Go navy! Please don’t misinterpret that previous sentence as a taking of sides in the long-standing Army / Navy feud. I’m 100% neutral on the rivalry. And if anything, my dad was in Army. But what am I doing stirring up trouble? This post is about the basement (and it’s up early since we’re on a flight)… so let’s dive in where we left off: this hot mess of a shelf.
This is where we’ve been storing haphazardly placing paint cans and other paint-can-shaped items. It has been the very antithesis of organization for the nearly 24 months that we’ve lived here. In fact, these are two boxes of items that haven’t even been unpacked yet from our move. Well done, Petersiks. Well done.
So I kicked off this little shelf spruce by getting everything off of them. It gave me some space to dust and also to inventory what belonged up there (paint cans) and what didn’t (boxes that contained paint cans, which needed to be emptied, broken down, and ditched in the recycling bin after two years of service).
Within about 30 minutes, things were looking a bit more like this:
All of the non-paint things (like bags of grout and polymeric sand) went on other shelves in the room (under the work area) so that this zone could be paint and paint only. Okay, and some stain and primer too. Because, if you haven’t noticed, we’ve accumulated lots of it. In fact, this entire left side is strictly paint leftover from book photoshoots (which is why they’re all quarts or tester sized cans).
Oh and quick organizing tip: I got the “tiered” look by just placing a simple piece of scrap 2 x 6″ wood under one row of paint. That way I could see the color more easily. You can see the tiered effect more clearly in this shot of our spray paint collection. Should I be worried that we have just about every color of the rainbow? Although I can blame book projects for a good portion of this spectrum.
This system is admittedly less intense than our previous basement’s paint system – which involved repackaging and labeling all of our leftover paint (see below). As I feared, that technique proved too cumbersome to keep up with as we purchased new paint. So don’t expect this basement’s paint shelves to go much further than they already have. But man, just knowing I was once this organized makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. #thosewerethedays
But speaking of paint, how about I show you how I put a small dent in that collection by putting some leftover paint to use? Can you guess what’s getting painted? Need a hint?
Before I busted out the paint, I actually decided to dress up my pegboard with a little trim. This is thanks to some scrap and about $10 worth of new stuff.
I figured adding the frame would help my pegboard look a bit more polished. After all, aren’t these neatly organized tools a work of art in their own weird, nerdy way? I think so.
I only framed 3 sides of the big board because, well, one edge sat cleanly on the edge of the work surface. And since my yardstick was going to overlap I figured it didn’t need it.
So here are the two pegboards complete with frames (I just held the wood frame pieces into the pegboards with a few finish nails). Still haven’t figured out what’s going on the small board. Right now it’s just a pen hanging there… chillin’ all by its bad self. But you know I’ll keep you posted when that pegboard fills up too.
With the frames all done, it was time to paint. Out of my plethora of options, Sherry and I agreed on this leftover quart of Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore. We used it on a project in the book (page 287) and we’ve both been a little crazy for it ever since. Speaking of crazy – how alien does my hand look below? Just picture a giant raptor talon hidden behind the paint can.
I systemically stripped the peg board of all of the tools, laying them out sort of like they fit on the wall and leaving their hooks with them. Since I know you’re wondering why I didn’t paint first – here’s why: I wanted to see how the tools looked before deciding how I wanted to paint the background (for example, if I didn’t fill the whole board I might have opted to do a pattern on one side or something). But since I thought the tools looked pretty kick butt on their own, I opted to just keep it simple with a dark manly background. And remember, we decided not to outline each tool since we liked the idea of keeping it flexible, so I can easily add new tools or reorient things if the mood strikes (flexibility = one of the best qualities of pegboards to me).
Here’s the big board after one not-perfect-yet coat. Note that I painted the trim too. I’m a wild man, I know.
Here are both boards once two coats were done and dry. I realize the light is so lopsided in that room it makes the boards look two totally different shades, and it makes the one on the right look splotchy, but it’s just the light playing tricks on you. In person they both look the same color, and are nice and evenly painted.
Here’s a shot of the more well-lit board so you can see the true color. I love that it’s distinctly navy, but is still pretty deep and muted at the same time. And I think keeping the frames the same color keeps it from being too high-contrast and makes it a smidge more sophisticated. That is, if you were ever to call a basement pegboard sophisticated. Oh and as for how the paint went on and if it gummed up the holes, I just applied it with a small foam roller as thinly as possible, and it didn’t gunk up the holes at all (some were clogged from previously applied white paint, but it’s still completely functional since you can shove a peg into them and unclog them).
