a peek inside the fishbowl

22 Jan, 2014

Fishbowl reno post #58 – the dungeon

Posted by andrea tomkins in: Home/reno

I wrote 57 posts about our home reno, but I don’t think I mentioned our basement once. Well, maybe once, but that’s it. I haven’t written about it because it is completely embarrassing. I am ashamed of the state of our basement. ASHAMED. Boxes, junk, stuff, more stuff, new stuff, old stuff. STUFF. Gah. Perhaps if I write about it here I will be more accountable.

When you plan a huge reno like we did, you go in with guns blazing and long lists of Things I Would Like To Have In Our New House. Our list included things like a fireplace, a huge overhaul of the exterior finishing, a main floor laundry etc., but there comes a point where your budget and your dreams don’t exactly mesh. A finished basement was one of the things that was struck off that list. BUT. The basement did get expanded (we decided the addition off the back of our house should have a basement underneath it) and we had them drywall, and build a wall to separate the laundry and work area. So that’s something, right? But it’s a G.D. disaster down there and I honestly haven’t known where to begin.

Oh sure, we’ve been picking away at it here and there – emptying boxes and organizing things – and it’s been incredibly overwhelming. Call it post-reno burnout. But last night Mark and I decided to take a stab at it. So here we are, phase one:

IMG_5711

More to come soon. Wish me luck.


1 Response to "Fishbowl reno post #58 – the dungeon"

1 | Susan Young

January 23rd, 2014 at 6:25 am

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I loved this post, especially the part where you say, “It’s a G.D. disaster down there…” as I haven’t heard that turn of phrase for a very long time, and it made me happy to hear it. Congratulations on finding a place to begin.

The reno burnout is something I’ve never considered, but that makes a lot of sense as an explanation for the G.D. mess in my own basement.

After 23 years I’m looking for new theories. My former favorite theory came from a Physics teacher friend who assured me that nature loves disorder, and that no matter how many times you tidy and organize, chaos will return. That still comforts me. If it’s nature’s way, it must be good. Right?!!

Enjoy your great beginning, and may you continue to prevail over your own basement chaos. I won’t hold you accountable, unless you want me to.

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