Basement

The Basement Floor Plan

You’ve already seen photos of the empty basement, but now I have a floor plan to share with you. I even drew it to scale (click to embiggen).

So much space! I’m going to have another entire floor of my home to decorate (YESSSS). I don’t have any firm design plans yet, but I’ve been gathering some inspiration photos and ideas over on Pinterest.

Lots of black and white, including some stripes. And I’m thinking small floor tiles in the half-bath and laundry room. And a big, old-fashioned sink.

Sources & Paint ColorsNeed design help? Let's work together.

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  • Teresa@Where In the World?
    November 11, 2010 at 12:59 pm

    Oh my goodness I have to say that I find the outhouse toilet charming…though in reality understand why an upgrade might be in order.

    I just wanted to let you know that the skirted utility sink photo on your pinterest just inspired me to complete the laziest and cutest craft project I have ever tackled. Less than five minutes with materials on hand.

    Thank you!

    • Making it Lovely
      November 11, 2010 at 1:56 pm

      Yay! I’m not with you on the indoor outhouse, but I do find skirted sinks incredibly charming.

  • Kerry @ First Time Fancy
    November 11, 2010 at 1:01 pm

    This is exciting! I’m loving all of the inspiration you’ve pulled together and can’t wait to see it all unfold.

  • Katie @ explanation required
    November 11, 2010 at 1:11 pm

    I love all your choices and can’t wait to see how you pull everything together!

  • Cait @ Hernando House
    November 11, 2010 at 1:13 pm

    I’m loving all of those sinks! Too bad we can’t redo our laundry quite yet!

  • wanderluster
    November 11, 2010 at 1:37 pm

    Hey, I just posted my basement reno plan too! We’ve got a similar laundry layout. Will be using a full frosted door for the entrance to keep it light and bright. I can’t wait to see how you decorate Eleanor’s play space and your studio. I love love love that Broadway sink.

    And we’re debating on using that vinyl flooring too (TrafficMaster Allure, right?). I’ve heard so many good things about it.

    • Making it Lovely
      November 11, 2010 at 1:57 pm

      I’m glad you’re working on the basement again! I was looking through some of your old posts the other day about your plans. And yes, I’ve heard good things about that flooring too.

      • Kathryn Humphreys
        November 11, 2010 at 2:02 pm

        we have it in our kitchen and our basement because of crazy old house level issues. Those who see it in our kitchen never think its vinyl.

  • EJ
    November 11, 2010 at 1:40 pm

    I can vouch for that vinyl flooring option. We put it on our ground floor (concrete slab, former garage) last year, and it looks and feels fantastic. It was easy to do well and cheap as anything.

    We’ve had compliments on our “beautiful hardwoods” from unsuspecting visitors which flatter my design side, but my practical heart loves the waterproof-ness and 20+ year warranty. (Also, I really like the 6″ wide plank look and the texture they have, which few (if any) of the more expensive laminates offered.)

  • Kara
    November 11, 2010 at 1:44 pm

    What a great large space you have for all these uses! I love that the play area for your kids is right next to your work area. Do you plan to combine your office and studio in the basement?

    • Making it Lovely
      November 11, 2010 at 2:32 pm

      My office will stay on the first floor. I tend to spend more of my time in there (on the computer), and I feel a bit closer to the rest of the main home that way. The studio is where I fill orders, and also where I sew and do crafty projects.

  • Erika
    November 11, 2010 at 1:52 pm

    Love, Love, Love where you are going with this! Can’t wait to see how things turn out.

  • Monica
    November 11, 2010 at 1:56 pm

    I really like your inspiration choices and am looking forward to seeing it all come together. Love the Boholmen rinsing tub. I have one that I use as a catch all on my stairs.

  • Amanda
    November 11, 2010 at 1:57 pm

    I’m loving the sinks! I also really love the tile! I was thinking the tiny octagons before I saw your pick! LOVE! I can’t wait to see it all! ENJOY BEING CREATIVE IN YOUR NEW SPACE!

  • Jessica
    November 11, 2010 at 2:00 pm

    I clicked through from my Google reader just so I could give you kudos for “embiggens”. Simpsons reference FTW. But I do also like your inspiration ideas. :)

  • Asiya
    November 11, 2010 at 2:16 pm

    lol@embiggens…I will have to write a post just so I can use that word.

    Love the black and white stripes? Just a question, are you going for a 60’s mod look? i kind of see it in your choices for decor.

    • Making it Lovely
      November 11, 2010 at 2:30 pm

      I’m not consciously going for any particular look, but there definitely seems to be a direction I’m headed in.

  • Jenny G.
    November 11, 2010 at 2:16 pm

    Love it, especially the black & white! I’m totally in a b&w decorating phase right now. I purchased that Ikea rug about a month ago, and I absolutely love it. We have a messy dog that sheds a lot, but so far it’s been very easy to vacuum/clean. Can’t wait to see the finished result!

