Stairs: Part 1

With 4 months until our baby boy arrives, we decided it was time to have an interior stairway to our basement again.  I'm so ready to not have to lug my laundry basket outside, down the dark cement stair path, and into the basement.

When we remodeled our main floor last year (2010), we removed the old staircase because it wasn't in a good spot (it ended up being right in the middle of our bedroom!). We now know where it's going to be and have figured out all of the measurements, etc., so let's get this party started!

We always need before pictures...so here is the corner of the guest bedroom and closet that is going to become the stairwell.  On the other side of the closet wall is the dining room, which is where you will enter the stairs from.  Yes, this is going to make an already small bedroom a bit smaller, but it's going to be worth it.

Here is the view of the closet from the doorway of the guest bedroom.

Let the demo begin! (And don't be worried, I did not partake in the demolition.  That was all Mark. We had the door closed, the bedroom windows open, and a towel under the door so no dust would enter the rest of the house.) I did sneak in to take these pictures after the dust settled, though. :o)

Once the demo was done, Mark threw up the new studs which made our new wall.

Look at those pretty new studs! (That's what she said.)  We extended the new wall about 2.5 more feet so that we wouldn't have to hunch over as we walked down the stairs. The new stairs are going to be a bit steep (think stairs of the 1940s!), but they will be nice, new, inside, and have a nice sturdy handrail.

You may be wondering what the brick thing is...that is the back of the chimney.  On the other side of it is our living room fireplace.  It's still nice and solid!

This is 100% the hubby's project. I've just been snapping pictures. While he does this, I get to start on something really fun...a nursery!