Saturday, August 24, 2013

Cleaning Up The MESS In The Basement

Start Drooling!
click on photo for link
Don't you love it?
Me!Too!
Too bad it belongs to someone else.
Let's talk reality here!

Our basement is divided into three sections.
One side is a media room and gathering place.
I will show you that another time.

Another section is a small kitchenette
created from the materials from 
 the old kitchen when we remodeled this house.
  This hangs above the old kitchen sink.
The door reflected in the mirror opens to
the utility room holding furnace and water heater.

Now the THIRD space is the one I always hide.
But I am coming clean here.
It's been a MESS down there.
Seriously.
I just couldn't take it another minute.
After lunch I headed down and opened the doors to 
THIS.
Disheartening, huh?
Whenever I ask SOMEONE who shall remain nameless MyHero
to carry something downstairs for me 
it gets DUMPED 
on the floor just inside the door.
Some day I am gonna just dump 
his underwear on the floor
after doing laundry just for fun.
Well, I have HAD ENOUGH so
I start sorting and cleaning and storing.

 I had the bright idea to screen things off.
I whipped up some drop cloth curtains 
and strung them from the rafters to create "rooms".
Behind this curtain is another area screened off for
Christmas stuff.  I don't DARE tell you how many
Christmas totes I have back here.
You would think I was lying anyway.
Oh- SO much better.
The sailboat curtains screens off the paint section.

Remember this is the unfinished part of the basement.
Not perfect but so much better.

Whew- What a lot of work.
I climb the steps feeling tired but relieved 
that the job is done.
I get a Diet Coke and head out the back door to
gaze at the water glad that there are no more
messes hanging over my head.
Or are there?
What the......................?????
your photo name

49 comments:

Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmas said...

I don't have a basement but I know if I did , it would look far worse than yours!! When I tell Joe to take something down our storage shed that we rent, He dumps it inside the door. Yesterday, he said that we can not fit another thing in the shed. After i get done organizing it, wanna bet their will be a lot of room???? LOL!!

Thanks so much for your visits and sweet words. No more ground hogs in the yard yet!!

Hugs,
Deb

must love junk said...

Ha! Diana, you've done a good job organizing your basement! You can come do mine next...my friend says I would be the best Hoarders episode ever (you could literally open a store in my basement-lol!)
Now onto your yard, right? ;)
Susan

Tete said...

You are nuts. Love the water shoe tote. Just not all over the yard. At least they got them in the same acre. I think MyHero's been a very bad influence around there. He should be spanked in public. LOL

Laura @ duke manor farm said...

Sounds like my hubby..."Honey can you take this downstairs"....plop. Have a great weekend.

Musings from Kim K. said...

Great job. Organizing our basement has been on my husband's summer to-do list. It's still on the list. His potting shed trumped organizing the basement.

Jettie said...

LOL I'm betting you dumped that just for the effect.

Boopnut said...

Oh, I feel your pain. My basement is a disaster. What once was our bar contains non working computer systems, video games, etc. My craft area is always in a state of being "orgnanzied." Yeah, in my dreams.

Anonymous said...

that was a lot of work! That swim shoe mess very familiar,,,

Susie said...

Diana, At least you are working on your stock piles. that tote of swim shoes...get the lysol. I know you know better, but I have to say this anyway...please make sure those shoes are bone dry and wrapped in tissue papers or old towels before storing...
I just always fear molds. I have noticed the basement here is getting really out of hand..I wish I could make myself just toss with out even thinking if I need it or not...sometimes , who cares...you know.xoxo, Susie

Preppy Empty Nester said...

I am going through a major purge and loving it. We have so much junk. Hope you're having a great weekend!

Anonymous said...

Good for you. Occasionally, I tackle our garage (now that we don't have a basement!) It feels great to get some organizing accomplished.

Bernideen said...

Diana:
You did a wonderful job. We all have this and basements are wonderful. I would really miss mine when we retire and possibly won't have one where we move as they aren't in all parts of the country.

Kelly said...

Too funny! That seems just like my life. Our basement is unfinished and is strictly a storage area. It becomes a junk room real fast! I love what you did with yours! I bet you feel so much better now when you're looking for something down there. And...........shoes can take over your house REAL quick too!

Donna said...

If your Hero comes up missing, we know where to look! What curtain is Robert Redford hiding behind???

Nellie said...

That is the thing with projects - they are NEVER done!:-) Have a good Saturday! xo Nellie

vivian said...

Ive got some messes here that need my attention too.. but it aint happening today! LOL! Happy Weekend
xoxo

The Porcelain Rose said...

Diana,
LOL! How funny!!!
It must be a "man" thing. My husband is the most un-organized and I'm the exact opposite. He never puts anything away and when he does.... he sticks it wherever it will fit. He never knows where anything is and I know where everything is.
I have some serious organizing to do in my basement, too. I will be moving my craft studio downstairs this fall. I want (need) a larger space where I can paint, craft, sew, iron and do laundry. I have found some wonderful inspiration via blog land and Pinterest.
Wishing a wonderful weekend!
Elizabeth

Debby said...

Whenever my husband brings something in the house he puts it right in clear view. We have many areas where it could be hidden until used but no.....right where someone can see it. Or better yet.....a space that I just cleaned up and is finally clear. Yep, that's where it goes.
Thanks for your sweet comment on me being a clown. It is so fun. My mom....said she never knew why I did that it reminded her of fair people. Thanks mom.....hah.....have a good week-end.

