Dabney’s Cure Project: Meet My Basement

Somehow I always wind up publicly airing my messes in these Cure posts, and revealing my housekeeping skeletons so to speak. Last August it was my workroom turned office, and now it’s my wreck of a basement. But no matter— I’m immune to shame at this point. Soon we’ll be arranging my underwear drawer together whilst looking at high school photos of me in my band uniform.

Before we do the tour, let’s just get this out of the way: my basement is large. We’re talking large large, like multiple time zones large. It’s so big it has various and complete ecosystems, with more biodiversity than the Galapagos. I wouldn’t be surprised if one day I find a sting ray living in one corner and a baboon in another. I say this so: a) you can fully appreciate the enormity of the task of cleaning it; and b) I could make a joke about a baboon in the corner. But let’s continue, and see what I think I can get done from my to-do list:

Here’s where I keep larger things, like chairs. You can’t see it, but all the furniture is raised up so it doesn’t get wet when water seeps in. I’d like to keep this system, or install some other way to elevate stuff. But for now, it’s fine.

Here’s the sink area, along with some old screenprinting supplies. I just need to tidy this section up a bit, and organize.

Here’s a poorly organized and sawdust-y area for some tools and such. I’ll clean this up, but I’m not sure I’ll get a better set up going this month.

Another corner, with that drafting table I mentioned in my first post peeking out. This is do-able so I’m leaving it on my list.

Did I mention I used to sell vintage chairs? I have rows and rows of these, and need to decide what to do with them. Anyone need any Herman Miller shell chair stacking bases? Anybody? Not sure that I can get rid of these this month, but I might make some calls.

Here’s one wall of plastic and wobbly shelving, which I hate and doesn’t really hold enough. No matter what else happens (or doesn’t happen) in this basement, some replacement built-in wooden shelves will get built. Stay tuned!