Re-Re-Remodel Project in the Basement

Only we would have a remodel project that has "re-re" added to it. Most times {for normal people} a remodel project lasts several or at least a couple of years before it has to be remodeled again. But our basement has been remodeled about three times in the past year and a half.

A synopsis of the first remodel project (read more about it here:)

Then our basement flooded (read about the experience here) and we started a whole new remodel project including painting, new carpet, all new trim, and so on.

Dad took the opportunity to repaint the office (painting is another one of his expertises :)). Our old couch got ruined from the water, and we're so thankful to Grandma and Grandpa for their old one (which even sort of matches the office!)

the new carpet for the whole basement (except the closet and 'kitchen' floor). It almost looks a little greenish here but it's not! We replaced green carpet with tan!


And now for the third Re (don't feel pressured to read this all, but it is pretty interesting :)). The carpet was in, the trim was done, the painting was done, and we had a week before school was to start to get everything cleaned and organized (which was a big job with all of the school books that were just scattered everywhere). It was an overwhelming week... but by Wednesday, we had the toy closet housecleaned and everything organized and put away which helped a lot. However, a little water was discovered on the floor in the closet (so glad we didn't have carpet there!). Eventually the baseboard came out, which revealed a little dripping... which revealed that Dad had accidentally anchored a few of his screws into the PVC drainage pipe from the kitchen sink/dishwasher when he anchored the shelves in the closet. It had been fine until the screws started rusting, and then we had a problem.We once again emptied the closet in that spot, and hired a plumber to come out the next day and replace the pipe - then we'd be done and could once again work on getting the basement in order!

The plumber who showed up was a new plumber and more laid back than some people would have been. He told us not to use the kitchen sink, and began cutting the PVC pipe. As soon as it was cut, it started dripping a little (which in our house seems to mean that something really bad is about to happen...). He came up to get a rag and when he arrived back at the closet, it was completely flooded and had started seeping onto the carpet... again. And it was sewer water... again.

For some reason, just at the moment that he sawed the pipe, God let the ejector pit hit the bobber and go off. We now know that that PVC pipe is also a route for the ejector pit drainage. Lovely, huh?!

I don't know how many details you need here, but basically, when mom found out, she wasn't as laid-back as the plumber. We scurried around for any towels we could find, trying to save our carpet which was three days old!!! Over the course of the next hour of so, the water got turned off, the water in the closet gradually cleaned, Dad came home from work (mom had called him in her desperation), the plumber discovered that Dad had screwed the PVC pipe every single screw along that entire shelf, which meant the whole housecleaned closet got torn apart, another plumber (and family friend) brought out a carpet cleaner and cleaned the carpet, the boys had five other boys over for a summer birthday party, and it was Thursday, so we exited the house with our five vegetable baskets. It was a bad day, but that evening Dad got the closet all put back together amazingly, and looking back on the experience has even made Mom laugh about it some!

We did amazingly get everything back together before we wanted to start school. Here are some pictures of some decorating we did down there.

a little library corner

the start of an exciting timeline!

Kenan's Korner!

 And last of all, this isn't in the basement, but is something exciting we've done recently... covering the inside of our pantry cupboard with chalkboard contact paper and writing all of our misc. lists that float around everywhere on it. It's awesome!

our lunch menu!

And we are hoping with all our might, that our re-re-remodel project is completed for several years now cause we like it the way it is :). -Faith