHup2fM/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="320" /></a></p> <p>I’ll fill the holes, caulk and paint it and you won’t even notice it! </p> <p>They used latches to keep the door secure:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCIV_Ptd4y18KTUe9ad2N0sQhU2JX6xbdRs2ZuKeo2CUP5WHFEipGfLAgAeYdmQMjCkk2UnpLQFdRs3dX07KVyyOFV9zpgnxpo4ZENRqbuQdOvfYCmiGemC6qbgV54ynfyNjQ2pi_0vU8/s1600-h/IMG_2323%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bPNesnV0i7YDHCRV9GnH19SvK-PAbdo0KN2q76_i1RxjY61a5e7u7Q2WC9RevYLgCVhIWFeT7HlD67yxS_xCYzhG0hJssGisFdetD_CnRtrG_pf8FCfqHN3KGJa1mryrAyiEIshR9aE/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="450" /></a></p> <p>And it works! The pipe is wide enough I can send towels or even throw rugs down no problem. The great thing is the inside is a smooth as a babes bottom, so everything sails right through, even with the little angle. Nothing for anything to get caught on!</p> <p>There’s a few things I want to add, just for safety reasons. Some consider laundry chutes to be a safety concern when it comes to fires – if a fire started in the basement, it would have a straight shot upstairs. But from my research online and talking to folks, the same could be said for staircases, so opinions vary on that. </p> <p>To be safe, I’m going to order a fire safe metal door to go in the basement (instead of the wood door). I’m also considering using some of the leftover PVC pipe and extending the chute down a bit more into room, then framing that out, so it’s closer to the floor.</p> <p>If you have young kids, there’s things to think about, obviously. I’ve heard some stories about things and people (??) heading down chutes! Our kiddo is too big to fit in this of course, and he’s just not the type that would try to actually go <em>down</em> the thing. But just to be safe (with smaller kids in the house occasionally) I plan to put a child lock on that bathroom vanity door. The guys made a lid for the chute, and I’m going to install a lock on it so only we can get the lid off. </p> <p>I cannot tell you how WICKED COOL this thing is!! We are just tickled by it. :) It’s got me soooo ready to get that laundry room going – so hopefully I’ll have more to share on that soon!! </p> <p>So did you have a laundry chute growing up? Or have one now? Any fun stories to tell? :) My grandparents have one and I always thought it was just the coolest thing. I would open it up just to look down into the basement every chance I got – just because I could. ;) </p>

The new laundry chute!

Hey hey! How are YOU? And you ? :) I’m back with a project I’m SO SO SO excited about!! You may remember that as a part of our basement fi...

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Stick a fork in it (The basement is done!)

