Back to the .....Basement...

(I should clarify: This is actually our garage, which is part of our basement level, just outside of the new cork floor.  The walls are poured concrete, which is why I had studs installed on the walls.  I haven't learned (yet!) how to install directly into concrete, so I have the studs attached, and then I can build at will).

The Basement (ie garage).  I had studs added down there ( in the garage actually) years ago; I was going to build/buy/install cabinets there to replace the mess of storage options we look at everyday coming into the house.  They don't even work very well.  It's not organized, and we still can't find what we need.

Also, I need more workspace.  I think I would be more productive in my projects if I actually had space to work on them.  I know...it's bad. I'm constantly competing for space with garage items, then have to move everything back together when the cars come in. It's not working out.

Step one was to find better storage for the bikes.  They take up a lot of floor space, and need to move higher.  So far, so good.  I can lift each one to it's hook, and it was an easy fix for under $20. 

Next is to start building new shelving.  This is not shelving that will house more stuff (not my life plan!), but to move things closer to the door that should be more accessible: gardening items, bike helmets and outdoor toys, car cleaning supplies.  Phase two will be to build a "mud room" type area right by the inside door for shoes, coats, pool stuff and winter stuff that is a combination of storage and looks pretty. 

For the outdoor storage, I'm going with a more studly approach; that is, I'm relying mostly on a 2x4 stud approach for sturdiness and to keep costs low. 

The "mud room" will still be in the garage, but since it will house coats, personal items of clothing and hopefully even a small pantry, I want this to look a little nicer. 

from bhg.com

the money-pit.com

I love looking at all of these designs, but when it comes down to mine, it's a matter of building the space we need. Which is where I get stuck: What do we need? Which is why I think I need to build the rougher shelving area, pare down (you know I'll be cleaning out and donating something!), sorting and paring down. Then once I know what we really have that needs to be accessible, I can build around those needs. And I do want this part to be, well, pretty. 

For ages, I've been working with paralysis by analysis, and that get you no where fast. OK, I do have a lot of ideas and they have formed and re-formed in my head, so hopefully the final project will be close to my vision and actual needs, but in the mean time, nothing is happening. I sit here in the middle of the night listening to torrential downpours, so I don't think tomorrow will be a great day to haul lumber home, but hopefully by Wednesday I can bring home some 2x4's and get cracking! Sometimes it just takes getting in there and starting......taking that first step (oh yeah, that is my word for the year!) and building.

So my plan is to take the first steps this week.  I figure it will be a work in progress, which means there may be a lot of building/tearing apart/rebuilding, but at least it will be progress.