Basement Remodel - A Teenage Boy Room

I am sure I'm driving most of my good friends crazy talking about me finishing my unfinished basement. 

The ultimate goal is to get my SON moved down to the room we've been promising him for the past five years so I can finally get my office (aka craft room) finished.  Like many of you, my sweet husband assured me five years go when we bought the house that we would finish the basement quickly and I'd have my own space. However, we're busy people and most of the time we're too broke to finish small projects, let alone afford to finish a basement. He was able to frame in the rooms, wire it with the help of his electrician father and put insulation in one of the rooms. But finally I had to fire him and hire someone that does this all the time...if you need a referral, let me know...Chuck did a great job!! 

Finishing a Teenage Boy's Room

So I forgot to take a photo of my son's room right before we started painting, so this is the soon to be "Media/Game Room." (you get the idea)

Can you believe that my almost 16 year old son (who rocks by the way) picked this YUMMY green color (do not tell him I said that) and beautiful light grey colors for his room.

He even asked for the closet to be white and all the trims to be white. He has a great sense of design and color (but then again, he is super artistic).

Painting Cement

The floor was by far the most challenging for me. We eventually hope to carpet, but I ran out of money and he's a teenage boy. So I decided I'd just paint the cement and hope that it would work temporarily. Aside from the enormous amount of work I put my old body through prepping it for paint, I am very happy with the end result. But let me tell you a little more about the prep....just imagine me on my hands and knees scrubbing cement with rags and a spackle knife to scrap off putty and paint and make it smooth. I was sore for days! I then had to scoot around the trim of the room cutting the paint color (tan) out away from the wall so I could use my roller to finish the job. The paint rolls on like butter. I would recommend two coats, but I only did one to save time. The experts might advise you to purchase epoxy paint or paint made specifically for cement, but if you're not wanting this to last too long then don't bother and just paint. Now scroll down to see how AWESOME it turned out.

The Finished Teenage Boy Room

After a week of working my body muscles beyond what they were use to (and then some) and enjoying the help of friends and family...the room was completed in time to surprise my son. Thanks to my sis and brother in law, who kept my son for the weekend I think we pulled off the surprise!! 

Check out that yummy tan "painted cement" floor!

I like that my son picked his colors...however, to be completely honest, I added in the black. I don't think he likes it much, but was willing to cope to make his mom happy.

Okay, so the closet isn't done and we're still debating on close doors. My son originally asked for a door that rolls up like a garage...just not sure that's going to happen. I'm thinking more along the lines of a curtain rod and curtains to cover the space...but that's my "out of money" side talking.

Okay one of the best additions to the room is this large 4-drawer file cabinet. I have had it in my garage for a few years (or more) and it's part of a desk system I bought when my brother's offices moved and they let the employees buy the furniture. Although it took three of us to get it into the basement (had to weigh 300 pounds and super awkward), I'm so excited for this. The drawers are huge and my son's clothes only take up the two center drawers. He has plenty of room in the top and bottom drawers for all things BOY...his comic books, art books, manga books, air soft guns, ammo, electronics, things I'm not sure why we're saving and more! And you can only open one drawer at a time and it's magnetic...well magnets stick to it. It's a funky greyish-green color and matched perfectly.

So here's a photo of my son going to see the room for the first time. He would NOT let me take pictures after this, but he was somewhat surprised. First thing he pointed out was the nightstand that use to be his sisters and how he "didn't want it". Oh well...wasn't the "extreme home makeover" reaction I had been hoping for, but he did seem happy!

So you know what this means?? Now I get to work on my OFFICE...wahooo!!!!!