Evidently, we've only just begun.

Are the bodies buried yet? I've always found it easier if they're already buried...

oh no, ask a serious question ... LOL

DIVINE DESIGN with Candice Olson

That's the only carpenter that can help you...

Have you considered Venetian Plaster as a finish? It's cheap but has an expensive look, a bit time consuming, but can be done in increments. I'm doing my entire livingroom, diningroom and kitchen. It looks awesome.

Place your framed walls against the concrete; the weight will hold them down and you can attach them to the floor joists above ... no need to nail into the conrete, 'float them'.

If you have as much as eight feet to the bottom of the floor joist above, a dropped six inches suspended ceiling is a good alternative to a sheetrock ceiling ... ceiling at 90 inches leaves six inches over standard door and window heights.

An interlocking 'Pergo' floor is a good basement floor, but I reccommend painting (with a latex/enamel) the concrete before applying the sub and finished floor material. Cut four pieces of carpet and place 'fuzzy' side down then place the pooltable feet over each patch.

No, I'm not a professinal carpenter ... and oddly enough, I didn't stay ina Holiday Inn last night ?????

"I'm not a professinal carpenter" should have ' ' marks around the professinal

It would be my guess, and it is a guess, that an adhesive applied with a caulking gun would hold the 2x4 framing to the concrete. Your local home building supply should be able to answer any questions you have.

1) I HATE the idea of nailing into my perfect concrete. Is there an alternative system that doesn't require nailing into the concrete? I once had a guy drill and put in bolt anchors but I'm sure that's time-consuming and more costly.

Do you mean anchoring the stud plates? Masonry nails are no more traumatic than anchored bolts.

2) Walls: Can you use an air-powered staple gun (like 9/16") to hang sheet rock or just go with the traditional nails for best results?

Neither. I recommend a rechargeable drill with a phillips head bit and drywall screws.

3) Ceiling: Has 1x2x12 floor joists from upper floor. Lights are installed, but my sheet rock guy hates doing ceilings. So I'm looking at alternatives for ceilings, again watching the cost and want a halfway-decent appearance.

If they are truly 12 inch centers, I'd recommend 12x12 tiles fastened in place by staples. But you probably have 16" or 20" centers. In that case, you can still put ferring strips on 12" centers, perpendicular (or diagonal) to the joists.

4) Floor: I might be putting an (idle) pool table down there. The weight my be hard on carpet but what would you guys (and gals) recommend for a floor? carpet, vinyl tiles, one of those interlocking wood kits, what?

I don't recommend interlocking wood on basement floors (swelling and puckering in moisture). If anything, I'd recommend the old fashioned asphalt tiles. But if you wanted carpet, it's not a problem, just use pieces of wood under the legs to distribute the weight over the carpeting.

Forgot to add that as long as it's waterproof, it can be done over just about any surface. The house we bought is straight out of the 70s with ugly brown paneling everywhere. I'm going right over the paneling and so far, it's working beautifully. If you've been in the Venetian in Las Vegas, just about every wall is done in that exact technique.

1)2x4 or 2x2 studs can be glued to the walls. A little PL400 adhesive and they won't be going anywhere.Tie then into the ceiling structure if you'd like.

2) If your going to hang sheetrock use screws. A few years from now you won't have nails or staples poping out and making dimples in the wall.

3) I've never been a fan of the ceiling tiles look. Sheetrock and a textured finish has always been my choice.

4)Interlocking wood floors suck big time.(Pergo -BLECH!) I'd carpet for the warmth and feel. Maybe a tiled island look to rest the table.

I just finished remodeling my home. Take your time and spend the money to do it right the first time.

1) I HATE the idea of nailing into my perfect concrete. Is there an alternative system that doesn't require nailing into the concrete? I once had a guy drill and put in bolt anchors but I'm sure that's time-consuming and more costly.
PL500 construction adhesive
2) Walls: Can you use an air-powered staple gun (like 9/16") to hang sheet rock or just go with the traditional nails for best results?DO NOT USE AIR ANYTHING FOR THIS!
Use drywall screws (they make them for metal AND wood studs)
3) Ceiling: Has 1x2x12 floor joists from upper floor. Lights are installed, but my sheet rock guy hates doing ceilings. So I'm looking at alternatives for ceilings, again watching the cost and want a halfway-decent appearance. Try a "drop ceiling" like used in a commercial building.
4) Floor: I might be putting an (idle) pool table down there. The weight my be hard on carpet but what would you guys (and gals) recommend for a floor? carpet, vinyl tiles, one of those interlocking wood kits, what? depends on how much $$$ You want to spend and what the long-term use will be(I need more info)

Don't know a reasonable way for the ceiling, but if the floor is concrete slab, you can do a reasonably cheap and easy faux finish that can look like stone or tile. In fact, I wish I had a concrete floor to work with...I love the look! It looks like massive marble slabs or stone. One here in Vegas was done in very high sheen black 4 foot slabs, and the other I saw was done to look like slate. They had a crew do it, but what they did was cut shapes into the concrete and then used concrete stains to get a mottles affect. It looks absolutely wonderful and is very durable, easy to clean.

Send Me a phone# and I will call with more info

CK

thanks for the replies so far ...

"...oddly enough, I didn't stay ina Holiday Inn last night ?????"

LOL, very funny. I love those ads!