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Small cellar- what to do with it?

17 replies

Turquoisetamborine · 28/09/2018 12:13

We live in a villa type house built around 100 years ago. When you walk into the hall there are the stairs immediately to your left then a door to the cellar. I would assume it used to be used for coal storage.

You go down four steps to it then there is a small space where I keep my dryer. There is a small window.
It’s currently used for storing paint, suitcases etc as we have no garage (we have an attic but the hatch isn’t large enough for suitcases).

It’s so unpleasant down there I usually don’t go down there unless I have to. It’s been damp proofed and has a concrete floor. Things don’t seem to get damp down there but it’s full of spiders. I assume the spiders come in through the hole which hasn’t been blocked up.

Anyone know what I could do with it? We had a kitchen extension done a couple of years ago and I asked the builder then if I could have it converted to a bathroom and he said it would be really difficult with it being underground so i didn’t take it any further. We already have a family bathroom and a separate toilet upstairs so I’m not desperate for a third toilet.

I don’t know what sort of flooring we could put on the stairs if it was used as storage. Lino maybe. Photos attached anyway.

Small cellar- what to do with it?
Small cellar- what to do with it?
Small cellar- what to do with it?
OP posts:
wowfudge · 28/09/2018 12:27

Add more racking for storage. I'd look at plumbing your washing machine in down there with the dryer stacked on top and having a pump to get the waste water out. It will depend where your kitchen waste is above, but could be worth looking into.

wowfudge · 28/09/2018 12:28

We have sheet vinyl on the floor of our cellar utility room.

AnarchyKitty · 28/09/2018 12:31

I'd get the walls done, floor down probably lino. Add shelves and have it as a laundry room and/or pantry.

Fiffyshadesofgreymatter · 28/09/2018 12:32

A sauna!!!

SD1978 · 28/09/2018 12:33

@Fiffyshadesofgreymatter- or a sex dungeon? Why stop at sauna? 😂😂😂

serbska · 28/09/2018 13:22

Looks like it needs a clean and a tidy to me.

Put flooring down. More shelves. Tidy it up.

Fiffyshadesofgreymatter · 28/09/2018 13:24

@SD1978

I was being entirely serious! I turned an unused closet into a sauna and it's amazing! But if a sex dungeon is more your thing... Then get out the whips and chains!

SD1978 · 28/09/2018 13:26

@Fiffyshadesofgreymatter- I seriously wanted to put one in an old flat I stayed in. It would be bliss being able to get up and juts go and sit in your own sauna.

HoraceWimpIsThisYourLife · 28/09/2018 15:03

No cellar is complete without ghosts, surely?

Turquoisetamborine · 28/09/2018 17:11

Sex dungeon mmm!! Maybe. It would have to be quite a small orgy though as there isn’t much room!!

Well I’ve cleared it all out and swept the floor. A plasterer is coming in a couple of weeks to fill in the holes. I’ll put vinyl down on the floor and steps, thanks for the suggestions. I assume I’ll have to get someone to build some storage shelves in it as well then we will paint it and use it like a large understairs cupboard.

OP posts:
Turquoisetamborine · 28/09/2018 17:14

Sadly there isn’t enough ceiling height to have the washer and dryer stacked.

OP posts:
Whattodowithaminute · 28/09/2018 17:18

I’ve been looking at IKEA algot shelving today which might be a good solution for cheap extra storage solution?

MrsJane · 28/09/2018 17:21

Utility room?

Turquoisetamborine · 28/09/2018 18:39

The Algot series looks great and a lot cheaper than I thought.

OP posts:
Fiffyshadesofgreymatter · 28/09/2018 18:53

I've got 4 of the freestanding algot frames (in 2 stacks) with a mix of the shallow and deep mesh baskets in my utility room. They are great and so easy to set up. I've got one in my inner porch and the kids have a basket each for their school bags and lunch boxes. Keep a everything organised.

Turquoisetamborine · 28/09/2018 20:12

Thanks. I can’t actually imagine it not being a shit hole. It’s such a waste of space at the moment!

OP posts:
wowfudge · 28/09/2018 20:17

I would find somewhere for the washing machine - I don't like them in kitchens.

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