Started From The Bottom

Happy New Year, friends!

It occurred to me recently that many of those who follow this blog haven't seen my basement. I think I mentioned it and showed a few snippets, but never really focused on it.

The door in the center leads to the utility/laundry area and the back door.

The basement is a little over 600 square feet and has a bathroom with a shower. The original real estate listing didn't show the basement so it was such a pleasant surprise to go down there and see this incredible arch and the original radiators. There's even a huge closet under the stair.

Since the basement is partially below ground level, I have a sump pump. During the initial walk through, I tried to pretend like I knew what that was. I mean I knew it pumped water but I really had no clue as to how they worked, so I went home and did some YouTube and Google research. Basically, if too much water comes into the little pot, it turns on the pump to suck the water out so my basement won't flood. I'm happy to have one, but I hope I never have to use it.

The pump is underneath that square board in a hole cut in the floor. I'm not a fan of the electrical situation (cord plugged into an extension cord plugged into a power strip) but hopefully the pump will work if ever the time comes.

Renovating the basement bathroom is a top priority but will have to wait until I can save up the funds to make sure it's done right. It's got some aesthetic issues, but more importantly there are some mechanical concerns. For example, the hot water flows very strong, but the cold water is either a trickle or a geyser. No in between. The vanity is also falling apart and the pipes underneath are exposed to the rock wall behind it (not shown). Since I moved in, I think the bathroom was only used once or twice by human guests (many times by guests of the cricket variety) but these days I just keep the door closed and pretend it doesn't exist.




Part of the initial renovation work I had done included the basement. We replaced the ceiling in the utility area, replaced light fixtures, and did paint throughout.

Part of the ceiling grid for the utility area.

Originally there was this hideous drop ceiling tile from the 70's, but we replaced the entire grid and laid in new 2' x 2' tiles. We didn't skimp and I'm very pleased with how it turned out. Also, this ceiling was/is a mess of all kinds of pipes.

Unfortunately, I can't remember the exact Sherwin-Williams paint color I used, but I really loved how the warm tan color contrasted with the white trim. The carpet is on my list for update, but it's in good condition so it will stay for now.

So now the real question remains. What to do with 600 square feet of space? Ideas include:

• Craft area
• I'm thinking built in shelves, drafting table, and plenty of storage for all my weird crafting materials.
• Photography studio
• Plenty of space to set up but I worry about having expensive equipment in a space that could get wet.
• Potential apartment rental
• This would require a bit of work to meet the code requirement for two exists but it's a possibility.
• TV/Entertainment Area
• Just a second living space with a TV, sofas and maybe a bar. This seems to be a waste of space to me though since my living and dining room seem to be sufficient entertaining space.
• Party Room*

*Specifically, a 1920's style speakeasy...

Whatever I decide, it'll take a lot of thought and a lot of money. I'm up for the challenge.

Thanks for reading!