Once the paint was all dry, the tools got to go back in place. So for $15 of trim (if you don’t have any leftover scraps like we did) and $15 worth of paint (that’s the price of a quart if you don’t have any extra paint around) your basement can bring sexy back.
And thud. I officially fell more in love with pegboards.
Adding the paint was a simple touch but it did something that happens anytime we put fresh paint in a room: it starts to feel “cared about” and more like it belongs to me, not the previous owner. So in that spirit, I’m thinking the next project will be to stain some of the wood in the room. It could use some freshening up and I think a deeper color might help bring some much needed contrast to the space. Like so…
Thanks Photoshop. If only staining all that wood in real life were that easy. I’ll keep you posted! What are you guys up to? Any basement or garage upgrades going on? Any pegboard love affairs growing by the day? Do you think we need Painters Anonymous for all those cans and spray bottles? I kinda think we do.
Joy says
Looks great! Congrats on taming two BIG projects: the basement and playroom. Ah, feels good to bring those back-burner projects up to the front whenever possible.
Annelies says
I like the blue colour! Are you also planning on doing something to the ceiling?
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, we’d love to!
xo,
s
Anele @ Success Along the Weigh says
It looks like a paint store in there! Love it! I would love to go all classic peg in our garage but I’m thinking insulating the one wall and attempting our first drywalling job is going to have to take precedence. Wish us luck, we don’t have your DIY prowess.
Nicole says
I’ll be honest and say I’m a little envious of your paint collection- but that is a ton of paint to store! Nice work- I’m showing my hubby this post in hopes that it will motivate him to clean up his basement workshop a bit.
Soul pretty says
You all sure do need painters anonymous…but, don’t worry…I would bring the donuts to that meeting…looking at that peg board makes me happy…if only I didn’t live in a NYC apartment…sigh. Good job.
Amy says
The navy looks great! We have a big garage with lots of workspace but it could definitely use some sprucing…a little color would probably help
Diane says
Mistress Peg’s Sister Wife needs a name!
YoungHouseLove says
How ’bout Mary? Then my wives would be Sherry and Mary. Or Gerrie. But not Carrie. I already have a sister named Carrie and it already slips out more than I’d like when trying to say “Sherry.”
-John
annabelvita says
John’s comment was funny for me to read because in British English none of those names sound like each other! (except Gerrie and Sherry)
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahaha!
xo
s
Kimberly says
Just want to say I got your book in the mail yesterday and although I’m only a few projects in – I love it! Thank you so much for making something that I actually think “I could do that” to almost everything I’ve seen so far. Great job, guys!
YoungHouseLove says
Awww, thanks Kimberly!
-John
robin @ our semi organic life says
I wish we had such a great basement to make all navy and manly. We have a 1/4 basement that even my 5’5″ self barely feels comfortable in. You’re making me long for a peg board – would it be weird to have in the regular part of a house?!
Pam the Goatherd says
In my first house I had a pegboard in the kitchen to hang all my kitchen tools. They look good in a closet, too, for hanging purses and belts, etc.
Kelly says
Weird?! No way! Julia Child had one in her kitchen!
Kristen says
I don’t think so… My cousin has one on a blank wall in the kitchen that is painted and looks really cool and puts everything within reach… She has Orange Rachel Ray pans displayed (with other small items) and it looks really neat! I’d do it too if I had the space :)
Sam M. | Atkinson Drive says
That looks awesome! My husband and I are trying to organize & prettify our garage but there’s currently about 5,967,589,254 almost-finished projects in there *blush*. But if you start a painters anonymous group I think I’d be able to join you!
Beth says
I have a pegboard project coming up, and I definitely just added framing and painting it to the project! It looks so good! Thanks for the inspiration. On a completely different note, we just had our new stove delivered. We ended up getting the same one you did, and I love it! Can’t wait to try it out!
Hannah says
My almost 2.5 year old daughter Lillian (Lily) glanced at the computer where I had this post up and did a sharp intake of breath. I asked if she saw the owl (figuring she was looking at all of the brightly colored ads on the side) and she said “No. Those are just tools. Like Daddy.” :)
She also loves watching Clara videos with me.
