Finally finished...almost!

“In all human affairs there are efforts, and there are results, and the strength of the effort is the measure of the result.” - James Allen


 A little over a year ago, Mark and I decided that with a third girl on the way, we should probably think about expanding our unfinished area into a safe-haven of sorts for us to flee to when our little ladies transform into dualing divas and we can no longer control their moodiness or tantrums. Thus began the seemingly never ending journey of finishing our basement.


The framing went quickly. Standing in the rec room looking into the guest bedroom.



I can't begin to explain how much we have learned over the past 15 months. Aside from the amazing things we have learned about carpentry in general, I personally have learned the most about patience, priorities, and perseverence. I am (to put it gently) extremely impatient. I was so excited to watch things zoom along as we framed in the rooms and started getting the electrical all hooked up. Once the drywall was up it appeared we were flying right along and you could see the progress daily. 

Hauling the drywall through the window. Oh. So. Heavy.
 94 sheets of drywall and 3 sweaty men later...

 The drywall got me really excited. I mean REALLY excited. I had visions in my head of how our new space would be completed by the fall and we would spend our winter months cuddled up in the basement. I also was having issues with the fact that all of our crap belongings that were usually housed in the basement had been reassigned to other areas of our house/garage and the OCD part of me was really struggling with the new-found untidyness of our house.

Ceiling done with drywall. Standing in the rec room looking into the guest bedroom.

Then we started working on the built-ins and I started dreaming of decorating and organizing and all the fun parts of expanding our living space and regaining control of the mess that had become our main floor. This is where it all stopped. At this point, the fun was sucked right out it. Who knew finish work was so TEDIOUS?

Guest bedroom



Guest bedroom...starting the built in window seat, shelf and desk.



Built in: Complete! Oh...except for 7 more coats of primer and sanding til your fingertips bleed. Then just caulk, nail-hole fill, prime again...and again...and again, top coat twice more and voila! Can you sense the sarcasm? I am not sure I have ever cursed more in my life.

The built ins were a nightmare for a girl like me. You know, the girl who wants it done...yesterday. Match me with a boy like Mark, the one who wants it done perfectly, and it's a recipe for disaster. Add that to the fact that work on the basement took place between the hours of 9pm and 2am while the girls slept and you might as well file the divorce papers. However, it was really great! There are few people I respect as much as Mark and he taught me SO much on how to patiently persevere. Just one more coat of paint. Just one more pass over with the sandpaper. He wanted it done right, and although I just wanted it done...I learned so much about taking the time to really do a good job.

Wishing we only were crazy enough to conquer one built-in, once we were finished in the guest bedroom, we tackled the built-in in the rec room. 

Rec room as you come down the stairs.

Rec room as seen from the guest bedroom.



Rec room built-in ready to be finished.

Mark caulking the rec room built-in.

 Once the built-ins were done (thank God) we moved on to trim work, which, although just as tedious, seemed to go faster. We painted the trim, closet doors, bedroom doors and things started to get exciting again.