Background
Oct 1, 2000
 
Background This project was originally scheduled for some undetermined future date. However, the water heater ruptured and flooded the basement prompting us to move the schedule up. Since we would have to replace most of the paneling and carpet anyway, we decided to just go ahead with the complete remodel. The basement was previously finished in a slightly different layout with paneling, carpet, and a suspended ceiling, but that's all gone now. My wife and I did all the demolition and debris removal ourselves (never again!). Take a look at the design for the basement space above. There are a few architectural complications I had to work around, but I think this is pretty much the most workable use of the space. The biggest problem is the presence of the four poured concrete walls that extend about six feet into the basement (indicated by diagonal hashes). These walls were added to brace the front basement wall just after the house was built. Other problems include the load-bearing wall that splits the theater (will be replaced by a beam) and the breaker panel which is currently located on that wall (will be moved to the side wall). Also the HVAC unit will need to be moved from its current location in the office doorway to the location indicated on the plan. Below are some (not so great) photos intended to provide an idea of what the space looked like after demolition, but before the remodeling. The first photo is a shot across the back of the basement looking from the future bedroom toward the future back of the theater. On the left side of this photo you can see the wall that splits the theater in half. It currently has a door in it. The next photo is the opposite view from the future back of the theater toward the future bedroom. The next two photos are of the future theater itself. One looks toward the front and the other toward the back. The wall splitting the theater is annoyingly prominent in both. In the photo of the back of the theater you can see the one window that we will have to cover with good light blocking shades or something. The window looks out under the deck, so it gets very little light anyway. For good measure I include an early photo of my wiring closet (low voltage) which is located under the stairs. http://www.newton.org/images/pictures/Basement/Basement_Before1.jpeghttp://www.newton.org/images/pictures/Basement/Basement_Before2.jpeghttp://www.newton.org/images/pictures/Basement/Theater_Front.jpeghttp://www.newton.org/images/pictures/Basement/Theater_Back.jpeghttp://www.newton.org/images/pictures/Basement/Wiring_Panel_Early.jpegshapeimage_2_link_0shapeimage_2_link_1shapeimage_2_link_2shapeimage_2_link_3shapeimage_2_link_4