So I finally finished decking out the other half of my Instagram-arted basement pegboard. Yup, I added a little makeshift shelf that I primed and painted, got a non-electrical music device (how’s that for mysterious?), and even hung something kitchen-related as art. Actually a lot of you guys have been asking what we did with the cutting board that we picked up a couple of months ago as part of The Shops At Target collection, so… I give you… America The Pegboard-iful.
I just thought it made for some cool (and sawdust-proof) art, since I’m into maps and all.
It worked out nicely that the blue-painted edge of it coincidentally goes with my navy pegboard. Although down the road it might be fun to paint it a more contrast-y color (or use decorative tape). Or do something else entirely to add some more interest.
I contemplated painting the shape of Virginia on it to mark where our home state is located, but I think it would work better if we lived somewhere that floated in the middle of the country (like Utah or Missouri) since painting such a small coastal state like ours might not make much impact.
The other thing I’m enjoying up there is my new iPod dock, which I purchased for $45 through an Etsy seller (Index Drums). Gotta have tunes while I saw and drill to my heart’s content, right? And sometimes getting myself a little “prize” for organizing/upgrading/taking back a room that has long been neglected makes the process a little more exciting. So since I tackled a ton of projects in the basement using just sweat equity, scrap wood, leftover paint, and pre-existing pegboards – buying this guy to add some function to the room feels like a nice reward.
I stumbled upon it while looking for an affordable but unique music dock that also didn’t require me to plug it in. I knew I wanted it to sit up on that pegboard, and having a big cord coming across my workspace would be obnoxious. So this plywood dock was perfect – especially since it never has to be charged or anything. It basically is just an echo chamber that naturally amplifies the sound that comes out of my iPhone’s built-in speaker.
The custom listing I purchased from even allowed me to indicate the type of case that my phone was in so they could carve the slot to the exact proportions of my device. I also got to pick the painted design and the colors. I’ve been very happy with it so far. It’s no BOSE speaker, but it looks good, sounds good, and I like that it doesn’t require any batteries or charging.
I quickly put together the shelf that everything sits on by just notching out and painting a piece of scrap wood so that it would balance on a couple of pegboard hooks.
As for the other stuff on the shelf, I grabbed a white elephant (from book project #197) and one of these Warhol soup cans to hold my pens. Er, well, pen for now.
And with those simple but functional additions, I’ve officially used all of the pegboard space in the basement. Not gonna lie, these little functional/organizational coups can feel just as exciting as building a deck or gutting a bathroom. I have no idea why. Maybe just because when you stand in a space all the time, and actually know where everything is and like the way it looks, well, that’s a special kind of house-love going on. And you know I have a thing for my pegboards…
Has anybody else hung anything unusual (on pegboards or just the wall at large) lately? When you look at this project, I put a cutting board, a chunk of scrap wood, a soup can, and a plastic elephant on my wall. I think that counts as unusual, right?
Rebecca @This Nest is Best says
I love these little additions! The wood elements are so, so perfect for the space and I just love that you took the time to make a utilitarian space beautiful. And I’m cracking up that a white “ceramic” animal made its way in there!
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahahahaha, it’s contagious!
xo
s
Anele @ Success Along the Weigh says
Love it!! It really makes that space nice and personal when you’re down there working your magic. See, if they still made Cribs*, you could be like “forget the bedroom…THIS is where the magic happens baby!!”
*- I haven’t watched MTV in years, so I have no idea if they do or don’t make Cribs anymore. I had to asterisk my old age.
YoungHouseLove says
Hahah! I always liked looking in people’s refrigerators.
xo
s
Natalie Royall says
OOhh! It looks so organized! I always love the organization posts you guys do. This has given me motivation for my garage. We just finished the “purge” phase and now everything we need to keep is in a big pile…oh great! :( Now I need me some peg board :)
Emma (Broke Ass Home) says
I really like how you allowed yourself to have some man-pretty stuff displayed down there. Just because it’s your workspace doesn’t mean that it because be beautiful too. And, art is totally all about what is best for the space (don’t put something that will get moldy in the bathroom, don’t put something that will get ruined in the studio- makes total sense to me!)
