LOOKING AHEAD TO A SUBTERRANEAN DIY PROJECT

First, let me start by saying that even though it's the end of the August and kids all over the country are already back in school, summer is not over. Not even close. Dammit.

Now repeat that until you really believe it. Because even thinking about fall and the miserable season that comes after it puts me in a foul mood.

But deep down, I know that my gardening days are numbered for 2015 and I've started cooking up plans for what to do with myself when it's too cold out to blissfully stare into the center of a gorgeous flower.

After a year off of house projects, things WILL be done this year. It's just a matter of what things we decide to tackle. As is the way with Murphy's Law, no sooner had we all but decided that we'd redo the first-floor bathroom this winter than Mr. Much More Patient's car started having serious issues and cutting into our renovation budget. That may still happen, but in the meantime I have some DIY urges that must be satisfied. So this season-that-comes-after-fall-that-shall-not-be-named I'm going to put some serious elbow grease into fixing up the finished side of the basement. I've decided the only way to make it not continually turn into a convenient dumping location is to make it nice enough that we don't want to do that.

Step one, of course, is to clean it out. I hate doing that. I hate having stuff that doesn't have a place (and sometimes a purpose) and have to do that do-we-need-it dance. I also struggle with how to get rid of it. How do you deal with stuff overload? Donate it all? Pick through it and sell what you can? A little money would be very nice but at the same time it is a time consuming and frustrating process. For instance, I sold a $20 area rug through a local Facebook rummage group but have spent two days trying to arrange a pick up with the buyer. Is it worth it for $20?

Traditional Staircase by Raleigh Photographers Tad Davis Photography

I do have a plan, though. I know they are all the rage right now so that probably means we'll all hate them in a year, but planked walls will be happening. I've looked up a few blog tutorials and I think I can plank all the walls for about $200 in plank materials (not counting nails, caulk, etc.). The whole thing will get a coat of paint to make it light and bright down there.

Beach Style Bedroom by Traverse City General Contractors MAC Custom Homes

I think I'll pull up the ugly gray carpet on the stairs and paint them, but in the corner where I pulled up the rug, it appeared that the treads are particle board, which could complicate that plan.

In a perfect world, I'd like to use vinyl plank flooring to cover the pink and blue sheet vinyl that's down there, but this weekend I discovered that we needed about 400 square feet of flooring and even the least expensive vinyl planks add up to a pretty penny when you have that much floor to cover. So I'm looking into options and toying with the idea of painting it.

Contemporary Hall by Santa Monica Architects & Building Designers White Picket Fence, Inc

Since there's a "stuff" problem down there, storage also needs to happen. There is an awkward corner with a sump pump and the electrical box, both of which have been half covered up by a previous owner. I think that might be a good area to just build out with semi-built-in units as both a way to incorporate those necessities into the design and add storage.

Beach Style Hall by New York Architects & Building Designers Wettling Architects

A few other things will also happen including some lighting improvements (changing out the ceiling lights and maybe springing for an electrician to  put some sconces around the room) and removing the fireplace insert. The flue has been closed off so there's no reason for the insert which was once used to heat the room. I'd rather have an empty firebox with candles in it or whatever than the big, hulking insert.

But it all starts with a clean slate and I really want to know what you all do to deal with your stuff. Let me know!