There are two kinds of basements in Cincinnati.

The beautifully finished ones you see on Pinterest… and the ones that remind you every time you go downstairs that your house is over 100 years old.

Ours has definitely been the second one. A few years ago we refinished one area for the teenager hang out space, and it has put in the time as a multi purpose use of workout room, gaming area, teenage hang out, guest bedroom etc etc. Maybe I’ll write a blog on that next….

Besides the recent redo, for years our basement has been where laundry happened… along with tool storage, random boxes, garden supplies, and yes, more spiders than I’d care to admit. It wasn’t terrible, but it certainly wasn’t a space you wanted to spend any extra time in. It was kinda terrible.

But we’re changing that and by we, I mostly mean Steve. Like 98% Steve:)

I bring the ideas and the free scored cabinets that we designed it all around.

Bringing Back a Piece of Norwood History

One of my favorite parts of this project is adding back something that used to be common in many older Norwood homes: a basement toilet.

If you’ve never heard of a “Pittsburgh Toilet,” you’re not alone. Many homes built in the early 1900s had a simple toilet in the basement. They weren’t fancy. Often they stood all by themselves in the open basement, but they were incredibly practical. Gardeners could clean up before heading upstairs, workers had a place to wash up after a long day, and families simply had another bathroom when they needed one. Norwood had all the factories so a basement toilet was essential.

At some point, ours disappeared.

We’re bringing it back, this time with walls and a proper half bath. It’ll be perfect addition to the house for the teenage friend hangouts and the guest bedroom.

One Wall Can Change Everything

Right now, Steve is busy framing a new wall that will separate the workshop from the laundry room.

The best part?

A pocket door.

I love pocket doors because they don’t waste space, and this one will let me close off the tool side of the basement while keeping everything easily accessible. Sometimes all it takes is one wall to completely change how a room feels. It also matches the entry door on the other side. Pocket doors rule small spaces.

The Best Find Was Free

If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you know I can’t resist rescuing quality materials from heading to the landfill.

This project is no exception.

We scored a full set of custom kitchen cabinets from a kitchen remodel in Amberley… for free. Thank you, Facebook Marketplace! The upcycle/ freecycle mantra lives in all my projects.

Sure, they’re from the 1980s, but they’re solid melamine, not the ikea version, and beautifully made. Exactly what we needed from a like minded family redoing their kitchen, the cost? Free, just had to go and dismantle them. Did I mention most of this project is Steve?

Once Steve build the wall to separate the space, we could figure the layout to use them the best way. They’re already installed, and I can’t believe how much storage they added.

The cabinets are now home to pantry overflow, canning supplies, extra kitchen gadgets, paper towels, holiday serving pieces, and all those random things that somehow always end up in the laundry room. It’s amazing how much calmer a space feels when everything finally has a place.

Progress Over Perfect

We’re about halfway through the project.

The plumbing is roughed in. The framing is going up. The layout is finally taking shape. It’s been a long debate over the washer/ dryer/ sink placement. Every evening it looks a little different than it did the day before, and I find myself getting excited to do laundry. (Did I really just type that?)

Older homes are full of surprises. Sometimes that’s frustrating. Sometimes it’s expensive. But there’s also something incredibly rewarding about improving a home that’s been standing for more than 110 years.

Instead of trying to make it look like a brand new house, we’re simply making it work better while keeping a little of its history alive. I know it won’t be Pinterest Perfect, but it will be BETTER than before, and that is perfect to me.

I can’t wait to show you what it looks like when it’s finished. No judgement on these real photos, our basement was a hot mess express.

Stay tuned for Part 2, where I’ll share the completed laundry room, the finished half bath, and whether this old basement officially graduates from “spider central” to one of my favorite spaces in the house.