Michele M./ Finch Rest said...

No way I would ever show you my basement. Where I have my china is organized, of course but there is so much stuff I am ashamed.

BUT I am slowly getting rid of the excess - and one day it would be nice if my youngest settles down in a large place of her own and then she can take her entire corner of stuff out - but she lived in a postage stamp place on the ocean in southern Cali - didn't even have basic room let alone room for her grandmother's lamps and her old Barbies she wants to keep, etc.

GLAD you did this, you have somewhat inspired me. But the weather is too pretty to be done there today so it isn't going to happen.

Good for you, darling- and what's with the sandles and such?

Ivy and Elephants said...

That my dear,(believe me) is nothing!
You did a great job, love the idea of using curtains to create sections. Now you know where to find everything.
Hugs,
Patti

camp and cottage living said...

It sounds like you're getting the organizing bug too!
It a lot of hard work...
Too bad we can't help each other.

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Delena said...

I spend half my life re-organizing stuff and getting rid of stuff and getting more stuff. A vicious circle indeed. Love your post, made me smile!
Hugs

Beth said...

You did a great job organizing Diana!

ℳartina @ Northern Nesting said...

It always feels good to get things organized! Once it cools down I need to get my butt in our storage room to do the same thing!

20 North Ora said...

I'm so proud of you! I hate to think how much junk I'd have if I had a full basement. Congratulations to you on conquering the job!

Judy

Chatty Crone said...

Oh my goodness - you close one door and another opens - you sure did a lot of great work today! Good job. Sewing too and hanging them - big job.

Mary@mydogsmygardenandmary said...

Boy you really got things organized down there. I don't have a basement but my garage looks like it's been in a wind storm. I do have it pretty much divided off. I hate to tell you how many bins I have of Christmas stuff but this year some of it is going bye bye.
Rest tomorrow....
Mary

The Project said...

We are birds of a feather today... I was un cluttering...and my post was about that, too! Your basement looks like fun! Lol.

Gayla said...

I don't know why I came up as the project! Lol... Spooky.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I miss having a basement here in Fl...well, I think I do! We definitely have limited storage! Enjoy your weekend...at least TRY to! Hugs!

Sew a Fine Seam said...

LOL! If you are anything at all like me there is always a mess somewhere to be cleaned up! My ideal dream is a perfectly clean and organized house - every single inch of it at one time. Probably no way that will ever happen but it is such a sweet thought!

Sew a Fine Seam said...

LOL! If you are anything at all like me there is always a mess somewhere to be cleaned up! My ideal dream is a perfectly clean and organized house - every single inch of it at one time. Probably no way that will ever happen but it is such a sweet thought!

This N That said...

Good for you..HIDE IT!!!! LOL

Merlesworld said...

A basement I would love one of those, I have a huge shed full of other peoples rubbish that they can't part with but don't want to live with childrens left overs and beer fairies stuff, but a basement I could just shut the door and forget.
Merle........

Anne said...

I am the guilty one around here for dumping things in our basement.Something I am going to take care of in the next couple of weeks.Much of it is going off to be donated.I just have not had time to go through it all.It is quite a job.
xx
Anne

tammy j said...

LOLOLOL !!!!

Savannah Granny said...

Oh my, that looks like the bonus room over the garage. My stuff and Etsy stuff and very little organization. Every day I say I am going to start, then lunch happens, then dinner drags and then I am dragging.
Looks great. Hugs, Ginger

Maureen Wyatt said...

I wish I had a basement to mess up! You don't want to see the chaos inside my shed and it only went up this year. sigh

joanne said...

you just can't seem to break free of the cleaning mode can you? We don't have a basement anymore but we have a spare bedroom that looks much like your basement, open the door and throw it in, close the door. Works really well I think, unless I'm missing something and have to go back there in search of...

The enchanted home said...

Ugh the dreaded basement, I still have oodles of boxes still needing to be sorted through. I think by putting them in the basement, they will disappear:) Good luck! looks like you are well on your way!

Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. said...

My basement is a dumping ground too, but I'm slowing purging! You did a great job with the curtains!

Unknown said...

Whoa - between your neighbor's place and your basement you haven't stopped for five minutes Diana!!!
John does the same thing with our basement - and yours look CLEAN next to ours, seriously!!!
But great job organizing Diana!
Take a break will ya? Does Nana Diana EVER take a break???
You exhaust me!
XOXO

Vee said...

Aren't basements fun? And when the laundry room is in the basement, it's even more fun. And should the kitty litter box be in the basement...oh my, I'm nearly hysterical. I love your description of your husband's "help." ☺ And I like your idea of curtaining areas off...I may have to consider that one!

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

Well now that was a great idea!!!

Art and Sand said...

I don't have a basement, but anyone who takes something to the attic seems to climb the attic stairs and leave it right at the top for me to trip over until I put things in the right place.

Patty Antle said...

I need to do exactly that, organize the basement. I'm glad you have that behind you now. Wishing you a great week!

Ramblingon said...

My goodness! I haven't a proper basement but if I did..I would wonder how I would arrange it. I have the shame of a large closet filled with many things. Most of which need to be arranged correctly. Sorta open and throw. Not really but it almost looks like it.

xox

Leena Milligan Lanteigne said...

Don't you just hate it when people dump their stuff in your junk room? LOL! It's always so much work to sort out but feels so much better once it's done! Now, about that bin of water shoes....LOL! Hugs, Leena