From NC but I have actually spent some time in Bellingham a few years ago... My friend went to Western Washington University (I believe that is what it was called)
Very cool place! I got to go kayaking in the San Juan islands and spent some time in Seattle and Vancouver as well... Very...
My buddy just did the base of an old farmhouse and sealed all of the brick foundation around the house and then went back over it with white paint... It really looked great and truly looks like a totally different house.
Haha, I guess that is my first "tool" too!
Second would have to be a tool belt that was decked out with a hammer/chalkbox/speed square/tape measurer that I got from my father when I was younger... My dad was a carpenter so I thought it was the coolest thing I had ever gotten! =)
Do you have room to possibly utilize some shelving up high and get some stuff off of the floor? Those two grey shelving boxes could be switched out with some quality wall supported shelving, then if you could find somewhere for your red tool chest to go then you would be able to open up enough...