Young House Love

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Hanging A Pegboard In A Basement Workshop

So I finally finished decking out the other half of my Instagram-arted basement pegboard. Yup, I added a little makeshift shelf that I primed and painted, got a non-electrical music device (how’s that for mysterious?), and even hung something kitchen-related as art. Actually a lot of you guys have been asking what we did with the cutting board that we picked up a couple of months ago as part of The Shops At Target collection, so… I give you… America The Pegboard-iful.

BaseArt 1 Close Up

I just thought it made for some cool (and sawdust-proof) art, since I’m into maps and all.

BaseArt 2 USA Up Close

It worked out nicely that the blue-painted edge of it coincidentally goes with my navy pegboard. Although down the road it might be fun to paint it a more contrast-y color (or use decorative tape). Or do something else entirely to add some more interest.

I contemplated painting the shape of Virginia on it to mark where our home state is located, but I think it would work better if we lived somewhere that floated in the middle of the country (like Utah or Missouri) since painting such a small coastal state like ours might not make much impact.

BaseArt 3 USA Side

The other thing I’m enjoying up there is my new iPod dock, which I purchased for $45 through an Etsy seller (Index Drums). Gotta have tunes while I saw and drill to my heart’s content, right? And sometimes getting myself a little “prize” for organizing/upgrading/taking back a room that has long been neglected makes the process a little more exciting. So since I tackled a ton of projects in the basement using just sweat equity, scrap wood, leftover paint, and pre-existing pegboards – buying this guy to add some function to the room feels like a nice reward.

BaseArt 4 Speaker Close

I stumbled upon it while looking for an affordable but unique music dock that also didn’t require me to plug it in. I knew I wanted it to sit up on that pegboard, and having a big cord coming across my workspace would be obnoxious. So this plywood dock was perfect – especially since it never has to be charged or anything. It basically is just an echo chamber that naturally amplifies the sound that comes out of my iPhone’s built-in speaker.

BaseArt 5 Speaker Hole

The custom listing I purchased from even allowed me to indicate the type of case that my phone was in so they could carve the slot to the exact proportions of my device. I also got to pick the painted design and the colors. I’ve been very happy with it so far. It’s no BOSE speaker, but it looks good, sounds good, and I like that it doesn’t require any batteries or charging.

BaseArt 6 Back

I quickly put together the shelf that everything sits on by just notching out and painting a piece of scrap wood so that it would balance on a couple of pegboard hooks.

BaseArt 7 Shelf

As for the other stuff on the shelf, I grabbed a white elephant (from book project #197) and one of these Warhol soup cans to hold my pens. Er, well, pen for now.

BaseArt 8 Other Items

And with those simple but functional additions, I’ve officially used all of the pegboard space in the basement. Not gonna lie, these little functional/organizational coups can feel just as exciting as building a deck or gutting a bathroom. I have no idea why. Maybe just because when you stand in a space all the time, and actually know where everything is and like the way it looks, well, that’s a special kind of house-love going on. And you know I have a thing for my pegboards…

BaseArt 9 Full Room

Has anybody else hung anything unusual (on pegboards or just the wall at large) lately? When you look at this project, I put a cutting board, a chunk of scrap wood, a soup can, and a plastic elephant on my wall. I think that counts as unusual, right?

Comments

  1. Rebecca @This Nest is Best says

    I love these little additions! The wood elements are so, so perfect for the space and I just love that you took the time to make a utilitarian space beautiful. And I’m cracking up that a white “ceramic” animal made its way in there!

    Reply

  2. Anele @ Success Along the Weigh says

    Love it!! It really makes that space nice and personal when you’re down there working your magic. See, if they still made Cribs*, you could be like “forget the bedroom…THIS is where the magic happens baby!!”

    *- I haven’t watched MTV in years, so I have no idea if they do or don’t make Cribs anymore. I had to asterisk my old age.

    Reply

  3. Natalie Royall says

    OOhh! It looks so organized! I always love the organization posts you guys do. This has given me motivation for my garage. We just finished the “purge” phase and now everything we need to keep is in a big pile…oh great! :( Now I need me some peg board :)

    Reply

  4. Emma (Broke Ass Home) says

    I really like how you allowed yourself to have some man-pretty stuff displayed down there. Just because it’s your workspace doesn’t mean that it because be beautiful too. And, art is totally all about what is best for the space (don’t put something that will get moldy in the bathroom, don’t put something that will get ruined in the studio- makes total sense to me!)

