This full basement renovation included adding a mudroom area, media room, a bedroom, a full bathroom, a game room, a kitchen, a gym and a beautiful custom wine cellar. Our clients are a family that is growing, and with a new baby, they wanted a comfortable place for family to stay when they visited, as well as space to spend time themselves. They also wanted an area that was easy to access from the pool for entertaining, grabbing snacks and using a new full pool bath.We never treat a basement as a second-class area of the house. Wood beams, customized details, moldings, built-ins, beadboard and wainscoting give the lower level main-floor style. There’s just as much custom millwork as you’d see in the formal spaces upstairs. We’re especially proud of the wine cellar, the media built-ins, the customized details on the island, the custom cubbies in the mudroom and the relaxing flow throughout the entire space.

Interior Design, Interior Architecture, Construction Administration, Custom Millwork & Furniture Design by Chango & Co. Photography by Jacob Snavely
Inspiration for an expansive transitional fully buried basement in New York with grey walls, dark hardwood floors and a ribbon fireplace.

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.

Photo of a mid-sized transitional walk-out basement in Seattle with grey walls, laminate floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Inspiration for a large transitional fully buried basement in Chicago with a home bar, white walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, beige floor, exposed beam and decorative wall panelling.

Large transitional walk-out basement in Chicago with grey walls, vinyl floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and grey floor.

Design ideas for a mid-sized eclectic walk-out basement in Denver with grey walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and multi-coloured floor.

©Finished Basement Company
This is an example of a large transitional walk-out basement in Minneapolis with grey walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and grey floor.

Basement sitting area with stone fireplace and built in bookshelves. Photography by Spacecrafting.
Photo of a large transitional walk-out basement in Minneapolis with white walls, carpet, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

This fireplace is the perfect place to warm up on a chilly winter day. The fire's surrounding stone gives the space a warm and rustic atmosphere which is great for this cozy lower level.

This is an example of a large transitional fully buried basement in Cleveland with a game room, carpet, a ribbon fireplace, grey floor, beige walls and a tile fireplace surround.

What a transformation!
This is an example of a large transitional basement in DC Metro with a home bar, grey walls, porcelain floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and grey floor.

Family area in the basement of a remodelled midcentury modern house with a wood panelled wall.
Inspiration for a large midcentury basement in Seattle with white walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and grey floor.

The basement was block walls with concrete floors and open floor joists before we showed up
Large modern look-out basement in Other with grey walls, porcelain floors, a corner fireplace and grey floor.

This is an example of a large transitional look-out basement in Other with beige walls, carpet, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and grey floor.

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary look-out basement in Toronto with white walls, light hardwood floors, a stone fireplace surround, beige floor and a ribbon fireplace.

The hearth room in this finished basement included a facelift to the fireplace and adjacent built-ins. Bead board was added to the back of the open shelves and the existing cabinets were painted grey to coordinate with the bar. Four swivel arm chairs offer a cozy conversation spot for reading a book or chatting with friends.

Interior Design, Interior Architecture, Construction Administration, Custom Millwork & Furniture Design by Chango & Co. Photography by Jacob Snavely
Expansive transitional fully buried basement in New York with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace and a metal fireplace surround.

Modern Farmhouse Basement finish with rustic exposed beams, a large TV feature wall, and bench depth hearth for extra seating.
This is an example of a large country basement in Minneapolis with grey walls, carpet, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and grey floor.