  • Liisa
    November 11, 2010 at 2:28 pm

    Have you had any luck locating that IKEA Rand Rug w/ the b&w stripes? It seems to never be in stock – or never was from the start – at the Schaumburg IKEA?

    • Making it Lovely
      November 11, 2010 at 2:29 pm

      It’s in and out of stock all the time (mostly out). I’m hoping I’ll be able to swoop in and get one. Or two.

      • Kathryn Humphreys
        November 12, 2010 at 4:53 pm

        currently in-stock (today), I’ve been stalking it for our bedroom.

  • Bethany
    November 11, 2010 at 2:36 pm

    Can’t wait to see how it comes together! We’ll be finishing our basement in the next couple of years, so I’m interested in the process. How did you determine your layout? Mostly based on where existing support beams, plumbing, etc. were located?

    • Making it Lovely
      November 11, 2010 at 2:38 pm

      Yes. The plumbing would be expensive to move, so we had to plan around it. The rest of the space is as open as possible, and then we knew we wanted a big closed-off storage area.

  • Carrie
    November 11, 2010 at 2:40 pm

    I put that tile in my bathroom this summer!

  • MODG
    November 11, 2010 at 2:47 pm

    I think we used a lot of the same fabrics for our nurseries, just wanted you to see the finished product!
    http://www.modgblog.com

  • Jess [tenpenny splendid]
    November 11, 2010 at 3:11 pm

    Absolutely loving the cage lights.. it’s a nice stylish take on the traditional bare bulb basement light look!

  • Kristen
    November 11, 2010 at 3:13 pm

    I love your ideas. I’m so jealous of your basement reno!

  • Alicia Parsons | Atypical Type A
    November 11, 2010 at 3:14 pm

    Lucky you, your basement is as big as my entire house!

    Such a blank canvas, I’ll enjoy following its progress.

  • erin / dfm
    November 11, 2010 at 4:16 pm

    oh YAY! your bathroom is going to match my entire HOUSE! i love it. they can be soulmates and marry each other. :)

  • Dee
    November 11, 2010 at 4:39 pm

    I found an old kohler Kitchen sink on ebay for our laundry room! We also found an old raised panel kitchen wall hung cabinet on ebay that we stripped and repainted for above the machines. I love all of your ideas!

  • Tricia @ {every}nothing wonderful
    November 11, 2010 at 4:40 pm

    Yay! I wondered when the next update would be! Loving it so far!

  • erin m.
    November 11, 2010 at 4:54 pm

    Wow! Can’t wait to see the finished product. Sounds like it will be spectacular.

  • Funnelcloud Rachel
    November 11, 2010 at 5:26 pm

    Ooh, I’ve been wanting a wall mounted utility sink like that, but at $1100+ it’s not gonna happen. Please let us know if you find a similar one that’s affordable!

    • Making it Lovely
      November 11, 2010 at 9:57 pm

      I know! Why are they all so expensive?

  • Kim@NewlyWoodwards
    November 11, 2010 at 7:13 pm

    I’m anxious to follow along on your progress. It’s going to be amazing, I’m certain. I’m particularly excited to see what you do with the bathroom. We’d like to add a tiny half-bath, and I’m having trouble visualizing it.

  • anna
    November 11, 2010 at 7:50 pm

    I have always wondered why people need big sinks in their laundry rooms. I get the point of a sink… for hand washables, delicates, etc., but a really large sink? What’s it for? I am really curious.

    • Making it Lovely
      November 11, 2010 at 9:57 pm

      I don’t know about everyone else, but I want a big sink because I do a lot of craft and home improvement projects. A big sink makes it easier to clean up after painting, or to do something like screen-printing.

      • Alicia Parsons | Atypical Type A
        November 11, 2010 at 10:04 pm

        Exactly! I have not once used my laundry tub for handwashing but I use it regularly for cleaning up after screenprinting, painting, and even filling it with ice and drinks for parties.

      • Funnelcloud Rachel
        November 12, 2010 at 10:14 am

        Yes, yes, I want a big sink for art projects, screenprinting, and home improvement projects, too! Right now I have to use our bathroom sink for such things and there is always dried paint in the sink of our guest bathroom – gross. I use the garden hose for screenprinting and it’s getting a little cold for that now. Also, it would be nice to have a big deep sink to be able to fill up a bucket!

    • anna
      November 13, 2010 at 10:31 am

      That makes sense! :)

  • Maureen
    November 11, 2010 at 9:04 pm

    Great choices as always. I can’t wait to see the finished product. I have just one suggestion. You may want to consider moving the door into the storage area onto the wall nearest to the stairs and using an extra wide door. This will make it easier to move things in and out and workmen won’t have to trek through the playroom, too, if you need work on your utilities.

