After a full year of work, the basement refresh is finally complete—or at least as complete as it needs to be before the fun begins. The only untouched element is the floor, which is still in great shape. Its slightly old‑school color gives the space a bit of character, so it stays.
A Fresh Look for the Mini‑Z Room
The Mini‑Z room was the first major project, and it set the tone for the rest of the renovation. I repainted the walls in a Gulf‑inspired theme, which instantly gave the room more depth and personality. The old neon tubes were replaced with bright, neutral‑tone LED lights that completely transformed the atmosphere.
I also redid the entire electrical network—everything except the circuit‑breaker panel, which a professional handled. The room is now fully wired for two wall‑mounted TVs that will serve as monitors. The mounts, power outlets, and dual HDMI cables for each screen are already in place.
To prepare for future audio needs, I installed power and audio lines for up to four PA speakers. I’ll start with two, and if that’s not enough, adding more will be easy.
All HDMI and audio cables run cleanly to the L‑shaped setup table, which measures 2.6 × 1.8 meters (70 cm deep on the long side, 60 cm on the short). The smaller section will host a laptop with two additional monitors, paired with the TVs, along with a USB audio mixer. The larger section is dedicated entirely to Mini‑Z.
Computer Room: Almost There
The computer room was actually the first space I refreshed, and it’s now close to finished. LED lighting runs along the ceiling, and a large L‑shaped desk holds both my retro‑computing setup (I’m an Amiga fan) and my main workstation for 3D modeling, printing, and decal design. The last tasks are installing two layers of shelving and completing the wiring for the computers and lighting—something I expect to finish in the next couple of weeks.
Workshop: Ready for Action
The workshop is also complete. This is where I paint Mini‑Z and slot‑car bodies and handle 3D printing. The only remaining improvements are thermal insulation and an electric heater, which I’ll install over the summer so the room is ready for autumn and winter.
Patchwork Room: A Cozy Creative Space
The final room was originally intended as a dining area. I kept the original wood paneling and simply repainted the walls and ceiling. My wife will use this space for her patchwork projects, and it suits her perfectly.
Finishing this renovation has been incredibly satisfying. The basement is finally ready to support all my hobbies, and I can start enjoying the space the way I envisioned it.
Next up: installing the Mini‑Z track. That will be the focus of the next blog post.
