Basement Project

[EddieWalker]

Rob,

WOW, that's got the be the nicest work shop I've ever seen. You did a great job!!! Thanks for sharing.

Eddie

 

[RobS]

Another dreary winter weekend lends itself to more basement progress. I'm at a tough phase as the next major elements are the wood (laminate) flooring, cabinets and finish trim. All of those things are just beyond my current basement budget but I decided I could build the bar-height countertop as it is independant of the other things. And it's inexpensive, just a couple sheets of MDF and some laminate. Sorry, no in-progress pics, only these finished shots /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[RobS]

Another shot. The countertop is two layers of 3/4 inch MDF (heavy!). I built the whole thing in place, mostly because of the posts I wanted to get around. The first layer is glued and screwed to the framing and I added three simple brackets to help support the extension at the eating area. The second layer is glued and screwed to the first with off-set seams. The whole thing is quite solid. On that is the laminate with contact cement holding it in place.

Eventually, there will be base cabinets on the other side of this bar with a normal height countertop. That will make it about six inches lower than this one.

Kids want to eat down there tonight so we may just do that /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[scott_vt]

Nice Rob,
Nothing like formica when dealing with wet glasses left behind by the kids /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

scotty

 

[RobS]

Well, it's been a long while but I have made more progress on my basement project. Lots of time available for it lately, with no snow to move and no weeds to mow. I basically took the summer off to work on outside stuff but got back into this over Christmas.

First pic is coming down the stairs and shows the laminate wood floor I put down. It exceeded my expectations in looks and so far in durability. Today I was pretty rough on some sections doing the cabinets and it seems to hold up to dropped tools and such very well.

Second pic shows more of the floor and some of the wall decor I have begun.

The third pic shows todays progress. I recieved a very generous gift this Christmas and used it towards cabinets. I assembled and installed the cabinets in the "bar" area in the better part of a day. Had to relocate on electrical outlet and cut the laminate floor back as the cabinets cannot rest on the floor. All went well with nothing but the toe kick to wrap up tomorrow.

Fourth pic is slightly wider showing the door to my shop and the closet area under the stairs. This area has been taken over by #1 son for his Rokenbok layout. My shop is my "man cave", this area is his "young man cave".

Next step is counter top. I built the bar counter myself and likely will do the same for the cabinet counter. I've realized now that I cannot slip in a one-piece counter due to the overhang of the bar counter. Not a problem as that would have been one big counter anyway. It'll probably go in as three seperate pieces.

After that, it's finish trim and the half bath down there. Maybe by then we'll get some snow!

 

[MossRoad]

Looks nice, Rob.

 

[EddieWalker]

Rob,

It looks amazing!!! You did a very nice job and your workmanship is first rate.

Thanks for updating your thread,
Eddie

 

[RobS]

Thanks guys. I'd like to work on it more today but the Cub Scouts are serving breakfast at the Legion. Duty awaits!

 

[rox]

Rob,

Call me crazy but I actually like the red columns. I like the red color.
I have never seen this, but if you really really want to cover them up i wonder what a very thin curvbed glass block would look like around them.
If you didn't lile the poles and wanted to disguise them you could paint the pole white, drop in from the top some of that lighting that is like in a plastic tube, I forget the correct name for it. The light is real flexible and you can wrape it around things, and it has almost like Chrismas tree light bulbs inside.
Leave a little opening in the top in the back for pulling out the lighting and replacing it. But again I think the red pipes look very nice.

 

[RobS]

Rob,

Call me crazy but I actually like the red columns. I like the red color.
I have never seen this, but if you really really want to cover them up i wonder what a very thin curvbed glass block would look like around them.
If you didn't lile the poles and wanted to disguise them you could paint the pole white, drop in from the top some of that lighting that is like in a plastic tube, I forget the correct name for it. The light is real flexible and you can wrape it around things, and it has almost like Chrismas tree light bulbs inside.
Leave a little opening in the top in the back for pulling out the lighting and replacing it. But again I think the red pipes look very nice.

Good eye there Rox! I'm still thinking on the columns, but you've give me some interesting ideas. I hadn't considered lighting them, that may add just the detail to set the place off! There is a single column in the other finished area that I just put a pole cover on, it's pretty dull and right, smack in the middle so it sticks out like the preverbial sore thumb. As long as these are so obvious, maybe I should highlight them rather than try to hide them, eh?

Progress note, I did get the toe-kick on Sunday but it's hardly photo-worthy. Trim should be here in another week and I need to tackle the countertops. Unfortunately, I have a business trip that will span the next two weekends and a Boy Scout campout the following. Progress will continue, but very slowly...