How is this for weird art work? Nate and I made a clock completely from scratch! It was so easy I thought we were doing it wrong. Here’s our link- let me know what you think :)
http://www.brokeasshome.com/2013/01/in-nick-of-time.html
YoungHouseLove says
That’s really cool!
xo
s
Annelies says
Like the Ipod dock ! Didn’t know such thing existed. I wish I had one like that instead of my wired one. And so cool you could customise it. Nice job !
Jess @ Little House. Big Heart. says
I love the powerless speaker! That would be a great gift for my nerdy hubs!
I’m curious: has your workshop stayed tidy(er) since you installed the pegboards? I usually add storage and then get lazy and don’t actually use it after a while.
YoungHouseLove says
Waaaaaaaaay tidier. It’s totally motivated me to keep my tools organized and actually take the time to clean up after each project. It’s worlds better down there, although at the moment a lot of the empty floor space is taken up with outdoor pillows and chairs that are in storage for the winter.
-John
Shannon says
I love the use of the cutting board on the wall! And that “radio” is so cool! I didn’t even know those existed!!
Shannon
Fabulously Vintage
Shannon Loves Design
Diane @ Vintage Zest says
I love that the “map” and speakers are both wood! I love the plastic elephant! Will he receive a name? I’m into naming the objects that surround me when I work. For example, I sew a bunch and my machine & dress form both have names. Maybe that’s a bit too crazy!
Kara says
It’s not too unusual nor am I really “hanging” it – but I’ve been working on a DIY project with this tall 7′ shutter board that I found on the road. I’ve been trying to convert it into a necklace holder for the really long necklaces that I have. Drilled holes and put in short pieces of dowel rods to serve as the pegs to hold up the necklaces. But it still looks so cluttered. I keep thinking “What would John and Sherry do??” But after three attempts/approaches, I’m ready to throw in the towel!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw man, you can do it Kara! I’m rooting for you!
xo
s
Wendy @ New Moms Talk says
If you do paint Utah, I highly recommend a pretty shade of white for all of the snow we have now.
One local ski place (Snowbasin) is reporting 15 inches of fresh powder over night, and it’s falling steadily.
Also, thanks for sharing the iPod dock source. We’re looking for one for the nursery, and it appears to be harmonious with our music desires.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha!
xo
s
Linda says
W.O.W.!
Your basement work space looks A-MA-ZING! Inspiration for our garage work space indeed! #dudegetonthat Let’s see how long it lasts given all the use it gets. I know we’re terrible about keeping any space looking that neat for long – never mind a work bench. Maybe we could persuade you to come over and do a little garage consultation for us? We’re local and maybe we could qualify as a crash? #moreliketrainwreck Oh, and I love the music dock. I had no idea such a thing existed… Off to Etsy I go!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, we’ll be right over!
xo
s
Krista S. says
Looks awesome! I made my sister snag four of those Warhol cans at Target for me, and now I just need to find the perfect spot for them. How are they holding up? Did you guys end up mod podging them at all?
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, I did just a little to protect them :)
xo
s
Lucy says
My yarn pegboard:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jessica3/8376285389/
YoungHouseLove says
Amazing!
xo
s
Sarah @ Babytalk Bungalow says
I read this as “yam” pegboard, and then clicked the link out of curiosity about what that could mean, and then clicked it again out of confusion because there were no yams… and then I finally figured it out, haha. Cute idea for storing yarn though! :)
Kristen | Popcorn on the Stove says
I’m a fan – and I think this is the nicest work station I’ve ever seen!
Rachel says
John, you are the only guy I “know” that has art in his workshop, and I love it! My husband’s idea of art is beer signs!
It looks great… I think my favorite part is the little iPod dock… Or maybe the fact that Sherry’s white ceramic animal obsession is rubbing off on you….
YoungHouseLove says
Hah! I’m wearing him down.
xo
s
Sarah Stäbler says
I love that America-shaped cutting board. My sister-in-law bought it for me for my last birthday and shipped it all the way over here to Europe. Now that I live in Germany, I’ve become much more nostalgic about the US and my home state (Maryland! state neighbors with you guys!) and enjoy collecting things like that that remind me of home!
