Stair Baskets

First of all, please excuse these shoddy photos. I’m taking them down the stairs to the basement where it’s really tricky because it’s very dark at the top and quite bright at the bottom and a narrow space. Not perfect for a photo shoot at the wrong time of day if you ask me.

Anyway, what I wanted to show you is this little ledge just inside the basement door.

 

I love having a space to temporarily keep stuff that needs to either go downstairs or stuff that’s for a current or soon to happen project around the house. Since this isn’t usually great stuff to look at I planned to use the ledge to corral it since when the door is closed it’s completely out of sight but really easily accessible by just opening the door.

And I finally found a good use for the roll of adhesive cork I got at the Container Store in New York last time Wille and I went there. I knew it would come to good use one day!

 

I simply cut a rough rectangle to cover the area, stuck it down and then used a craft knife to cut the excess off using the wood shelf as my guide.

 

 

And there they are. Two baskets with odds and ends which include a tunnel for the balcony kitty door which I plan to install really soon, some tools, pom-pom ribbon, some containers and a bunch of other stuff that I need to bring downstairs. The cork gives the shelf a non-slip surface so the baskets stay put really well which is great since we don’t want any of this sliding down the stairs.

Comments

[Petra from NL]

Great ledge and you put it to great use!

[Leena]

The legde is not something you've made? It was there allready? Anyway it seems super convinient. Definately all homes, even if on one level only, could use this kind of resting place. Also the cork is so nice, so natural.

[Carlos]

The ledge was already there but covered in dark carpet stuck down with tape along the front of the ledge all of which I ripped out on day 1...

[Monica]

I love the stuff that you bring back from the states. Bar Keepers Friends, Adhesive Cork.... If you ever do another list this would be a great topic.

[Carlos]

I know, it's all very glam stuff, don't you think :)

[Alice]

What a great use of space, Benita! Hopefully, Miss Mini & Big Mr. Bonus don't get too curious & usurp your baskets. :)
(My clutzy fellow would hop in & tumble out, the clutz! )

[Tine]

What a great idea!

Are you planning to paint the stairs. I'm thinking about that and could really use a tip.

[Helen F]

Hi Benita!
I just found your blog and I just love it. I love to organize but usually do to large projects so I don't have time nor energy to finish them properly.

I have a brand new house (we got the key one year ago) and two children, of 11 months and 4 years. So there is not much time over and lots of toys everywhere on top of all our "junk" like books (love them dearly), fishing gear, gardening stuff, japanese scissors to cut our bonsai trees, bills, magazines, and more. Well I think you can imagine.

This weekend I'm set to sort out stuff not to keep, to donate or throw away. But other than that, where is a good place to start?

I'm making struktural and organizational plans as I keep on reading you blog but I need a good tip to not start to heavy.

[Carlos]

I may one day because the're pretty scratched up but it's way down on the to-do list. Here's a post I wrote after I repainted the stairs at the old house though. http://chezlarsson.com/myblog/2010/08/fresh-coat-basement.html.
As for the paint itself it's always best to ask at your local paint store how to prep and what kind of paint to use.

[Carlos]

I'd say first do a drawer, a closet, a cabinet at at time in a room and then the room itself and then go to the next room and do the same. That makes it less overwhelming. Instead of planning to organize a whole room including everything in a weekend you can do it in a week by doing a drawer (I do those in front of the TV at night) or a cabinet a day and the rest on the weekend.

[Helen F]

Thats a good idea, keep it simple and in one area. So this weekend, our walk in closet, and all loose things that i don't want shall leave our house. And organize the messy bookshelf in the bedroom.

[Jen]

I love that little window under the ledge! Such a great way to let some light in. Does it have screens so it can be opened?

[Carlos]

I love it too, it's so cute and such an anusual placement and it can be opened :).

[elisa]

oh, that's a good spot. i keep a narrow oval basket at the side of our stairs to toss in the little things going downstairs, really useful thing. i like the look of that cork! x

[Hxx]

Neat idea x

[Catherine]

I need one of those shelves! I constantly have little piles on the steps waiting to go down.

[Lisa Flaherty]

What a great little shelf, and the window is too cute! I keep two baskets on the landing of the stairs, one for each kid. While they are at school, I gather up their odds and ends from downstairs. Their job is to bring up the baskets, empty them (not dump them in a pile!) and return them to the landing. Now, if I just cure them of Leave-It Syndrome in the first place!

[blake @ salt teak & fog]

Oh I love this. We also have a lot of stuff moving from upstairs to down... and vice versa. So far, I'll been using a dedicated handled basket, with mixed results. Might have to consider this type of solution!

[Liza]

Hi Benita!

We just bought a new house, built some time around 1948. Old basement with almost no paint on the walls, and the kitchen was a terrible thing with different colours on the cupboards. Windows that needs paint and some of them even new glass.

Do I need to say we have a huge amount of work in front of us? ;-)

I have a stair down to the basement aswell and really need to do som serious painting. Right now I have this terrible tretex on every wall and it's so incredible dark.

I found your blog som time ago and I must say you give me så much inspiration. And solutions to problems I have.

Thank you!!

[jja]

Want one too!

[Peaches]

Splendid idea! I have several of those little nooks that are currently occupied by some old paint. Time to upgrade!

[Linda]

Hej Benita!

Jag håller på att planera lite hur jag ska göra med vår hall..det är en långsmal hall med många dörrhål..(7st) inte så mycket vägg yta alltså..dörrarna som finns är i teak(4st)..gamla men ganska fina, (tror) att jag ska slipa av dom och olja upp dom..fina handtag..typ de du köpte häromdagen.
Men min fråga är vilken väggfärg passar till teak..det övriga typ lister och tak även skoskåpet jag ska införskaffa är vitt, tänkte då att det kanske vore trevlig ned någon färg..Alla andra väggar i huset är vita med fonder..

Kanske har du någon idé?!

Kram Linda

[Carlos]

Jag tycker ljust grönt eller ljust blått kan vara jättefint till teak, och då lite pudriga toner.

[Linda]

Tack Benita! det var det jag hade tänkt mig, något åt det gröna hållet men inte åt pastell utan lite ljus grågrön..

[Carlos]

Snyggt!

[Tine]

Unfortunately I can't get make the link work?

My greatest concern is, if painted steps will be too slippery?

[Carlos]

Oops, sorry, there's a dot in there that needs to go. This one should be correct: http://chezlarsson.com/myblog/2010/08/fresh-coat-basement.html

Painted steps will get a little slippery (especially if you go for a high gloss) but I think there are products that can prevent that, such as something you mix into the paint. Ask at your paint store!