Basement: Day 1

I came home for lunch today and there was a big pile of wood on my driveway as well as a paper sack full of caulking on my front step.  Let the basement finishing commence!  I happily moved the small bag of caulk to the basement and then called the contractor: delivery for you, sir!  That's too many trips (and too heavy) for me.  So through the basement window the wood went--the basement door is in an awkward spot in the house (too many 90 degree angles), so the window will be the port of entry. 

 I thought I would post a few before pictures as well as the huge pile of wood that showed up at the house!  It seemed like a lot of wood for a small space, but I think I also am not visualizing this space well.  I can't wait to see it finished.  Above is a look standing in the new guest room, looking out through the closet towards the living area (aka "man cave").  To the left of where I'm standing is the furnace, etc, and forward and to the left of the pole and wall is the bathroom.  Pretend with me.

 This shot is from the bathroom (shower and stool) and storage area looking towards the living area and bedroom.  This pole will be in the wall.

 Long look of the living area and bedroom.  Note the window for escaping?  Regulation bedroom, friends!

And lastly looking up the stairs from the storage area.  When the house was built, the bathroom was studded  basically at the base of the stairs.  Poor planning, if you ask me.  You can see the shower stud in the lower right, and the toilet is also in an awkward spot.  What we're going to do is have the wall come off of the stairs along the side of the shower and then run at an angle to the post (to hide it in the wall), and then run that wall to the north wall.  The angle to the bathroom will keep us from having a ridiculously narrow bathroom but will also allow us to bring furniture down the staircase.  This made for an awkwardly big bathroom (and therefore wasted space), so there will be a storage area next to the bathroom, I think it's 4'x10'.  There will also be storage under the stairs.  It will be exciting to watch it all come together, keep posted for updates!