My basement studio measures 17' X 23' and is located on the backside of our house beneath a large overhanging deck which limits sun exposure. Previous water leaks created unacceptable mold and mildew that had to be addressed this summer. Just emptying the room was a monumental task requiring incremental steps. Hauling heavy furniture and supplies up 1-3 flights of stairs depending on which area of the house I could cram things into was a weary endeavor I hope to never repeat. Moving it all back wasn't much easier! One way to avoid any future water problem was to replace the carpet with a solid stained concrete floor. Thankfully my husband took on the laborious job of cleaning the floor, filling surface blemishes, priming twice, and staining three times. Now my hand vac makes for easy upkeep and the anti-fatigue mats cushion the work areas.
Here are some before and after photos of the transformation. Note the suspended ceiling was replaced with sheet rock and new lighting. The book case was cut in two equal sections after the mold section was removed. One section is on the stairwell now and the other is right of my sewing machine behind the plastic drawer organizer for yarn. Together they fill an empty space at the end of the table and provide table space for that sewing station. (see 8th photo down)
We removed the closet door leading to more storage access which allowed me to put larger items near the entrance without fussing with a door.
The bead station used to be in the bar corner but was relocated to our office. Now my cotton fabric resides in the bar corner.
I gave up my design wall and wall cupboards for shelving units with labeled clear totes for easy visibility. The white shelving unit sat on the old wood stove hearth and ate up too much of a useless corner.
Curtains need to be made, a bit more wall decor added and a few more totes organized but overall, this is a done deal! It looks, smells and feels so much fresher, brighter and efficient. I love my new space!