I’ve also always wanted to tell you that you did a great job picking out your daughter’s name. I have a younger sister names Clara. Another sister and I picked her name out after seeing The Nutcracker when we were little. Its such a beautiful, old fashioned name.
YoungHouseLove says
No way! Another Clara!
-John
Jenny@EvolutionofStyle says
Major updates going on in the garage since we’re on a quest to organize the crap! My husband installed cabinets (along with pegboards, but they’re not nearly as organized as yours!). It takes time to dig through all of it, you know…
Love the Hale Navy too. I’m so smitten with those deep blues these days. Just painted my powder room in Gentleman’s Gray, and I’m in LOVE. Farrow & Ball have a color called Hague Blue that is just the dreamiest, ever, and Gentleman’s Gray was a very close match for a much more reasonable price. ($120/gallon is a bit steep for me). ;-)
http://evolutionofstyleblog.blogspot.com/2012/11/moody-blue-powder-room-reveal.html
YoungHouseLove says
Ooooh, love that color in your bathroom!
-John
Katie @ Shared Bites says
Unrelated question – have the books been selling out at the signings? Should I get one in advance? Hope they’re going well!
YoungHouseLove says
Good question! We always have tons of books at the signings now so it’d be great if you bought one there. West Elm would love you for it!
-John
Leslie [MsMagpieWrites] says
I’m so jealous of all that paint lined up like Home Depot – I want to go shopping in your basement!
Ali Miller says
Two notes:
1. I think you are totally NOT in need of painter’s anonymous. Just think!– Since you have every color in the rainbow…think of all the projects you can do without a trip to Home Depot! Plus, the organization is beautiful.
2. Did you know, you could outline the tools with chalk and that way it could be easily changed if you wanted to?!?!?!?!?!?!?! LOLOLOLOL. :) Sorry I couldn’t resist. I love the plain look and would definitely not opt to outline my own tools, but I know you have gotten that suggestion so many times, I imagine you just screaming when you read it again. :)
Michelle Kersey says
Ha! I had the same idea!! Surprised you all didn’t throw in a lil unsanded tile grout a la pinterst to make the pegboard a chalkboard so you can outline with chalk :) http://pinterest.com/pin/5418462022035838/
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah I tried to convince John but he didn’t want chalk dust all over his tools. Haha! And we hear chalk markers can be permanent if you don’t erase them often, so we shied away from that too…
xo,
s
Laura L. says
Wouldn’t that kind of be line a body outline… a la Dexter? HA.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha!
xo
s
Sarah in Indiana says
Kinda jealous of the paint collection. It’s like a little hardware store in your basement. The pegboards look great. I love how you framed them out, and the navy is a nice contrast with the brightly colored tools. But does it make the basement seem a lot darker? Basements tend to feel so dark and cavelike anyway, I would have been nervous about choosing such a dark color.
YoungHouseLove says
I worried about that initially, but it actually didn’t seem to make a difference. I think any darkening the paint did was outweighed by the benefits of having some color in there.
-John
Mis says
Thanks for staying so late at the book signing last night. It was great meeting you two. Safe travels.
YoungHouseLove says
Our pleasure! Thanks for coming!
-John
Gabriella @ Our Life In Action says
That looks so much better than the plain white board. I love it!
I also seen a post where they stenciled it with green and white – looked very cute for a laundry room in the basement.
FYI – the Crazy Clean Challenge will be issued within the hour. With all the organization and cleaning you guys are doing, the timing is perfecto! :-D
Emma (Broke Ass Home) says
Y’all know I love painting peg boards! (http://www.brokeasshome.com/2012/10/a-little-surprise-for-man-in-flannel.html)
I think the navy is nice and manly. And I’m jelly of your paint storage. We were keeping it in the garage, but now it will get ruined because it’s too cold so we have to find a new home for it. #DIYproblems… Also, where on earth do you find such happy spray paint colors!
YoungHouseLove says
Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Michael’s are my favorite spots!
xo
s
Stephanie says
Love this! We, too, have an unfinished basement in need of some paint organization…I might copy these plans. Question: Do you worry about humidity or moisture in your basement affecting the paint color over time? We’ve got a de-humidifier in our basement that keeps it pretty standard (in these toasty Tulsa summers) but I’m curious. Thoughts?