Maureen says
Ok, so I have some serious basement envy going on. I am currently completed overwhelmed with everything we need to do/have going on in our house to the point of taking a step back and doing nothing (which then causes guilt. lol). Even though I have a couple of years on you guys, when I grow up, I want to be the Petersiks.
Lucy says
My yarn pegboard:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jessica3/8376285389/
I need to rearrange it and get a better picture, but you get the idea.
YoungHouseLove says
So cute!
xo
s
Courtney Madden says
We got an awesome pineapple cutting board from our Hawaii vacation that I plan to hang on the wall as art! Also, we just finished installing our own navy pegboards and Chris couldn’t be more in love! You’re not alone, John!
Kirsten Oliphant says
I love seeing the man-spaces! My hubby will totally geek out so I need to make sure he sees this. Right now his poor workspace is our 1-car garage, which he shares with no less than four bikes, an exersaucer, a lawnmower and a bunch of other stuff. Suffice to say…he’d love to clean it out and have a kicking man-space like this. I also just like to say man-space.
Audrey says
You know what else works great as a speaker amplifier – a metal mixing bowl! That’s what I use when I am in the basement….
Brenda says
Looks great! Now I feel the itch to get my organizing on. I bought containers to organize my shelves and store things under the bed, but they’ve just sat there on my floor. So things are actually less organized now than before.
Jayme @ Keeping Up With Myself says
This is great! I’ve been dreading cleaning out our messy basement but now I think it could be fun! Thanks for the inspiration!
kristy says
Could you come organize my life? If I need a Phillips head, I can find 42 flatheads and vice versa. On day… One day…
Erin@VintageKC says
I got that same cutting board on clearance and since I live in the middle of it (Kansas), I’m totally outlining my state and putting a heart over KC. :) What if you pinned your book tour locations on it and connected it with string? Is that lame? lol
YoungHouseLove says
That’s fun! We have a cork map that we pin already in the frame hallway – can’t wait to update that with pins for the tour (we’re going to do them all the same color).
xo
s
Katie says
My husband would kill for some pegboards like those. Maybe I’ll hook him up for Valentine’s Day?
I see you’re into Two Door Cinema Club! (I can recognize that album art from a mile away.) Now I know you’re cool. :)
Liz C. says
You should paint a little heart over your home in VA!
Gina says
Holla at Utah!!
Katie says
So jealous of your amazingly organized and well decorated work space! I could get a lot more done if I had a place like that to work instead of hunting all around my house for the supplies!
Julia @ Chris Loves Julia says
That ipod dock is sa-weet, John!! I’ll have to check out that shop for when we get around to an official work bench for Chris. We recently hung some butterflies in Greta’s room for a go at non-traditional art:
http://www.chrislovesjulia.com/2013/01/trimmed-out-and-butterflied.html
Twice! Because the first night she took a few down. :/
YoungHouseLove says
So sweet.
xo
s
Shelley says
What a fantastic work space! A lot of creating can happen in a space like that! Enjoy!
Roo @ NiceGirlNotes says
Weird. A client sent me THAT exact soup can in the mail. No note. No explanation. Just a soup can.
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahaha, I love it so much. It’s a problem.
xo
s
Wendy @ New Moms Talk says
The soup cans also once appeared on a NY teacher exam. Having lived in Pittsburgh for a while, I got the answer right away.
In fact, Warhol is buried in the town in which I used to live- Bethel Park.
YoungHouseLove says
So cool!
xo
s
Katy @ The Non-Consumer Advocate says
The pegboards look great, and the iPod dock is uber- cool!
You like maps? Then you’d enjoy the roller blinds I made for my son. I used vintage classroom maps. I made then in 2004, and I’ve loved them every day since!
http://thenonconsumeradvocate.com/2011/05/my-sons-roller-blinds-are-famous/
Plus, they were super useful during the Gulf war to talk to my son about where Iraq was in relation to the rest of the world.
Katy
YoungHouseLove says
So cool!
xo
s
Leah says
How did you hang the cutting board? I bought the same one and have been wanting to hang it on my wall, but haven’t been able to decide what would be the best way. Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
We just used pegboard hooks under it to hold it up, but you could add one of those saw-tooth hanging things on the back and hang it over a nail too!
xo
s
Allison says
Yay! Another Two Door Cinema Club fan!!!
