Update: The basement

Ah, the basement -- the project I once thought would take me a couple of weeks is stretching out to almost a year. But now, there is progress. First, the before:

Inspection day, May 2010 (!!!)

And here we are today...

June 2012

Always a kitteh (he sort of follows me around like a dog)

Section by section ...

Look at my super-neat and clean laundry space!

Woody absolutely loves his rugs

Blackout curtains for all four windows

Runners from Crate and Barrel

Getting closer to finishing ...

Fun corkboards (also Crate and Barrel) for above the laundry table

Kitchen overflow (anything I don't use often -- keeping it dust-free)

Shelving

Benny checks out the kitchen unit

Who, me?

Where the magic happens ...

It's still a work in progress, but at least it's down to the finishing touches. I still have to put in new plugs, plates and switches, find the right curtains and wait for the curtain hardware to be delivered; there are a few more pieces for the walls that I'll know are right when I see them. And the blinds have to go -- they are terrible.

Still, it's a massive improvement.

Before:

Inspection day, May 2010

August 2010. Unfortunately, it had been this way pretty much ever since.

And after a long Presidents Day weekend ...

Need to find the right ceiling fan 

... and a headboard

Gratuitous cat pictures!!!

Fresh dining

It's almost a relief to see this new table in our home.

The kittehs took to it immediately (especially Woody).

Cats and plants

The other day, I discovered the joys of a local nursery (for PLANTS! Plants, people!) and loaded up on a few pieces of greenery to liven up the joint.

I got two 3-gallon pots of hardy azaleas -- good, as I'll probably kill at least one of them -- some hanging geraniums, and a palm for inside (I already forgot the name of it but it's cat-friendly).

By the way, who knew ficus was toxic to cats? So no ficus.

Anyhoo, the palm immediately fell victim to our apparently starving cats. Bernie looked like a panda last night climbing on top of the entertainment center and pulling leaves off the top of the poor thing.

Anyone know of a good, strong, cat-friendly indoor tree with tough leaves?

Open for sleepovers

I'm quite proud of myself for how the second bedroom -- now complete! -- came out. But I couldn't have done it without the genius and generosity of Leeza, who had the idea to paint the floor in the first place. It looks great.

A little before and after:

On inspection day, May

After carpet removal, September

Floor painted, just before polyurethane coat

Post-poly, pre-trim painting

At last: a real second bedroom.

Old and new.

Rich's childhood dresser, Leeza's IKEA bed, Etsy paintings and mirror, Macy's bedding, 

Target container, Overstock guest towel set and curtain sheers

We've got a lot more books somewhere ...

Woody's favorite thing: fresh linens.

The porch, and the second bedroom, Part Two

Before ...

At inspection

In July (and basically through November)

And after:

Here's the porch -- cleaned up at last. It's a really cute space, and someday, we'll replace the windows, paint, get new blinds and curtains (because now? Ew), and tile the floor. Until then, we're keeping it simple.

Woody, hanging out on his favorite chair.

Upstairs, the alcove is cleaned up, and a litter box is behind a screen. Benny couldn't help but be curious.

And while we haven't painted our bedroom yet, I figured I'd put up the curtains and get some books in their proper spot to make it cozier in the meantime.

And the progress on the second bedroom is, to be modest, amazing. Not that it would take much (getting up that pet-stained carpet was huge), but still, I'm thrilled.

Bed pieces are just waiting for a mattress.