YoungHouseLove says
This basement is super dry so we don’t worry about that, but our first house’s basement was a lot more moist – maybe it has to do with runoff/how deep it is, etc. Hope it helps!
xo
s
Guylaine Côté says
It’s very well done!!!
Have a good day!
Guylaine
lauren w says
I am so excited to see you in Houston tonight!
YoungHouseLove says
Wahoo! Us too!
xo
s
Kristin says
Do I spy Annie Sloan Chalk Paint on the lower left shelf???
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, I don’t think so. We’d love to try that though! We hear it’s awesome!
xo
s
Jules says
LOVE IT! We have a pretty creepy 100 year old basement and I think that would perk up where we currently house tools. Great idea. Saw you guys in Toronto on Monday and have already devoured the book. So pumped for you it is just such a fabulous thing–I hope you are ooozing pride because you should be!
Anne @ Planting Sequoias says
Ooooh, love it! I’m also really jealous of your tool collection. I told my husband last night that I’m going to become a carpenter…I obviously missed my calling because at the moment I work in a cubicle all day long. But someday. Someday. :)
Christina @ Homemade Ocean says
Oh my gosh haha…you all have a lot of paint :)
That makes for good DIY projects down the road though. It looks awesome, yay for getting that basement whipped into shape! Maybe I will get motivated now….nah!
Steph says
Holy Moly! (I don’t know why I said that…) That is a lot of paint. And the pegboards look awesome.
I had more to say but I have a headache and have lost my train of though.
Brenda says
I love that the spray paint is organized by color. There’s just something so pleasing to the eye about it (it’s how I store my craft/art paint and how my closet is organized). The navy looks stellar. I always love seeing how a few simple things make a huge difference.
[email protected] says
Holy paint cans! And here I was thinking you guys were just regular folks like the rest of us who loved DIY.. but skip the regular, all those paint make you guys professional DIY’ers! :)
[email protected] says
all those paint cans* oops
LMN says
I don’t know anything about basements. South Carolina = below sea level = no basements. So, are you going to put a ceiling in there, to hide the insulation? or does that mess something up?
YoungHouseLove says
We’d love to tackle that sometime! Here’s hoping!
xo
s
John @ Our Home from Scratch says
I’m gonna go out on a limb and say you have a lot of spray paint.
I need to organize my basement as well. It’s a tough spot to get to though, it always seems like there are bigger priorities upstairs.
I like the idea of dressing up your pegboard with window trim. Clever idea. Looks great!
Janice says
Awesomesauce!! Did you guys give details on putting up the shelves etc in a different post – as in drilling into the cinderblock? I really am working slowly on my basement and am to the point where I am ready to drill – was hoping you had a post of step by steps with drill recommendation/bits etc. I have a little wimpy power drill – not sure it’s up to the challenge. and do you drill into the block or the mortar or does it matter?
THANKS!
YoungHouseLove says
Using a masonry bit to make a pilot hole (with a regular power drill) should work and then just use a screw to secure things. Oh and going into the mortar usually is great (although the block should work too). Hope it helps!
xo
s
Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication says
That looks great! I definitely think I’m going to have to spruce up my husband’s garage like this! He’d never let me do it while he was home though, but he’d love, so I’ll leave it for next time he goes out of town ;)
Rebecca says
Looks fab- I dream of the day my basement and shed are as organized. By the way, Happy Birthday John!
YoungHouseLove says
Thank you!
-John
lindsey says
Looks good! I have a lot of peg boards in my basement that are all brown and ugly looking. Do you plan on sealing the walls like you did your old basement? That’s something I’m thinking of doing since we do get a tiny bit of moisture.
As a side note, we used Hale Navy on our enclosed porch floor and we love it. The walls are Gray Owl and they look great together. It took me quite a few samples to find the perfect muted navy, but Hale Navy fit the bill.
YoungHouseLove says
This basement stays so dry we don’t have to seal the walls this time- although we might paint them if John’s feeling thorough- hah!
xo,
s
kate says
I’m officially impressed. I wish you guys could see my garage and make yourselves feel better any time you are feeling unorganized.
Kristen | Popcorn on the Stove says
I really like that you framed the peg boards – it makes it look like a big ol’ piece of art!
