Basement project - part 4

Ta da! I give you the 98% finished photos of the basement project!

Kudos to Caitlin and Rick and Rich (Rick's Dad) for the vision and hard work they did to make this project a reality.

This once dark and gloomy basement is now Chateau McKowski!

Unfortunately Rick had to go on tour 2 days after they moved in, but when he comes home he'll have a nice little place to chill and relax in!

Cool lamps over the bar that just happen to match the very cool floor they did!

Here's the very cool floor. Very Jackson Pollack doncha think?

This is the "bar" area that still needs to be finished. They have time though...they have time!

Basement project - part 3

I haven't posted here in a while, but I've been lurking around on everyone else's blogs.

I hope all is well in your part of the world.

The basement project is coming along quite well. Rick and Cait have accomplished a lot! Rick's Dad has been a big help and we all found out what a real drag spackling and sanding is.

It really sucks.

People who do this for a profession make it seem so easy and effortless.

Pfffftttt - it's not.

We glopped and schmeared and scooped and sanded and glopped some more and sanded some more. It's a dirty messy crappy job. The first day I have to admit I got into a "zone" and just had the radio on and once I found a rythym it was ok. After a while though your arms start to shake, you curse every screw hole you missed and have to go back and cover and generally start hating it more and more as you go along.

But enough about that!

This weekend Rick is hoping to lay the grid for the suspended ceiling. Everyone who has ever done this tell me it's a breeze.

I'm glad Rick is doing it and not me!

I am very impressed on how Caitlin and Rick have managed their expenses on this project.

Margie and I told them we will pay for the basics to get this project done and anything above and beyond the basics will be their responsibility. I told Cait that they have to keep in mind that this is NOT a permanent place for them and not to go too crazy with fixtures and paint and carpeting. The whole idea behind them moving it was to start saving money for their own space someday. (And to also not let them get TOO comfortable so that they never leave! Love ya guys, but we all must leave the nest sometime.) The expression "bargain basement prices" have really applied.

Here are a few pictures to show you how it's coming along. There is still some clean up to be done obviously, but it's much better than it was a few days ago trust me. I still have white foot prints all over my house from the spackle dust, but the worst is over - I hope!










To give you and idea of how dusty it is down there. I moved a tarp to get a better shot of the bar Rick is making and when I took a picture the flash captured all of the particles floating around.



Nasty!

Basement project - part 2

Just a quick update on the basement project.

Rick and Cait have been working their butts off on this and I have to say I'm quite impressed!

Rick and his father started the framing this weekend and managed to get a good start. Rick has been here almost every night this week and should have it all finished by tonight. He will work on the electrical next. Then comes the fun part of sheet rocking, spackling, sanding and installing the drop ceiling!!!

Caitlin doesn't really have any wood working skills but she has been doing her part by painting and packing and moving boxes (many filled with Margie's books) and carrying some furniture up and down the two flights of stairs! Today, she and I dismantled the entertainment center that was down there, carried it up to my new space (her old room) and rolled up the area rugs and put them outside for the trash. The padding underneath was absolutely disgusting. It's been down there for nine years and was deteriorating and smelled a bit like old shoes.

They are trying to get as much done as possible before Rick goes on tour again with his band The Racing Kites. He is the drummer and they will leave sometime mid-August and won't be back for 6 weeks!

I don't think it will be 100% finished but they should have a livable space anyway!



Here's Rick with his trusty drill and a curious smirk! (Caitlin was making fun of his "apron".)



Caitlin is painting some shelves. (Rick said she is just jealous because she doesn't have an apron and will probably get paint on her clothes!)