  • Renee
    November 11, 2010 at 11:32 pm

    I have that IKEA rug in my living room and LOVE it! I hope you can swoop in while it is in stock! They are so hit or miss with what they have in stock, but luckily it changes all the time.

  • Tammy
    November 12, 2010 at 1:46 am

    Love the inspiration board, but holy moley — $195 for a cage light! The Union Wood Company here in Vancouver sells them for $25:

    http://unionwoodco.bigcartel.com/product/light-bulb-cages

    Good luck with your remodel — it looks like fun!

  • A. @ Umbrella Island
    November 12, 2010 at 2:27 am

    Oh WOW! You have so much to work with, sooo lucky!
    Your plan looks amazing!! Cannot wait to see the realization!

  • Danielle
    November 12, 2010 at 6:50 am

    I have been wanting to try that vinyl wood flooring for awhile now. PLEASE let us know how it holds up in the basement! Your plan is very exciting!

  • April
    November 12, 2010 at 8:17 am

    It’s going to look lovely!

  • Beth
    November 12, 2010 at 11:34 am

    loving it! Whenever I see posts like this from decorating your home, it always reminds me to go back to the basics. Your slightly understated, slightly eclectic style always reminds me to stop fretting over everything and go back to the basics.

  • Laurie @ House to your Home
    November 12, 2010 at 12:48 pm

    Love all the items you pinned, you have such great style! We recently put in the vinyl flooring in our basement and it looks beautiful and surprisingly like the real thing, the only thing if I had to pick something that I didn’t like is it’s a bit echoey (is that a word!) especially when the dog walks on it. But really I love it!!

  • Lauralou
    November 12, 2010 at 1:38 pm

    Don’t you just love Sarah’s House on HGTV? Love that laundry room…
    Looking forward to the updates on your basement…

  • Jules
    November 12, 2010 at 3:08 pm

    Does anyone know why we don’t have basements here on the west coast? Is it an earthquake thing? I’ve been here over 30 years and I haven’t seen more than 1 or 2.

    • Making it Lovely
      November 12, 2010 at 3:45 pm

      I think we tend to have them in the midwest to hide from tornadoes!

      • Jules
        November 12, 2010 at 4:01 pm

        That makes sense, but don’t people on the east coast have them, too? I’m jealous! :)

  • michele
    November 12, 2010 at 5:39 pm

    i’m laughing, because half of those items are on our “must have” list for the house we’re building in the spring! finish quickly so i can see the final result before i get started! ;o) that brockway sink was the first fixture i picked, for the kids’ bathroom … love it!!

  • jan
    November 12, 2010 at 8:56 pm

    Lucky you! A play space!!!!! looking forward to seeing it all come to real life!

  • jan
    November 12, 2010 at 9:02 pm

    And I love those farmhouse sinks.

  • Jenny Hillman
    November 13, 2010 at 9:54 am

    How exciting! I love the ideas you came up with. We have those same white tiles in our renovated bathroom, and I just wanted to mention, we went with a nice gray grout, because white will quickly and unevenly discolor with use, where as the gray is still so subtle, but wears much better. :)

  • Nikki
    November 13, 2010 at 9:54 pm

    Also enamored by your use of “embiggen…” (and had to look it up, as well… almost didn’t buy it!) Continually impressed with your fantastic taste and style. In my next life…

    Warmly,
    Nikki

  • CreativeButterflyXOX
    November 13, 2010 at 10:04 pm

    I can’t wait to see it all put together, love the inspiration photos :D

  • Ellen
    November 15, 2010 at 2:27 pm

    What an exciting project! I’m curious to know what you will do will the walls. Paint? Drywall?

  • anna
    December 21, 2010 at 5:11 pm

    i love all your new remodeling ideas. i don’t know if you already purchased your sink. i actually have an old sink that i’m looking to purge for cheap(trying to keep less projects). it looks somewhere between your farmhouse & brockway sink. i love seeing great things done to vintage.

  • anna
    December 21, 2010 at 5:20 pm

    i love all your new remodeling ideas. i don’t know if you already purchased your sink. i actually have an old sink that i going to put up on craigslist(trying to keep less projects). it looks somewhere between your farmhouse & brockway sink. i love seeing great things done to vintage.

  • Lili
    February 16, 2011 at 4:18 pm

    i love reading your blog– would you be able to send me an invite to pinterest? all the bloggers are using this site and i would love to be able to too!

  • Jay
    April 21, 2011 at 10:26 pm

    Hi! I know this is kind of an older post but I just found your blog today. I love it! Did you draw the floor plan by hand on graph paper? or did you use a program on your computer?
    Thanks!

    • Making it Lovely
      April 21, 2011 at 10:30 pm

      I used Google’s free Sketch Up program to create the floor plan.