Possibilities

AlanAllen

I've been collecting cards for 26 years, and as long as I can remember have wanted a card room. We bought a house in rural Illinois last month, and after intense negotiations a finished room in the basement was designated as my card room. Here are the as-found pictures... I have grand plans but they are nothing but plans at the moment.











This is why I'm up at 2 AM

Joe

GDM67

The little recessed stage area has promise. What are some of your preliminary plans?

Elemenopeo

I really couldn't be more jealous right now.

glossycrazy

You lucky dog! Beats the two shelves my wife gives me in the basement by the BEER fridge!
Paul

Elemenopeo

I will say, though, you gotta lose that carpeting.

calleocho

A card showroom would be pretty cool.

I think you should really add as much light as possible, maybe museum tracks.

The carpet...not good.

ColleSystem

Superb. Remember, a dehumidafier is a MUST for basement storage.

MorrellMan

Great - you might pop up that suspended ceiling and see what's above it; not only would you get more ceiling height, you could install very dramatic lighting.

ColleSystem

Agreed on the suspended ceiling theory. Good idea.

AlanAllen

We collectors all think alike . I will definitely be losing the carpet... I think I will replace it with something dark green. It's actually in decent shape, but 20-30 years out of style. The faux wood paneling and the little duck hunting scene has to go too. I'm not sure about the drop ceiling. There is a ton of wiring up and it doesn't drop far from the joists so there isn't much play. But flourescent lighting makes me cry. I'm open to ideas for the lighting.

The stage will be used for a posable mannequin wearing vintage football gear. I have the mannequin and the melon football, and I still need a helmet, jersey, pants, and cleets.

The wall in the second picture can hold my gorilla racks and bookshelves, with a small computer desk on the far wall (left side of the third pic). On the long wall on the right of the third pic and left of the 4th pic I'm going to install a custom cabinet. I'm thinking 1 or 2 open shelves about 12" deep with space above them for uncut sheets, broadsides, posters, Pennzoni cabinets, etc., and a small shelf near the ceiling for stuff the size of baseballs. The short wall where the duck hunting scene is will have either stuff that is too tall for the second long wall or pictures, or jerseys. I plan to do all the work and carpentry myself so this will be a multi-year project.

Thanks for the input on the dehumidifier. The basement does not get wet when it rains, but it is a little more humid down there.

Joe

envoy98

<< <i>Great - you might pop up that suspended ceiling and see what's above it; not only would you get more ceiling height, you could install very dramatic lighting. >>



Or find some original T206 cards, or even some '52 Topps Hi-Numbers!

Seriously though, having a place to display your stuff would be awesome, looks like a nice sized room too! My wife let me have the 3rd level behind our bar to display all of my memorabilia etc. It's a poor attempt so far with stuff just stuck to the wall so it's not on the floor...someday. All of my cards are in boxes in my computer room. I get them in the mail, I enter them on my sheet and into my registry, stare at them for a few minutes and into the box they go...the card they replaced (if it's an upgrade) ends up in another box. If I actually had the time, space, energy to display them, I would. I would love to see pics when you have this done. Maybe it will give me some motivation!

phreakydancin

With the drop ceilings, it should be easy to install track lighting anywhere you want, which is great for focusing the beams on your showpieces.

The room looks to be 10' X 16' ? A room that size gives you a lot of flexibility and options.

AlanAllen

The room measures 11' x 20', plus the stage.

Joe

alohaet

That room is bigger than my apartment!LOL. You have some great possibilities ahead of you. Good Luck.


Ed

jimtb

Lot of wall space - that's always important. Congratulations!

milbroco

Make sure to scan some pics when you have it done. It could give me some ideas. We are about to renovate a property we just bought and the 2nd floor will be one huge playroom for the kids...about 35 feet by 27 feet. I will put up walls after the house is done for my own card room. I just need to decide how big to make it.
Bob

joemaggio

<< <i>There are six ducks outside, and they all want Sunchips! >>



Ducks get free sandwiches at Subway.

ChicagoGlen

Just curious where in Illinois? Nice to have another collector in this fine state.

AlanAllen

I live in Dwight, about 35 miles south of Joliet. It's a zero-stoplight town, with no bigger town within 20 miles in any direction. I absolutely love it .

Joe

ChicagoGlen

Must be nice. I am about 70 miles away in DeKalb. I love living here. Big, big difference from growing up on the South Side of Chicago.

joemaggio

I am in Springfield!

ColleSystem

<< <i>It's a zero-stoplight town, with no bigger town within 20 miles in any direction. >>




I'm jealous.

thefootballcardstore

I'm originally from Aurora, but recently visited DeKalb as an aunt and uncle moved there.

Much fun with the room Joe, and all those Marcus Allen cards!

qmayer

<< <i>

<< <i>There are six ducks outside, and they all want Sunchips! >>



Ducks get free sandwiches at Subway. >>




Rice is good if you're hungry and you want 10,000 of something.

And to stay on topic, I'm very jealous of the room! And the carpet!

AlanAllen

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i>There are six ducks outside, and they all want Sunchips! >>



Ducks get free sandwiches at Subway. >>




Rice is good if you're hungry and you want 10,000 of something.

And to stay on topic, I'm very jealous of the room! And the carpet!
>>



My apartment is infested with Koala Bears. It's the cutest infestation ever. Way better than coc kroaches.

Joe