Finished basement

When Dan and I were house hunting back in the fall of last year, we had a list of things we were looking for in a home. One of those things was a playroom of sorts. In VA, we have friends who use their formal living rooms or dining rooms as playrooms. Because, let's admit it, at our stage of life why do we need anything formal? Formal means breakable. Not really a war I want to fight. I have had our Christmas tree up for 2 weeks and already I am ready to take it down just because of the daily battle of ornaments vs. 18 month old. So I couldn't imagine having a formal room 365 days of the year that I would have to protect.

We would walk into a home that was beautifully staged and look at the dining room or living room and say that would be a great playroom. If it had doors that was even better. Our realtor was catching on so by the 20th house she would be looking at those formal rooms and be thinking how we could convert it to a playroom. Then we walked into the home we live in now. There is a nice office on the main level that we thought would be perfect for a playroom. But, even better, this house had a finished basement. When we moved in we decided that the office would remain an office and the basement would be where all the toys would go. It was one of the best decisions we have ever made. For one, my mess of papers, lists, coupons, mail, etc. can stay behind closed doors in the office. And the kid mess, toys, toys, toys, can stay, well, in the basement...







Yep, best decision EVER!