Lexington modern basement remodel.
Design ideas for a large contemporary basement in Other with white walls, vinyl floors and beige floor.

Photo of a scandinavian look-out basement in Other with white walls, ceramic floors, a wood stove and beige floor.

The main hall of the rec room was decidedly simple. We painted the brick and walls a crisp white and let the space speak for itself. A wall of custom closets provide ample storage. The painted brick arches provide architectural detail.

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.

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional fully buried basement in Chicago with white walls, carpet and beige floor.

Mid-sized modern look-out basement in Toronto with white walls, porcelain floors and no fireplace.

This is an example of a mid-sized arts and crafts look-out basement in Seattle with white walls.

Bright and cheerful basement rec room with beige sectional, game table, built-in storage, and aqua and red accents. Photo by Stacy Zarin Goldberg Photography

Great under the stairs space idea for a small kitchenette
Design ideas for a small transitional walk-out basement in DC Metro with vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, brown floor and white walls.

The large finished basement provides areas for gaming, movie night, gym time, a spa bath and a place to fix a quick snack!
Photo of an expansive modern walk-out basement in Indianapolis with a game room, white walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

This basement renovation/playroom is a part of a whole house renovation we tackled starting in 2016, slowly and intentionally recreating each space in the house so it could be an updated, lovely space that FELT LIKE HOME to my clients. Do you have a basement that feels dark and foreboding? Do you long for a bright, airy, fun space to hang out in and entertain? A place for the kids to go play when it is cold and SNOWY or hotter than heck outside? While this space previously had been quite dark and a little depressing, with fresh paint, new flooring and all the right colorful furnishings and accessories, we were able to create a fun, comfortable space for entertaining and for kids to romp & play. A bright, happy place for this wonderful family to enjoy for years to come!

Design ideas for a mid-sized modern look-out basement in Boston with white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary look-out basement in New York with white walls, vinyl floors, no fireplace, grey floor and brick walls.

This basement features a custom-built wet bar with stunning backsplash & duel beer tap. A secret bookshelf door leads you to a finished back room. Custom shelving and wood work provide a unique look and feel within the space.

Cheap and Cheerful! This space was cleaned up, existing space sprayed white and a new laminate floor installed. Phase two will see this space fully waterproofed, underpinned and finished to match the rest of the home, but for now provides a great play and storage space.

Light fixture close up from Rev Run's Renovation project.
Design ideas for a large modern fully buried basement in New York with white walls.

Bright and cheerful basement rec room with beige sectional, game table, built-in storage, and aqua and red accents. Photo by Stacy Zarin Goldberg Photography

Artistic built-in with hidden storage and display niches. Sun Design Remodeling frequently holds home tours at clients’ homes and workshops on home remodeling topics at their office in Burke, VA. FOR INFORMATION: 703-425-5588 or www.SunDesignInc.com Photography by Bryan Burris

Detail of basement mechanical room with barn door open to show racks containing all audio/visual and lighting control systems for the house mounted in movable racks. Sylvain Cote