Phase 2 of The House Behind The Trees ~ The downstairs #TeelsBuildaHouse

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So we are starting the downstairs ... I HATE to say basement because we had a basement in our old home, where you opened a door and went down stairs separated from anything else. It was a finished basement complete with a bedroom, craft room, family/game room and we spent a lot of time there ~ our oldest son moved down there in jr high and stayed through high school ... until we finished the master suite in the attic then he moved back up to the bedroom floor with his brother and sister.  So here our downstairs is open to the rest of the house, you can see through to the outside from the top of the stairs going down because we have a wall of windows down there as well.  We really didn't plan to have a kiddo down there but since we are having to do a switch-a-roo with rooms (I'll explain later) he is moving home soon and will be downstairs. Anyhoo, our downstairs will house our main family room, our middle sons room, a full bath and kitchenette.  I thought it would be fun ...
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Project Ideas In A Weekend

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Dress Up Your Fireplace
If it's time to replace that dingy 1970s-era mantel, choose one with enough depth to let you display pictures or other decorations. If you buy a ready-made mantel, don't be afraid to paint it or add moldings. To quickly and easily rehabilitate your existing fireplace, a gas or wood-burning insert adds energy efficiency to your home -- without tearing apart your hearth and mantel.

Punch Up Your Paint
Nothing delivers as much instant remodeling gratification -- and budget happiness -- as a fresh coat of paint color. Don't forget to prime, and use a low-VOC paint if you're unable to open a window in the early season.


Revive Your Railings
Create a smooth transition between levels with a beautifully detailed staircase. Architectural salvage and reuse centers are hot spots for ideas and materials to replace your staircase railings ~ or you can just add color with a new paint job.


Get a Built-In Look
Create extra storage in a snap with bookcase or shelving kits that you assemble yourself. Try a cabinet and open-shelving combination for the perfect blend of storage and display space.

Refinish Existing Floors
Rent a floor sander to remove scratches and scuffs from wood floors. You'll make multiple passes by using a finer-grit sandpaper before finally achieving a smooth, like-new surface. Finish by staining or sealing. Depending on the thickness of the top wood layer, some wood-ply floors may be refinished only a limited number of times, so take caution.

Play with Tile
A few tiles can add new interest and drama to a kitchen backsplash. Because of the relatively small areas involved, such projects are perfect for do-it-yourselfers new to tiling. To stretch your budget, sprinkle a few high-dollar, high-impact accent tiles among lower-cost field tiles. Show off your handiwork with some low-voltage undercabinet lighting.

Change Cabinet Hardware
Pulls and knobs are like jewelry for your home. Accessorize your kitchen and bath with a new collection of cabinet hardware. Through home improvement centers, catalogs, online stores, and architectural salvage shops, you can match nearly any budget and look. Bonus: This is a fast fix with instant results.

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