Alison’s Before Photos: Too Much Basket

Welcome to my parent’s spare room, soon to be Man Cave for Snoring Father, or Respite for Tired Mother, depending on which way you look at it. Dad’s official take on the room’s “before” status? “Too much basket.”

There’s not really that much “basket,” just a woven chair, laundry basket and tiny basket on the bedside. For a mother and daughter team who love all things woven, is that really too much? “You need natural things,” I told Dad, in protest, “otherwise the room will seem too sterile.” “Nothing natural,” he replied, “except leather. Leather is natural meets man.”

Above is the view of the room from the doorway. The room is actually mine and my husband’s at present, while we visit my parents in Australia. We’re here for an extended stay until January, upon which this room will be officially a Room of Dad’s Own.

This is the view from the end of the bed. Here you can see the little nook you face as you enter the room, and my parent’s despised 1970’s built-ins. “Can we paint over these doors?” asks Dad.

Like it or not, the bed is going to stay. Our budget is way too small for anything else. Though it might be nice to rotate it so it’s not shoved in the corner like it is at present. I also really want my father to keep this photo of my grandfather…

…WW1 veteran! Doesn’t he look fantastic? Everything else, however, Dad says has gotta go. “No, wait…

…the kid can stay,” says Dad. I suppose he’s right. What Man Cave would be complete without a Ninja Turtles costume-wearing grandson?