<p>Well, almost. :) Done enough I tell you! Today was the day – the carpet was installed in the basement and we have been <strong>so</strong> excited about it! I know I’ve said it about every big part of the basement reno, but the carpet made such a HUGE difference. </p> <p>I talked about our plan for the basement flooring back <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/04/lets-talk-basement-flooring.html">here</a> when we had a different carpet picked out. Since then a new one came available that was SO much softer and only $200-something more than our original option. </p> <p>It’s a Mohawk carpet, and the design is called Honored Tradition:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfw7fMlZqF8dQFb-vHMel83kA6x1WUfL70TldiTVztKvRfwabXb4HRybVea93uxVWR-HNjaHQs7fHhi3ZSRb_CDno6X0yyJgjThgpkNu1A_6-_lSgqK3b2mLuURIn85By6Ar8Y1cnmlCw/s1600-h/Capture%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Capture" border="0" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq9j4uUfCCXtmhzJ7-FkAU9cuFpZqVayVbtH9BQbLGoW8zDSZjMQWStGqiP37-hGIf9xWE8hUFYqISULr6-dUbDFn1v4fqVTuSeYVk5HTRCpQRwYEr1BO63vVS5TdrPfqNr52IENi99Rw/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Capture" width="450" /></a></p> <p>We went with a lighter carpet with a gray tone to it. I chose this one because our upstairs carpet has a really slight gray undertone and I LOVE it. I brought this sample upstairs to match that color as much as possible – but this one is much grayer (and a bit darker). </p> <p>It has a slight design to it, but in my pics you really don’t notice it. I’m so glad I changed the plan at the last minute cause this is soooo much softer than the first one we had picked out! We upped the thickness of the padding too so it’s super cushy down there. </p> <p>LOVE. And by the way, it is not lost on me that I couldn’t wait to get rid of the carpet on our main level last fall (for the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/10/our-new-house.html">hardwoods after a leak</a>), and now I’m thrilled about carpet. :) We were just so tired of those cold, dusty cement floors. So. tired.</p> <p>Here’s some before and after pics of the basement – it’s come a long way in the past seven months!! Bear with me though because things are still very basic and I kinda just threw toys on the shelves. I spent the whole day putting the room back together. :)</p> <p>Here’s a shot of my craft area before:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrtJh4gysFUBci3zbDiUc5UbDK0XF4P_HkdZ1oKEd_giXuH_N3MZxT_wmaHCWvSJyUzxfMjQH9PFHZmTTdExmaHdeE8qq-VwR63rbqspSYFgE0KftqQpt5Ei5qr2UPIjfImGR9QheamOE/s1600-h/IMG_3307%25255B3%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDrIb40DP_ltCKNulLc58xZoJ6XBHxwz5FUrfRcEJNUg9ZsXP_r7QrIDe3hAuBfcZ30q-21zBq7TPJL_pyCvg9N6mDTXsXFhbcgpYN-fjCXfbdjyrQfq7vc6Or4QKFBV61ZNWjiGULKjs/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="400" /></a></p> <p>And that same spot now:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjME9h9wyDFfp7Shkla6JBXvoFZl6aBFvPP5v_-1nSBPY-8WO9ZzKCcNRxPnwPlzbcck2FRnwJeI9WZBTKjl-tIAGWDJjvd9FKqlpaeMA11ugidMlp_fRomAP71Nkk-GGTP8UnuF6PSjo8/s1600-h/IMG_2304%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Mohawk carpet honored tradition" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicn9jwjKYZRaAQwIAKiBCHhC_w0U9W6p3kOOYV05Nqa3oEuUYx4zKzb0wiBij4KlT2Mdbsp3JXzrsyLuvpEDJg-2cVsV4r-UI-1CYcmjz2uHfuMpxfJYVaooD_B3IrY8Bbw84UQnEAow/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Mohawk carpet honored tradition" width="339" /></a></p> <p>Little different, eh? :) OH my goodness, I am so thrilled!!</p> <p>Those who are super observant will notices my <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/02/diy-craft-table.html">DIY craft table</a> got moved. I changed things up a bit, and I love it so far. I’ll talk more about that soon! </p> <p>This was a shot of the basement last year, into what is now the family room area:</p> <p><img alt="" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7jWH9JSb_dXAc3r7yO-uw-amK2-xheXJkvwDSups3nsdlUN5Gqp6WJzD68f6wJAMViRnl5R8bXUGm2xvkxpDepYy2xnbsRgisbfbBhmaxQCjxVfIadNKDjd5_ambvFDVXQpMZ4q151Y/?imgmax=800" title="" width="450" /></p> <p>This is that same spot now:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLcaZs1J_wLD-W7REKobbfz9uw41cBirPH8Dsl0V0MVucb249dWGjs0pWETVtv4VBqiPy3uPV-ktIq6WtUOAdiPstEgrMcp0SUv7J6LF8gARyU4482v6E5DOuJhEtyzKI_uAg4F4qGn0/s1600-h/IMG_2308%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="basement carpet " border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizaLdeRzBwX7GxIVS7D6PZ43JTDYUI7nkqIoRQqeI9OYlfEo8LPslL4bZ9z_FzwejotD3u36YEJqQxGPwv8zXAEqQoT3yjcdDQwdhg0lZiX1JfmqYALvZDSEb8jP3F7FTFLKe1ElPDcC0/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="basement carpet " width="372" /></a></p> <p>One of my favorite parts of having a finished basement? Getting rid of all those random rugs and carpet remnants. I think we had eight of them down