    How is this for weird art work? Nate and I made a clock completely from scratch! It was so easy I thought we were doing it wrong. Here’s our link- let me know what you think :)

    http://www.brokeasshome.com/2013/01/in-nick-of-time.html

    Reply

  5. Annelies says

    Like the Ipod dock ! Didn’t know such thing existed. I wish I had one like that instead of my wired one. And so cool you could customise it. Nice job !

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Waaaaaaaaay tidier. It’s totally motivated me to keep my tools organized and actually take the time to clean up after each project. It’s worlds better down there, although at the moment a lot of the empty floor space is taken up with outdoor pillows and chairs that are in storage for the winter.

      -John

  8. Diane @ Vintage Zest says

    I love that the “map” and speakers are both wood! I love the plastic elephant! Will he receive a name? I’m into naming the objects that surround me when I work. For example, I sew a bunch and my machine & dress form both have names. Maybe that’s a bit too crazy!

    Reply

  9. Kara says

    It’s not too unusual nor am I really “hanging” it – but I’ve been working on a DIY project with this tall 7′ shutter board that I found on the road. I’ve been trying to convert it into a necklace holder for the really long necklaces that I have. Drilled holes and put in short pieces of dowel rods to serve as the pegs to hold up the necklaces. But it still looks so cluttered. I keep thinking “What would John and Sherry do??” But after three attempts/approaches, I’m ready to throw in the towel!

    Reply

  10. Wendy @ New Moms Talk says

    If you do paint Utah, I highly recommend a pretty shade of white for all of the snow we have now.

    One local ski place (Snowbasin) is reporting 15 inches of fresh powder over night, and it’s falling steadily.

    Also, thanks for sharing the iPod dock source. We’re looking for one for the nursery, and it appears to be harmonious with our music desires.

    Reply

  11. Linda says

    W.O.W.!
    Your basement work space looks A-MA-ZING! Inspiration for our garage work space indeed! #dudegetonthat Let’s see how long it lasts given all the use it gets. I know we’re terrible about keeping any space looking that neat for long – never mind a work bench. Maybe we could persuade you to come over and do a little garage consultation for us? We’re local and maybe we could qualify as a crash? #moreliketrainwreck Oh, and I love the music dock. I had no idea such a thing existed… Off to Etsy I go!

    Reply

  12. Krista S. says

    Looks awesome! I made my sister snag four of those Warhol cans at Target for me, and now I just need to find the perfect spot for them. How are they holding up? Did you guys end up mod podging them at all?

    Reply

  15. Rachel says

    John, you are the only guy I “know” that has art in his workshop, and I love it! My husband’s idea of art is beer signs!

    It looks great… I think my favorite part is the little iPod dock… Or maybe the fact that Sherry’s white ceramic animal obsession is rubbing off on you….

    Reply

  16. Sarah Stäbler says

    I love that America-shaped cutting board. My sister-in-law bought it for me for my last birthday and shipped it all the way over here to Europe. Now that I live in Germany, I’ve become much more nostalgic about the US and my home state (Maryland! state neighbors with you guys!) and enjoy collecting things like that that remind me of home!

    Reply

  17. Maureen says

    Ok, so I have some serious basement envy going on. I am currently completed overwhelmed with everything we need to do/have going on in our house to the point of taking a step back and doing nothing (which then causes guilt. lol). Even though I have a couple of years on you guys, when I grow up, I want to be the Petersiks.

    Reply

  19. Courtney Madden says

    We got an awesome pineapple cutting board from our Hawaii vacation that I plan to hang on the wall as art! Also, we just finished installing our own navy pegboards and Chris couldn’t be more in love! You’re not alone, John!

    Reply

  20. Kirsten Oliphant says

    I love seeing the man-spaces! My hubby will totally geek out so I need to make sure he sees this. Right now his poor workspace is our 1-car garage, which he shares with no less than four bikes, an exersaucer, a lawnmower and a bunch of other stuff. Suffice to say…he’d love to clean it out and have a kicking man-space like this. I also just like to say man-space.

    Reply

  21. Audrey says

    You know what else works great as a speaker amplifier – a metal mixing bowl! That’s what I use when I am in the basement….

    Reply

  22. Brenda says

    Looks great! Now I feel the itch to get my organizing on. I bought containers to organize my shelves and store things under the bed, but they’ve just sat there on my floor. So things are actually less organized now than before.

