A nautical themed basement recreation room with shiplap paneling features v-groove board complements at the ceiling soffit and the barn doors that reveal a double bunk-bed niche with shelf space and trundle. James Merrell Photography

A work-from-home space is created in the previously unfinished basement. Design and construction by Meadowlark Design + Build in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Professional photography by Sean Carter.

Design ideas for a large transitional walk-out basement in Atlanta with a home bar, white walls, vinyl floors, beige floor and wallpaper.

Chic. Moody. Sexy. These are just a few of the words that come to mind when I think about the W Hotel in downtown Bellevue, WA. When my client came to me with this as inspiration for her Basement makeover, I couldn’t wait to get started on the transformation. Everything from the poured concrete floors to mimic Carrera marble, to the remodeled bar area, and the custom designed billiard table to match the custom furnishings is just so luxe! Tourmaline velvet, embossed leather, and lacquered walls adds texture and depth to this multi-functional living space.

We started with a blank slate on this basement project where our only obstacles were exposed steel support columns, existing plumbing risers from the concrete slab, and dropped soffits concealing ductwork on the ceiling. It had the advantage of tall ceilings, an existing egress window, and a sliding door leading to a newly constructed patio. This family of five loves the beach and frequents summer beach resorts in the Northeast. Bringing that aesthetic home to enjoy all year long was the inspiration for the décor, as well as creating a family-friendly space for entertaining. Wish list items included room for a billiard table, wet bar, game table, family room, guest bedroom, full bathroom, space for a treadmill and closed storage. The existing structural elements helped to define how best to organize the basement. For instance, we knew we wanted to connect the bar area and billiards table with the patio in order to create an indoor/outdoor entertaining space. It made sense to use the egress window for the guest bedroom for both safety and natural light. The bedroom also would be adjacent to the plumbing risers for easy access to the new bathroom. Since the primary focus of the family room would be for TV viewing, natural light did not need to filter into that space. We made sure to hide the columns inside of newly constructed walls and dropped additional soffits where needed to make the ceiling mechanicals feel less random. In addition to the beach vibe, the homeowner has valuable sports memorabilia that was to be prominently displayed including two seats from the original Yankee stadium. For a coastal feel, shiplap is used on two walls of the family room area. In the bathroom shiplap is used again in a more creative way using wood grain white porcelain tile as the horizontal shiplap “wood”. We connected the tile horizontally with vertical white grout joints and mimicked the horizontal shadow line with dark grey grout. At first glance it looks like we wrapped the shower with real wood shiplap. Materials including a blue and white patterned floor, blue penny tiles and a natural wood vanity checked the list for that seaside feel. A large reclaimed wood door on an exposed sliding barn track separates the family room from the game room where reclaimed beams are punctuated with cable lighting. Cabinetry and a beverage refrigerator are tucked behind the rolling bar cabinet (that doubles as a Blackjack table!). A TV and upright video arcade machine round-out the entertainment in the room. Bar stools, two rotating club chairs, and large square poufs along with the Yankee Stadium seats provide fun places to sit while having a drink, watching billiards or a game on the TV. Signed baseballs can be found behind the bar, adjacent to the billiard table, and on specially designed display shelves next to the poker table in the family room. Thoughtful touches like the surfboards, signage, photographs and accessories make a visitor feel like they are on vacation at a well-appointed beach resort without being cliché.

Large contemporary walk-out basement in Omaha with white walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace and beige floor.

Subterranean Game Room
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The ceiling height in the basement is 12 feet. The bedroom is flooded with natural light thanks to the massive floor to ceiling all glass french door, leading to a spacious below grade patio. The escape ladder and railing are all made from stainless steel.

This lower level kitchenette/wet bar was designed with Mid Continent Cabinetry’s Vista line. A shaker Yorkshire door style was chosen in HDF (High Density Fiberboard) finished in a trendy Brizo Blue paint color. Vista Cabinetry is full access, frameless cabinetry built for more usable storage space. The mix of soft, gold tone hardware accents, bold paint color and lots of decorative touches combine to create a wonderful, custom cabinetry look filled with tons of character.

This photo was taken at DJK Custom Homes new Parker IV Eco-Smart model home in Stewart Ridge of Plainfield, Illinois.
Inspiration for a large country fully buried basement in Chicago with white walls, ceramic floors and brown floor.

Inspiration for a large contemporary walk-out basement in Orange County with white walls, carpet and beige floor.

A custom table made of reclaimed wood serves as the focal point of the room. Grey painted cabinets and a quartz countertop offer nice contrast and a classic farmhouse look. The bead board backsplash with shelves above the sink for some treasured family antiques finish off this basement wet bar.

Design ideas for a large contemporary walk-out basement in Kansas City with white walls, ceramic floors, a standard fireplace and beige floor.

Photo of a mid-sized transitional walk-out basement in Vancouver with white walls, laminate floors and brown floor.

James Benson Group
Design ideas for a small contemporary look-out basement in Toronto with white walls, carpet and grey floor.

Photo of a mid-sized transitional basement in Miami with white walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Custom shiplap walls Exposed rustic pine beams Custom bar with oak wine barrel look Granite counter top Cabinets painted Baltic Gray by Sherwin Williams

A nautical themed basement recreation room with shiplap paneling features v-groove board complements at the ceiling soffit and the barn doors that reveal a double bunk-bed niche with shelf space and trundle. James Merrell Photography

As a cottage, the Ridgecrest was designed to take full advantage of a property rich in natural beauty. Each of the main houses three bedrooms, and all of the entertaining spaces, have large rear facing windows with thick craftsman style casing. A glance at the front motor court reveals a guesthouse above a three-stall garage. Complete with separate entrance, the guesthouse features its own bathroom, kitchen, laundry, living room and bedroom. The columned entry porch of the main house is centered on the floor plan, but is tucked under the left side of the homes large transverse gable. Centered under this gable is a grand staircase connecting the foyer to the lower level corridor. Directly to the rear of the foyer is the living room. With tall windows and a vaulted ceiling. The living rooms stone fireplace has flanking cabinets that anchor an axis that runs through the living and dinning room, ending at the side patio. A large island anchors the open concept kitchen and dining space. On the opposite side of the main level is a private master suite, complete with spacious dressing room and double vanity master bathroom. Buffering the living room from the master bedroom, with a large built-in feature wall, is a private study. Downstairs, rooms are organized off of a linear corridor with one end being terminated by a shared bathroom for the two lower bedrooms and large entertainment spaces. Photographer: Ashley Avila Photography Builder: Douglas Sumner Builder, Inc. Interior Design: Vision Interiors by Visbeen