there and they were so gross from the drywall dust! </p> <p>The Bub’s toys used to line the “wall” of our storage area:</p> <p><img alt="plastic shelving" border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZmYmK5XR_7APFlaIYltxWiKMNPhOn1uoKQ9EjarLhIDt7HjnYuER4G5rHFugMGM3ETAa0kxKkP_JKnwrsUeUEmN51T0ruRogDlKQ5iEZAukKmbZIHQTT6cO6M2y8BZi37kRJs5i2ZvtQ/?imgmax=800" title="plastic shelving" width="400" /></p> <p>And now that area (to the right) has an actual door and walls. ;) Best. things. ever.:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifo5tpl6-KirK4AKoPFANi_dJYGTj7CRd0EJ6_PXcj5HJjPf5DId2fYEHZ1bwmJPJVk7dKUL4NbRmzBdF81HAXWJTqXan_R9fImYdMcZUjhAbTZF-mwphUMoee_0iaOy8gYH0k1Wp0xPU/s1600-h/IMG_2311%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Mohawk carpet honored tradition" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIWyodaWDesdhhCCELcChHUNfjCVZ-YD7fKjDTGwsKb_F4ETmInnlz6cYhdqvXxlIQ887qTISltJ_SNkvIlRzCcDhS8u2jQnCc5yLLFgcCkGDc-nA0ChqrXBlqKa4wtpyKhNrr8bb6E4/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Mohawk carpet honored tradition" width="450" /></a></p> <p></p> <p>I got rid of so much stuff, there’s not many places to sit down there. :) We have a solution for that, but we have to figure out if we can get it down the basement steps first. (Crossing fingers.) </p> <p>This was a picture of the length of the basement before, and it shows how how far back it goes:</p> <p><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTpoTfrpQklBtIuB6EMsKQSo7BjGN_E8Dzx_hw9p86P-niS5F2YeP1fCpdpJ5WBsgiTN3oErdZTaJ7OgiaNDPHks24Pah9PH6DRke1gHMPg50DAC1HRjREy58SemqbWFSS3uc_Z5wKm8/?imgmax=800" title="" width="320" /></p> <p>That area is segmented into rooms now – most of which are still awaiting finishing. :) </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3fNyoS32I5A-fUFtiGR31MNNmMFW-w-OxcMLYNsu9wDnAeRAmepFDUVK_dzEtiQmoco7JpbXmqtD5on8XDOIsd3g1PMJEDNL5i2bcE50zHvqVDeAcEkZw-nYk8Td4yiUaQykMMWls-U/s1600-h/IMG_2315%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Mohawk carpet honored tradition" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7tHy7u3PrDN9tbdjWWDDi_rCzzzAdwAOMrAj6W8kRvpp4p5HDWTWKxPTCG0pg00jQ4FsrpAWUgwdi7SBxQQJNtAzIREMbP8QIr6cwZnOYYzRIt-3yDOq4lUIDfUagqzj8-WYEuNLmYJ0/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Mohawk carpet honored tradition" width="450" /></a></p> <p>Those doors still need to be painted – I’m going dark!</p> <p>Here’s another photo of the opposite direction:</p> <p><img alt="basement play area" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlT0gT9y1ursySG4j5XZc3ex0Q3miovUTPnpyFfqMfLhuwUnQgfSxx6i2sMeDtEKH6Catbdhp4f7doVd5uPzt5Z6CgERf2SJoaYsTWN252zMtIweei0Cn87Pb3itNcqAcaYDN690NIEo/?imgmax=800" title="basement play area" width="320" /></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>And how it looks today:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0oze6bhPgbZmzArFDsTJA3h1DIeEjyHZprWbdXNeISV7nwH88Qpa5hGDZw5LGMVHeYXcmyp23_7EEOAj_DTIobqLZTK3xtUM7qesLZX0XQtSTYR2fx0SXJEjLE3oHXR5xkoDHZKHBQ8/s1600-h/IMG_2313%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Mohawk carpet honored tradition" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfSAyM6YPMT8OICOeSoBzcb2ufswEl968Y9hnATKjGI_Kk4iwtxkH0uDz-ZbPHxDZBMndeHuq11TafmShA8_iRXGcJMJ9APtSTSUvll5AfBoXCyDowU0Z7ZBEL1OFJeSPEkR8QR6EscY/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Mohawk carpet honored tradition" width="450" /></a></p> <p>It keeps striking me that the space looks so much bigger with walls, ceilings and flooring. You would think they would make it feel smaller? But I think it feels massive now! Of course that will change as we fill it back up with items, but I do want the family room to feel cozy and warm so I’m good with that. </p> <p>I can’t believe it’s (pretty much) done!! There’s still a very long to do list. Lots of painting yet to do, tiling two rooms, moving the washer and dryer, lighting in the laundry and bathroom, a sink, toilet, trim work…and I haven’t even started all the fun decorating projects I have planned for this space. I cannot wait to have some fun with it instead of constant DIY projects. ;) </p> <p>Once I compile all the receipts I’ll do a final post about the whole basement finishing process and how the costs came out. And there’s one final BIG project that we’re working on this week that I can’t wait to show you! </p> <p>So what do you think? Big changes huh?? It feels like forever since we started but it’s only been about seven months. I think it will be a good nine or ten months before it’s completely finished, but having dust-free, cushy flooring underfoot <em>feels</em> like the final frontier. I have been fighting the urge to roll around on it all day. ;)</p>

Stick a fork in it (The basement is done!)

Well, almost. :) Done enough I tell you! Today was the day – the carpet was installed in the basement and we have been so excited about it!...

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