Basement.

When we first looked for housing here in Salt Lake, we were surprised that our budget wasn't going to cut it if we wanted to be less than 20 miles from Scott's work.  But somehow the stars aligned and we ended up with this place.  I feel so lucky that we found our duplex here in Salt Lake.  We love our neighborhood and you can't beat the location in relation to the hospital and the school Brielle and Braden go to is a wonderful one.  I feel like we were led to this place and I'm so grateful everything worked out the way that it did. 

When I looked at photos online that the landlord sent, the one big downer for me was this ugly wooden paneling in the basement.  But Scott and I felt so lucky to have found this much square feet and the location for the price, we quickly put a deposit on it and decided I would live with that hideous wall.  

When we moved, back in June last year and we went to the basement, it felt like a dungeon, that wall made everything down there look dark and ugly.  I hardly wanted to spend time down there.  

It was definitely not inviting! 

I lived with it for two months.  I asked the landlord if she would let me paint it, she said, her parents who are the owners, like that paneling and it probably wouldn't be a good idea, but if it were her she'd paint it.  They are super laid back people so I painted it anyway!!! I'm a rebel I know.  But I mean, seriously what are they going to say? I'm making this place better.  Who is going to want that hideous paneling in their basement? I feel like I'm doing them a favor!:) 

After A LOT of work...priming twice and two coats of paint...I was able to make our basement not a dungeon any more.  

I started this transformation back in August and it is still a work in progress! 

Since I had to use so much paint on the wall with the panel, I ran out of paint as you can see on the right wall and still haven't finished painting.  

I've been lacking motivation these winter months and with Scott 'living' at the hospital and no help from him at all, this project is all left up to me.  My husband is always so good at helping me finish projects I start but like I said with him being gone all the time, I'm still not done.  

There's still a lot I'd like to do in that basement, like a little reading area...but I think it looks so much better than it did when we first moved in.  

Like I said, it is still a work in progress...

But now, at least my kids want to go down there to play and that space is being used and it is more inviting.  

Amazing what a little bit of love can do for a space.