Jenelle says
I love your pegboards, and I think the cutting board is awesome. But I have to say… that’s a sad, sad representation of Michigan! Texas and Florida got their peninsular glory, but Michigan is kind of a pitiful lump somehow attached to Wisconsin. Sad face.
Kelly says
I didn’t notice that until reading your comment! I’m from Michigan, and I don’t think I would have bought the cutting board because of that!
Mary says
I love the amplifier! I was looking for a little portable box for my boyfriend to play his music in the garage or basement. My basement is under renovation right now, and my workshop room will be tackled after the living area. Your workshop is my inspiration. It’s looking awesome!
Stephanie says
John,
That wireless speaker is awesome! I now know what I’m getting my husband for his birthday!
Christina @ Homemade Ocean says
Very nice! I am loving it!
Stephanie R says
Love it!
You should use push pins to make all of the US cities you’ve visited on the book tour.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s fun! We have a cork map that we pin already in the frame hallway – can’t wait to update that with pins for the tour (we’re going to do them all the same color).
xo
s
Christy Niebaum says
Love Two Door Cinema Club! Good tune choice, man!
Megan @ Rappsody in Rooms says
I love it! I think it is time to really make some cool peg boards in my basement! I like that you don’t forget to make work spaces pretty spaces as well!
Anna says
Two Door Cinema Club = YES
Amee says
I saw the cutting board on sale at Target and totally needed to pick it up. I thought I’d probably use it as a piece of art somehow, but decided I like to turn it into a magnetic knife rack. My question to you is, can I, I mean do you think it’s possible? Do you think the width of the wood is okay for this? I know I need to get pretty specific and leave around only an 1/8 of space between the front of the wood and the magnet so the knives hold. Thanks for any help!
YoungHouseLove says
That sounds really cool! And it sounds like it should work! Good luck Amee!
xo
s
Kim says
Clara’s blanket and C pillow are on sale at joss and main today for all the people that wanted to buy them!
YoungHouseLove says
No way! That’s so funny!
xo
s
Jerri says
John, your basement is so organized! I am envious! I was just given a hand-me-down pegboard and, thanks to you, know how I will use it. I plan on doing your Instagram pics with the CD frames. This will be hung in my grandson’s / guest room. What a brilliant idea!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Jerri!
-John
Keisha says
We have an entire workroom in our basement covered in pegboard but my husband never hangs his tools back up, they are always all over the workbench. How do you store your nuts/bolts, nails and screws?
YoungHouseLove says
Those are on the shelf you see in the corner in jars with labels. That went against all of my instincts (it took some major time to do!) but it’s so helpful so I’m faster now.
-John
Mary @ Ms. Redo says
What about putting a dot or star at each spot on the map that you’ve done a book signing, and put a little pic of your book on it somewhere (Kansas? will you sign books in Kansas? if not, it’s a free area … and sorta in the middle). Just a thought from a fellow map fanatic.
Mary
YoungHouseLove says
That would be fun! We actually have a cork backed map that we put pins in and we’re planning to add all the tour stops in the same colored pin to forever memorialize all those flights!
xo
s
Heidi P. says
Looove!
ShellyP says
John:
Do guys really use the term “Contrast-y” do describe contrast??? It’s too Sherri-fied a word. Stick to words that are true to you Dude. Love the iPod speaker you scored on ETSY. Functional, looks good and it’s also authentic to who you are (not contrast-y to who you are).
Would you mind sharing your playlist?
ShellyP
YoungHouseLove says
I’m the one who makes up words, so Sherry copied me on that. Ha! I’ve been
sayingtyping weird things map-tastic since this little blog adventure began. As for my playlist, I think you guys can see it on spotify, right? If not I think in this post I shared a favorite mix in a photo: https://www.younghouselove.com/2012/08/the-run-around/-John
Brad @ Mr. Write Away says
I, too, love the iPod speaker score and I want one. As for making up words… I didn’t realize that was a gender specific talent. I make up words all the time!