This is an example of a traditional look-out basement in Chicago with brown walls and dark hardwood floors.

Basement family room with built-in home bar, lounge area, and pool table area.
Photo of a large transitional basement in Chicago with a home bar, brown walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor and wallpaper.

Creating an inviting atmosphere is our priority for every space within a home. The Oak Park Residence, our latest project, exemplifies this goal through its warm and comfortable bedrooms and welcoming seating areas. This transitional great room is actually part of the finished lower level.

Transitional basement in New York.

Game area of basement bar hang-out space. The console area sits behind a sectional and entertainment area for snacking during a game or movie.
This is an example of a large beach style walk-out basement in New York with white walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, brown floor, planked wall panelling and a game room.

full basement remodel. Modern/craftsmen style.
Design ideas for a large arts and crafts walk-out basement in Atlanta with white walls.

Custom built shelving with Mozambique shelving
Design ideas for a modern basement in Indianapolis.

Customers self-designed this space. Inspired to make the basement appear like a Speakeasy, they chose a mixture of black and white accented throughout, along with lighting and fixtures in certain rooms that truly make you feel like this basement should be kept a secret (in a great way)

Corner Detail
Design ideas for a traditional basement in Boston.

The expansive basement entertainment area features a tv room, a kitchenette and a custom bar for entertaining. The custom entertainment center and bar areas feature bright blue cabinets with white oak accents. Lucite and gold cabinet hardware adds a modern touch. The sitting area features a comfortable sectional sofa and geometric accent pillows that mimic the design of the kitchenette backsplash tile. The kitchenette features a beverage fridge, a sink, a dishwasher and an undercounter microwave drawer. The large island is a favorite hangout spot for the clients' teenage children and family friends. The convenient kitchenette is located on the basement level to prevent frequent trips upstairs to the main kitchen. The custom bar features lots of storage for bar ware, glass display cabinets and white oak display shelves. Locking liquor cabinets keep the alcohol out of reach for the younger generation.

This is an example of a scandinavian basement in Minneapolis.

This is an example of a country basement in Atlanta with vinyl floors and brick walls.

When my client had to move from her company office to work at home, she set up in the dining room. Despite her best efforts, this was not the long-term solution she was looking for. My client realized she needed a dedicated space not on the main floor of the home. On one hand, having your office space right next to the kitchen is handy. On the other hand, it made separating work and home life was not that easy. The house was a ranch. In essence, the basement would run entire length of the home. As we came down the steps, we entered a time capsule. The house was built in the 1950’s. The walls were covered with original knotty pine paneling. There was a wood burning fireplace and considering this was a basement, high ceilings. In addition, there was everything her family could not store at their own homes. As we wound though the space, I though “wow this has potential”, Eventually, after walking through the laundry room we came to a small nicely lit room. This would be the office. My client looked at me and asked what I thought. Undoubtedly, I said, this can be a great workspace, but do you really want to walk through this basement and laundry to get here? Without reservation, my client said where do we start? Once the design was in place, we started the renovation. The knotty pine paneling had to go. Specifically, to add some insulation and control the dampness and humidity. The laundry room wall was relocated to create a hallway to the office. At the far end of the room, we designated a workout zone. Weights, mats, exercise bike and television are at the ready for morning or afternoon workouts. The space can be concealed by a folding screen for party time. Doors to an old closet under the stairs were relocated to the workout area for hidden storage. Now we had nice wall for a beautiful console and mirror for storage and serving during parties. In order to add architectural details, we covered the old ugly support columns with simple recessed millwork panels. This detail created a visual division between the bar area and the seating area in front of the fireplace. The old red brick on the fireplace surround was replaced with stack stone. A mantle was made from reclaimed wood. Additional reclaimed wood floating shelves left and right of the fireplace provides decorative display while maintaining a rustic element balancing the copper end table and leather swivel rocker. We found an amazing rug which tied all of the colors together further defining the gathering space. Russet and burnt orange became the accent color unifying each space. With a bit of whimsy, a rather unusual light fixture which looks like roots from a tree growing through the ceiling is a conversation piece. The office space is quite and removed from the main part of the basement. There is a desk large enough for multiple screens, a small bookcase holding office supplies and a comfortable chair for conference calls. Because working from home requires many online meetings, we added a shiplap wall painted in Hale Navy to contrast with the orange fabric on the chair. We finished the décor with a painting from my client’s father. This is the background online visitors will see. The last and best part of the renovation is the beautiful bar. My client is an avid collector of wine. She already had the EuroCave refrigerator, so I incorporated it into the design. The cabinets are painted Temptation Grey from Benjamin Moore. The counter tops are my favorite hard working quartzite Brown Fantasy. The backsplash is a combination of rustic wood and old tin ceiling like porcelain tiles. Together with the textures of the reclaimed wood and hide poofs balanced against the smooth finish of the cabinets, we created a comfortable luxury for relaxing. There is ample storage for bottles, cans, glasses, and anything else you can think of for a great party. In addition to the wine storage, we incorporated a beverage refrigerator, an ice maker, and a sink. Floating shelves with integrated lighting illuminate the back bar. The raised height of the front bar provides the perfect wine tasting and paring spot. I especially love the pendant lights which look like wine glasses. Finally, I selected carpet for the stairs and office. It is perfect for noise reduction. Meanwhile for the overall flooring, I specifically selected a high-performance vinyl plank floor. We often use this product as it is perfect to install on a concrete floor. It is soft to walk on, easy to clean and does not reduce the overall height of the space.

Living room basement bedroom with new egress window. Polished concrete floors & staged
Inspiration for a small arts and crafts look-out basement in Portland with white walls, concrete floors and grey floor.

A different take on the open living room concept that features a bold custom cabinetry and built-ins with a matching paint color on the walls.
Design ideas for a large transitional walk-out basement in DC Metro with a home bar, grey walls, carpet, a hanging fireplace and brown floor.

This is an example of a beach style basement in San Francisco.

Huge basement in this beautiful home that got a face lift with new home gym/sauna room, home office, sitting room, wine cellar, lego room, fireplace and theater!

Photo of an eclectic basement in Salt Lake City.

Inspiration for an eclectic basement in Other with multi-coloured walls and wallpaper.