My office is ready for demo. We emptied the four bookcases… moved them into DH’s office… I stashed everything in boxes, which are now staged all over the house…. I moved the other pieces of furniture and all my computer gear into the family room. It is a madhouse throughout the rest of this house, but this room — it’s ready for its transformation from a makeshift office into a Pam Cave.
Because I spend so much time in this room, and because it is in the basement and quite cold in the winter, I decided to ask my contractor — the amazing Kevin Sullivan of Colonial Restoration, Dalton, Mass. — if he could help do a few improvements. Amazingly, I did not have to wait like three months — he just happened to have about a 10-day window between two huge jobs, so it was Ready Set Let’s Go.
So how I am I spending the dough re mi? Kevin is going to take down all the paneling…. furr out the outside walls so we can double-up the insulation… replace all the insulation… then drywall. I will also get a bit more electric. A plumber is coming in to add plumbing for a sink on the wall shared with the bathroom. And then, I decorate.
It’s become more of a project than I planned (isn’t that always the case?), but it’s all good, because now that I am working fulltime from home, a purposefully-created room makes sense. I am super excited, but anxious because I am having to make decisions quickly, when I usually take, like, two years.
May the Retro Decorating Gods bestow their vintage gifts and not too many unexpected surprises upon me. Regular reports to follow. I hope.
Pam Cave, that’s great! I’m sure it will turn out grand and you will be SO HAPPY with the added insulation. We just put a little bit of insulation in our previously uninsulated breakfast nook (you could literally feel a breeze coming in through the walls) and I swear the temperature of the kitchen instantly went up at least 10 degrees (significant in an Iowa winter).
Can’t wait to see the pictures of the done deal! Good luck making all those quick decisions … trust your gut and it will all be fine.
Pam, I love your vintage Hoover! We have 2 and they work much better (IMO) than new vacuums; one has powerdrive so it practically vacuums for me. And it’s so easy to change the bags! 🙂
it’s not vintage! well… 10 or 20 years old? i can’t remember…
It can be your “Pamabode”, or your “PKave”, or your ……….OK, enough already.
I can relate to the “two years to make a decision” but that’s just because you care so much about getting it just right. A warm based color will help psychologically warm the space – like the sun is shining in. Then accent with the avocado?
A dedicated sink for crafting? More insulation? Better electrical? Wowsa! I bet you’ll be a lot more productive not having to wear a parka down there. 🙂
I think you need a disco ball down there! 🙂
I enjoyed so much reading thru all of the remodeling stages. Love the wallpapering – AWESOME! You’ve had such great ideas and I love reading your stages, you would make a good author 🙂
Thanks you for sharing and for the inspiration!!!