Jim and Kelly’s unfinished basement was dark, dismal and daunting. Over the years, the cavernous space had collected a wide assortment of seldom-used possessions. It was also home to Kelly’s gym equipment - which she loves - but quite frankly, the basement provided little inspiration to work out.
This is a musical household. Kelly is a little bit country, and Jim leans toward rock ’n’ roll - and together, they love to jam with their two daughters, Tyler and Devon. The family wanted their new basement to be a musical retreat - somewhere they could play some tunes together, or maybe sing a little karaoke. The girls were also looking for a place where they could hang out with friends, and host an occasional sleepover. All in all, this family wanted the perfect medley of a basement - a space that would have something for everyone.
To transform this diamond in the rough, we first had to frame it, insulate it and wire it. Next came the drywall, and then we were ready to rough in four separate zones for this roomy basement renovation. I envisioned a workout room for Kelly, with her equipment tucked away behind frosted glass doors. Next would be the lounge, featuring a games area, a wet bar and banquette-style seating. Over in the TV zone, I planned to incorporate a comfy new sectional, a big-screen TV, a fireplace and cabinets for storage. Finally, I was sure that a music zone featuring a keyboard, drum set and guitar would strike all the right notes with everyone in this family.
In a nod to “country,” we finished the wall behind the wet bar in a barnboard veneer. Three black leather chairs with polished chrome nailhead trim cluster around a cocktail table, which is pulled up to a custom banquette to offer additional seating. Above the table, we hung three winged light fixtures with a decidedly rock ’n’ roll edge.
Over in the lounge area, it’s all about comfort. A roomy sectional faces a huge TV and a new gas fireplace is set into the wall. The fireplace will banish any basement chill, while also providing a warm and welcoming glow as people come down the stairs. Behind frosted glass doors, Kelly’s home gym is functional and fabulous at the same time, with room for all of her equipment and then some. And, last but not least, another banquette is located in the music zone to provide extra seating for audience members who come to hear the band.
We packed a lot of beauty and function into this old storage room of a basement. Renovations like this have to be all things to all people, which is why it’s best to think about specific needs and then divide your space into “zones” that meet all of the requirements.
As for Tyler and Devon, their needs are simple: the girls want a cool place where they can hang out with their friends. For those fun-filled sleepovers, we even designed custom sleeping bags for each girl, which unfortunately sparked a family feud about who would get to have the first party. No matter the generation, some things never change.
HomeStyle, Pages 35 on 03/29/2014