Think of the physics behind what you're seeing: it happens all the time on the outside of a glass of iced tea - water vapor in the air comes in contact with a cold surface and condenses. Where is the moisture coming from? Is the concrete still curing? Are the outside walls sealed or protected from ground moisture contact? (Moisture wicks/passes right through concrete.) Does the floor have a vapor barrier below? Is there a moisture barrier between the walls and foundation? (Moisture can wick into walls from the foundation/soil contact also.) In regards to basements and water vapor, the rule of thumb is to plan on the fact that moisture will permeate through the walls as vapor and thus build so as to let the wall assemblies dry to the interior. Building science corp. has a lot of good info in regards to this subject. But, during the construction phase do all that you can to prevent water entry from the exterior. Heating the pan surface temperature would stop the condensation but this is probably not an efficient long-term option; you would just lose the heat by conduction to the outside concrete. Probably better to insulate the pan surface with a non-permeable insulation. During the insulation stage of the house, I would have the contractor spray foam on the bottom side of the pans. This would insulate the ceiling and prevent water vapor contact with the cold surface. Here is a link that might be useful: Building Science web site

Point taken, but it's really hideous and has old (maybe dangerous tile and glue) stuck to it in parts, but not all over. We wet the floor to take up the tiles that were broken and loose, but we won't get into hacking, prying and sanding. The concrete underneath isn't even, either. We had a contractor in and it was quite expensive doing the demo, level and new floor (commercial vinyl). We're not sure yet, but we may move, so we have to do something. We like FLOR a lot too and have it in the laundry room. I love that it's washable.

Yes, do keep them out of humidity. If the sun ever comes out (I'm not too far from you, in WV, and it has been raining for 2 1/2 months straight!) then put them out in a single layer in the sun during the day to cure. Take them in at night when the dew falls. (I use big buckets to do the daily transporting. )Do this for one or two weeks, and they'll be well cured. Then, what I do with mine is braid them using twine and whatever of the dried tops are still left. Then I hang them in a large closet. The braiding and hanging makes sure there is a plenty of air around them. The closet makes it dark so they don't think about growing. If you can find a place in your house that is dark and dry and also cool, all the better. My onions don't get the "cold" part of best storage methods, but they still last until late spring.If they start to sprout around April, I put the last on them in the fridge and that slows down their springtime aspirations. Good luck, and congrats on the great harvest!

You're right - it's all about what you will be storing. Unfortunately, in your space the storage needs might be completely different in 5 or 10 years, so you want to be as flexible as possible. First off - wrapping paper isn't going to fit well in a drawer or cabinet. Long tub under the bed is the only way to go! Board games - doors and shelves for sure. I would include enough shelves that games aren't stacked too high. You may or may not want a drawer on top, if you have a drawer stack - or perhaps you don't need a drawer stack, but drawers over doors will be sufficient. Though eliminating a drawer above gives you more flexibility for shelving. Smaller jigsaw puzzle boxes could be stored in a drawer on their sides. Small things - scissors, tape, etc - are definitely best in drawers, with dividers to keep everything organized. With a counter above, what prevents the clutter on top? I have a storage cabinet in my family room, and I can keep it cleared off for about 3 days, then stuff starts to accumulate! I have added roll-outs to several base cabinets, in my Mom's kitchen and a few places in my house. I used Blum Metaboxes, which are pretty easy to assemble, and not terribly expensive. In your case, where your needs may change over the years, that might be the best bet. Yes, it's more of a pain to open doors then pullouts, but these won't be accessed as often as kitchen cabinets (or will be used by kids, who have plenty of time and energy). By putting so much thought into this up front, I'm sure you'll come up with a terrific solution for your storage needs. Well done!