Storage Room Complete...finally!

First off, I am very embarrassed to post this.  But...my excitement overcomes the embarrassment. Our basement was a disaster.  Everything just kept piling up down there.  Everything that was in the carport/shed got shoved in the basement, all the normal storage stuff, all the tools/equipment/supplies that go along with a full home remodel, food storage, keepsakes, camping gear...etc.  We have been talking about finishing our "storage room" since we moved in, just waiting for it all to have a permanent home. Also note, we have a lot of stuff.  I will be the first to admit it. The amount of Christmas decor we have is enough to fill a house twice the size of ours, easily. Our camping equipment is built for the masses, we have multiple coolers with the largest being big enough I can fit in it with little discomfort (except for the fact of being claustrophobic in a cooler, naturally).  With us always being in charge of the food for family trips and the large amount of family we have, we have convenienced ourselves with sufficient supplies. With life overtaking us and the attempts to complete our storage room, the basement got bad.  Usually everything is very organized down there but then everything got pushed into a heaping pile to allow for construction. Like I said I am very embarrassed to post the next pictures, most of you know I am very particular about my home and you will very rarely find it a disaster.  Without further ado...

Before: 

(Insert Cringe)

  

During:

Raymond never ceases to amaze me, he is so resourceful, capable and talented, I am so lucky!

After:

I know there is still a lot of stuff but look how ORGANIZED and BEAUTIFUL it all looks!! I can't get over it and chances are if you have been to my house in the last week you have been forced to see it! I have been wanting this room for SO long!

And my true happiness...my food storage! I didn't realize how much food we had because it was so inconvenient to get to! I am really happy with how it all turned out and love having to go get a can of beans or whatever because then I get to find it so easily!

The last couple weeks I have been incredibly anxious and as a result I have been through every dresser, cupboard, closet, box, nook and cranny in our ENTIRE house. One day I even emptied the kitchen of every item it held, washed out all the cupboards/drawers and put everything back while re-arranging it all.  I organized my lazy-susans by food type...there is a baking section, noodles, rices, soups, sauces, cans...organized by food group. My spice drawer got all matching bottles with new matching labels to come, organized by favorite and by which kind are generally used together. Yeah I sound crazy, but I actually enjoy it.  In the process I took 9 large boxes of items to the DI, not including everything I had multiple sisters come and get.  It feels so good to get rid of it...I am definitely lightening our load.  Raymond even joined in on the fun and DI'd a bunch of his things.  He even threw away this sexy pillow he sewed in 7th grade.  We used to be real nostalgic people but not as much these days, we are done "storing" everything!  

I don't have the pictures to prove it but the rest of our basement is nearly emptied, besides all the tools and building supplies.  As you can see in the above picture we have a tub, toilet, vanity and sink...hopefully the new bathroom (and basement) won't be too far behind! Yay!!