Rachelle says
I never thought a pegboard could look so good! The navy makes the tools pop. And I think you meant systematically rather than ‘systemically’ sorry, former teacher.
Rebecca W. says
WOWZER! That is a whole lot of paint.
Sam says
Looks great, John!! Big improvement from when you first started! Keep it up and I’m sure you’ll be finished in no time
xx
Amanda says
We don’t have basements here in Houston…but our garage could use a TON of love! Maybe that will be next on our project list. See you tonight in Houston! It will be great to finally “meet” people I feel like I know personally. :)
sara says
You certainly do have a nice collection of paint, I am sure all well used!
Happy travels with your book tour! You must be racking up some airline mileage points.
AnnMarie says
Whoa – you’re going straight from Minny to Houston, still posting and have smiles on your faces?! Y’all are all types of amazing!! (Had to throw in the y’all to prep ya for Space City). A BIG Happy Birthday John!
PS. Sherry, a found a huge gurgle pot last night for 16 buckaroos! I am seriously contemplating lugging it around DC all day just to ask you to sign it.
YoungHouseLove says
Woot! That sounds awesome. And thanks for the kind words about traveling and posting – you guys are our happy place so we love over-sharing as we go! Haha.
xo
s
Lindsey says
A friendly Ace Hardware employee recently told me that if I was ever looking to get rid of extraneous paint samples that local schools are often very enthusiastic about that kind of donation. I haven’t given it a try yet but I love the idea of it not ending up in a landfill or hazmat waste facility.
The basement looks great by the way!!
YoungHouseLove says
So good to know!
xo
s
Beth W. says
It’s definitely true. My husband teaches theatre at our local high school and he’s always in need of paint (in all colors, but especially black, brown, and white) to paint sets for our shows.
Jess @ Little House. Big Heart. says
Welcome to Texas!! We promise not to secede before you leave!
I love your organization, but honestly, I think leaving the pegboards a lighter color would have made the area feel a bit more bright and open.
YoungHouseLove says
Yeah, we debated if painting the boards would darken the room but it actually isn’t much of the space (maybe 3% of the walls are those boards) and I was going for the whole man cave thing! Haha. But we’ll definitely brighten certain areas with lighter art, etc.
-John
Janelle says
I love me some navy and those peg boards are looking pretty snazzy! This may just be me, but that yardstick looks like it’s begging to be hung horizontally. I’m so Type A when it comes to some things. Haha.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I said THE SAME THING! John seems to like it that way though. Haha. Trying to respect his “man domain.”
xo
s
Gina P says
Why does everyone love Benjamin Moore paint so much? Is it the color options, the ease of application, the finished look…? I have never used it but I noticed that it seems like all the people you house crash use it too. I am wondering what everyone knows that I don’t. Thought it was more expensive than other brands that might do just as well. Or is it a trendy thing like Ralph Lauren paint or Martha Stewart paint? Just curious. Have a few more rooms to paint and thinking of giving it a try.
YoungHouseLove says
The colors are awesome but to me it’s really the coverage/application that sold us. We used to get it color matched to other paint and then tried it (for our office cabinets and then our kitchen cabinets) and it’s just awesome paint with great coverage. Saves time and goes on smooth. Hard to go back once you try it… haha!
xo
s
Jessica says
Most expensive paint actually, usually, equals higher quality paint. Better pigmentation, coverage, etc. BM is worth the money if you can afford it. It took us 4 coats of Valspar ceiling paint to get even coverage in the living room. It took only one coat when I switched to BM in the hall.
emma says
I was wondering about your switch from big box-matching to BM. Have you (or anyone out there) tried Sherwin Williams? I’ve been using them recently since they send lots of coupons and it’s a step up from big box paint but wondered Sherwin Williams vs. Benjamin Moore?
Also, I’ve been contimplating navys this week for a dresser – I nixed Hale Navy but might have to rethink it!
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh this is a great question! Anyone out there who has tried both? We’d love a comparison!
xo
s
Kenz @ Interiors By Kenz says
If Painters Anon is a thing, I submit myself for president.
BTW: To say thank you for all your hard work, Me, Broke Ass Home, Middleclass Modern, and Sandpaper and Glue are holding a link party for your Book Projects. Here’s the deets:
http://interiorsbykenz.com/diy-action-squad-to-the-rescue/
YoungHouseLove says
Wahoo! So exciting!
xo
s