Updates

So, not only did our basement get structurally finished, but Emily celebrated a birthday! The little punk turned 13!

She had the extreme pleasure of flying to Florida with Aunt Judy to commemorate Emily and Grandma Mulder's shared birthday. She had so much fun visiting and playing with the cousins. Grandpa Mulder even had Emily working by collecting eggs and baking bread.

And, when I think about it, I will post a picture of the most awesome rolling pin that Grandma and Grandpa gave her for her birthday. It is a beautiful, full-sized maple rolling pin that I have been forbidden to touch. I will be expecting some pies soon with treatment like that.

More to come...

Did You Think I Forgot?

No, our basement project did not get stalled, but life got in the way. I have been so busy with school stuff and dealing with the contractors, that I did not have time to post any pictures. We are not finished by any means. We still need to put furniture in the guest room and Jeff's office needs to be put together so that he can comfortably work from home.
Here is Noelle enjoying electronic entertainment.

The exercise area.

Long view of the room.


Down the hallway.

The bathroom. I am still looking for a mirror.

Another view of the bathroom.

Jeff's soon-to-be office.


The ample sized closet in Jeff's office.

Bar area.

Basement Finish-Days 17 and 18

We have color on the walls! I really love the wall color, but am not really hot on the trim. I think that it might have more to do with the semi-gloss finish, but somehow, it just doesn't seem like the sample. Perhaps when the floor is done it will take on a different hue.

On Monday, concrete staining begins!

We knew it was coming...

Considering that Jeff and I are both blind without our spectacles and Emily is already in contacts, we knew that it was only a matter of time before Reese and Noelle would follow suit. Well, within about 2 weeks of each other, they BOTH needed glasses.

Noelle needs her glasses all the time because the poor kid was testing at 20/100! How she managed all this time, I don't know.


Reese has reading glasses, so she chose a pair that was a little more funkier.

Basement Finish-Days 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16

I apologize for not keeping up with the pictures. We have been crazy busy and I missed a few days. After the drywall went up, the surfaces were taped, mudded and textured. The doors are up and trimmed out. Tomorrow, the painters will be here and that process will take a couple of days. As it stands, the floor staining will start on Monday. Yippee!

Basement Finish-Day 11

The drywallers were here today and managed to get all of the sheetrock up. I assume that they will be here tomorrow to start the taping and mudding. We're getting there!

This is the kitchenette area and the doorway to the spare room.


Looking from the TV area to the other side of the room.


Looking from the spare room to the TV area.

Basement Finish-Day 10

Not much happened last week. One day was spent having various inspectors come through to sign off on the framing, electrical and plumbing. After that, insulation went in. Today, they dropped off the drywall and will start work tomorrow. Yippee!!

Basement Finish-Days 8 and 9

Days 8 and 9 dealt with the electrical and HVAC subs making sure we would be properly juiced and heated. There isn't much in the way of pictures because, well frankly, it's just not that interesting.

We decided to go with mainly can lights because we do not have the luxory of high ceilings in the basement and Jeff did not want to feel like he had to stoop when he walked down there. Here are the cans for the TV area.

Here are the cans for the exercise area.

Remember that fresh air intake I told you they would need to move? I think this is where it is going.

Here is the ventilation for the bathroom.

There is still a little more HVAC work to be done and the cable guy will be here on Tuesday. Hopefully, the inspection will also be done on Tuesday and then the drywall starts going up on Wednesday.

Basement Finish-Day 6 and 7

Day 6 ended with the framing being finished and Day 7 had some plumbing work done.

The bathtub.


Roughed in linen closet.

The half-wall in the kitchenette area.

Sink and dishwasher plumbing.

Down the hallway.


Encasing a support pole.


The HVAC people will re-route this air intake and then this will be made into a storage area.


The great room.

Day 5

Day 5 saw more progress with the framing. Framing was to be finished this day, but one of the guys was out sick, so there was only one man here to try and finish up. The framing was completed on Day 6, however, I didn't get a chance to take pictures and then the plumber came by to start work. I will post those pictures later tonight.

Here is the walk-in closet that will be in Jeff's office. To the right is the utility room that will also offer a small amount of storage.


Here is the bathroom.

This is the bonus room.

Here is another view of the bonus room looking through to the bathroom.

One end of the great room that will initially house exercise equipment, but may eventually be turned into a game area.


Down the hallway.


The wall where the TV will sit.