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  Martha's Basement

  The Refinished Basement

  Martha in her clutter-free, functional basement.

  Next: Household Storage

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  Martha's Basement

  Household Storage

  Rolling, locking shelves use space from floor to ceiling. Custom wooden cases house screens and storm windows. A smooth concrete floor instead of the tiling employed elsewhere makes it easy to roll heavy, wheeled shelving units. As an added precaution against flooding, extra dining chairs and other furnishings are kept on aluminum racks. These pallets keep valuables off the floor and away from any dampness.

  Next: Laundry Room: Folding and Ironing Table

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  Martha's Basement

  Laundry Room: Folding and Ironing Table

  An expansive table with a padded white muslin cover was designed to provide plenty of space for ironing and folding laundry. Commercial metal laundry carts, some with hanging bars, are convenient for organizing clean and dirty clothing and linens. Rubber edges around the basket tops soften the blow when they bang into a table -- or a knee. An expansive table with a padded white muslin cover was designed to provide plenty of space for ironing and folding laundry.

  Next: Laundry Room: Soaking Sinks

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  Martha's Basement

  Laundry Room: Soaking Sinks

  Deep, vintage terra-cotta sinks were among the treasures that came with the house. Replumbed, they are just right for cleaning and soaking. A vintage white enamel towel bar mounted to the tiled wall is handy. 

  Next: Laundry Room: Supply Cart

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  Martha's Basement

  Laundry Room: Supply Cart

  Cleaning supplies look tidier and are more convenient to use when decanted into attractive, manageable containers. 

  Next: Laundry Room: Oversized Options

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  Martha's Basement

  Laundry Room: Oversized Options

  In a bustling household, oversize laundry equipment makes sense. Martha's long ironing table was built to accommodate her height. 

  Next: Creative Spaces

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  Martha's Basement

  Creative Spaces

   Martha found this vintage shelf at an antiques shop and left it in its charming, if slightly worn, condition. A set of slim metal cafe-curtain rods, attached to wooden shelf brackets, holds a colorful assortment of ribbons and twines. The rods are removable, so spools can be easily replaced. Oversize rolls of paper, such as butcher paper, can be found at kitchen- and shipping-supply stores. This one is positioned at the end of another stainless steel work table, where it can be unfurled quickly to cover boxes. Long, shallow drawers are terrific for sorting and storing large sheets of colored tissue and other papers -- with no worries about wrinkling.

  Next: Supply Shelves

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  Martha's Basement

  Supply Shelves

  An extra-long stainless steel kitchen table holds crafts supplies -- many organized in clear plastic bins with press-on label sleeves. A paper cutter (on the tabletop) is a useful tool. This table is also used for unwrapping packages. 

  Next: Labeled Pipes

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  Martha's Basement

  Labeled Pipes

  Having an organized basement means paying attention to the little things. Every valve is fitted with a label, so it's a cinch to shut off water at the source if necessary. 

  Next: Good Light

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  Martha's Basement

  Good Light

  The ceiling fixture is one of the many vintage factory lights that brighten the room. 

  Next: Hanging Tools

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  Martha's Basement

  Hanging Tools

  Wall hooks keep an assortment of brooms and mops off the floor. 

  Next: Lined Shelves

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  Martha's Basement

  Lined Shelves

  Nonskid plastic shelf liners on slatted aluminum storage shelves keep breakables from sliding about. 

  Next: Recycling Bins

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  Martha's Basement

  Recycling Bins

  Rolling food-storage bins, found at restaurant supply stores, are repurposed beautifully as recycling containers; labels identify the contents of each. 

  Next: More Inside Martha's Homes

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  More Inside Martha's Homes

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  • 25 Kitchen Organizers
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