When I revealed the clues for our basement makeover, I had no idea that you were such a funny crowd.  You guessed everything from a backyard redo (WHICH I WOULD DIE FOR! but then I wouldn’t be able to enjoy if I were dead.) to a dining room renovation (which actually did have a little change up happen and I can’t wait to share it!) to a full-on addition (to the Bower Power clan, that is!).  And I thought it would be only fair to give you the explanation of why I picked the clues and how they play a part in our finished basement’s history.

Clue #1 was not part of an Ikea magazine (which was a very popular guess).

It was actually a photo of one of the many boxes that contained our recessed lighting kits.  The electrical work was planned out and installed by my Mr. Calf Muscles boyfriend.  We both wanted this lower level to be light and airy and after installing 19 lights – 17 of which are recessed – we have the effect we want achieved 100%.  In fact, it is so bright down there, we are actually considering installing a dimmer!

 Clue #2 was a picture of the newly installed hardwood flooring that we chose to incorporate in our space.

We read up on the pros and cons of different kinds of flooring in sub-ground spaces and decided that engineered hardwood would be the way to go.  Since we had never installed flooring onto a concrete slab before it was definitely a learning experience.  There were numerous times that we felt like Billy Madison.

Back to school.

Back to school.

To prove to dad that I’m not a fool. (name that funnyman!)

Anyhoo – in the end, we felt like our choice was perfect.  And we would recommend engineered flooring to anyone that would listen.

Clue #3 was not an exploded tampon.

I don’t know about ya’ll, but my tampons do not look like this.  ever.

In fact, if you are using a tampon like this – I highly suggest a visit to your local drug store for a new box.

They make them out of this new material now…it’s called cotton 🙂

Actually this was a photo of the tool that our mud man used.  We installed the drywall but we left the joint compound up to a professional.  Since we already knew the joys (and when I say joys, I mean the utter despair, the respitory infections, the cracked skin, the frustrations, and the mindset that you would rather swallow a whole porcupine than do it again) of mudding and sanding, we decided to hire out this job to the pro.  And in the end, he gave us a fabulous deal.  Plus he was able to take our previously drywalled basement into a space that was ready for painting in only four days!

Clue #4 was actually my favorite clue to in terms of reading your responses.  And you guys came up with everything from yawning to only hiring hot guys!  Well, we do look for that in hired help…the hottie-factor is a requirement.  It is right there before the whole boring insured-factor or knowledgable-factor.  I mean, being good looking can cover a multitude of sins.  It says so in the Bible.  I’m sure of it.

So who was that yawning man that is pulling a dumbfounded look?  That’s Jeremy’s little brother Torrey…who was our right hand man when it came to finishing the basement.  And new occupant of our basement while he goes back to school.  I love the photo above.  It’s the fact that he looks like Paris after getting asked a question like “Who is the secretary of state?” or “What are the three primary colors?” or “True/false – you are a homosapian.”  But he doesn’t always look like that.  No sirreebobcat.  The Bower’s breed em lookin sharper than a ninja fighting star.

Finally we are at Clue #5.  This hint revealed a photo that was indeed the close-up of a pair of kneepads.  One hundred points to Ann for her very precise guess of “Nonskid buckle style kneepads for installing the hardwood floors in the basement”.  I believe that Ann is my kinda girl 🙂

And just like Ann-girl said, we used these little pads to protect our poor patellas from the pain of concrete slabbings.  Don’t I look like I am having a crazy awesome time with my new leg accessories?

So there you have it – a slew of clues that you get all the DL on.

low-down.

down-low.

no doubt. (name that movie for 547 points.)

Anyone out there wanna give a shoutout to hardwood flooring or recessed lighting?  Here is your chance.  Tell me – do you love it, hate it, wanna take long walks on the beach with it?  Do you have it in your home?  Did you install it yourself or are just purely lovahs of the planks and lights?  Can’t wait to hear all about how these two must-haves are snazzifying your home!