I have a condition that Amy refers to as “Furniture A.D.D.” wherein about every 3 months or so, I rearrange one (or, frequently, more) rooms. Â I just get to a point where I need change and change comes quickly.
This is what our basement looked like when we moved in:
It’s terribly 70’s.  The panelling is a rich faux pine with white-painted upper half.  The ceiling tile  has a sort of dimpled effect and the tiles appear to be adhered directly to the joists above.  The only word that truly fits the space is “rumpus room.”
See that shelf? Â That shelf is my nemesis right now. Â It is my reason for anger.
Sunday morning I decided that it was der tag. Â That shelf and its associated half-wall had to go. Â Primarily because as a result of that half-wall, our couch is situated in such a way that we have to sit in a line and crane our necks to the right to watch TV on my computer monitor. Â Tear down the wall!
The shelving section came out relatively easy. Â It’s difficult for 30+ year old tinder-dry lumber to argue with a 16oz. framing hammer. Â It’s actually difficult for virtually anything to argue with such a piece of equipment. Â At least, not for long. Â The bottom-most section appears to have been (at some point in its life) a kind of planter. Â It came off first. Â Then the dowels and associated horizontals.
All that was left was  a knee-high, wood panelled nubbin.  The nubbin that is my bane.  The panelling came off a treat.  No significant issues, only a bit of dust and some squeaking.  What lay beneath, however, is a different story.  To be continued…