    Reply

  24. kristy says

    Could you come organize my life? If I need a Phillips head, I can find 42 flatheads and vice versa. On day… One day…

    Reply

  25. Erin@VintageKC says

    I got that same cutting board on clearance and since I live in the middle of it (Kansas), I’m totally outlining my state and putting a heart over KC. :) What if you pinned your book tour locations on it and connected it with string? Is that lame? lol

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      That’s fun! We have a cork map that we pin already in the frame hallway – can’t wait to update that with pins for the tour (we’re going to do them all the same color).

      xo
      s

  26. Katie says

    My husband would kill for some pegboards like those. Maybe I’ll hook him up for Valentine’s Day?

    I see you’re into Two Door Cinema Club! (I can recognize that album art from a mile away.) Now I know you’re cool. :)

    Reply

  29. Katie says

    So jealous of your amazingly organized and well decorated work space! I could get a lot more done if I had a place like that to work instead of hunting all around my house for the supplies!

    Reply

  33. Katy @ The Non-Consumer Advocate says

    The pegboards look great, and the iPod dock is uber- cool!

    You like maps? Then you’d enjoy the roller blinds I made for my son. I used vintage classroom maps. I made then in 2004, and I’ve loved them every day since!

    http://thenonconsumeradvocate.com/2011/05/my-sons-roller-blinds-are-famous/

    Plus, they were super useful during the Gulf war to talk to my son about where Iraq was in relation to the rest of the world.

    Katy

    Reply

  34. Leah says

    How did you hang the cutting board? I bought the same one and have been wanting to hang it on my wall, but haven’t been able to decide what would be the best way. Thanks!

    Reply

  36. Jenelle says

    I love your pegboards, and I think the cutting board is awesome. But I have to say… that’s a sad, sad representation of Michigan! Texas and Florida got their peninsular glory, but Michigan is kind of a pitiful lump somehow attached to Wisconsin. Sad face.

    Reply

    • Kelly says

      I didn’t notice that until reading your comment! I’m from Michigan, and I don’t think I would have bought the cutting board because of that!

  37. Mary says

    I love the amplifier! I was looking for a little portable box for my boyfriend to play his music in the garage or basement. My basement is under renovation right now, and my workshop room will be tackled after the living area. Your workshop is my inspiration. It’s looking awesome!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      That’s fun! We have a cork map that we pin already in the frame hallway – can’t wait to update that with pins for the tour (we’re going to do them all the same color).

      xo
      s

  44. Amee says

    I saw the cutting board on sale at Target and totally needed to pick it up. I thought I’d probably use it as a piece of art somehow, but decided I like to turn it into a magnetic knife rack. My question to you is, can I, I mean do you think it’s possible? Do you think the width of the wood is okay for this? I know I need to get pretty specific and leave around only an 1/8 of space between the front of the wood and the magnet so the knives hold. Thanks for any help!

    Reply

  46. Jerri says

    John, your basement is so organized! I am envious! I was just given a hand-me-down pegboard and, thanks to you, know how I will use it. I plan on doing your Instagram pics with the CD frames. This will be hung in my grandson’s / guest room. What a brilliant idea!

    Reply

  47. Keisha says

    We have an entire workroom in our basement covered in pegboard but my husband never hangs his tools back up, they are always all over the workbench. How do you store your nuts/bolts, nails and screws?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Those are on the shelf you see in the corner in jars with labels. That went against all of my instincts (it took some major time to do!) but it’s so helpful so I’m faster now.

      -John

  48. Mary @ Ms. Redo says

    What about putting a dot or star at each spot on the map that you’ve done a book signing, and put a little pic of your book on it somewhere (Kansas? will you sign books in Kansas? if not, it’s a free area … and sorta in the middle). Just a thought from a fellow map fanatic.

    Mary

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      That would be fun! We actually have a cork backed map that we put pins in and we’re planning to add all the tour stops in the same colored pin to forever memorialize all those flights!

      xo
      s

  50. ShellyP says

    John:

    Do guys really use the term “Contrast-y” do describe contrast??? It’s too Sherri-fied a word. Stick to words that are true to you Dude. Love the iPod speaker you scored on ETSY. Functional, looks good and it’s also authentic to who you are (not contrast-y to who you are).
    Would you mind sharing your playlist?
    ShellyP

    Reply

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