A Growing Family Gets A Finished Basement

Our clients Steve and Lana were expecting another child when they contacted us to design a finished basement. Their main goal was to make sure that the finished basement felt like a part of their home. Basically, they wanted a basement that was integral to the house, not a finished basement separate or different from the home. They also wanted to create a bedroom for their oldest daughter to give her a private space while freeing a main-level bedroom for the new baby! The spacious unfinished basement had some positive attributes, including large windows and plenty of potential. With a growing family, along with space for their daughter, they needed a family room, and Steve really wanted a bar to be able to entertain friends.

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Meeting Some Key Design Challenges

Because we were dealing with existing infrastructure, we were somewhat locked into where we placed elements. The bathroom was roughed in on one end of the space which means the bedroom needed to be nearby to provide proper privacy for a teenage girl. There was also an existing drain stack where we needed to locate the bar rather than undertaking expensive plumbing work to put the bar elsewhere.

The clients also requested a fireplace. There isn't one anywhere else in the house. It needed to be a visual focal point and provide the basement with heat when the furnace wasn't running. The fireplace also solves another design challenge. There were cleanouts on the floor that needed to be accessed. Locating the fireplace in this space and creating a removable hearth in front of the fireplace solved this issue.

Finished Basement: Functionality and Aesthetic Design

The fireplace was a must, but Steve and Lana were flexible about the rest of the finished basement, including furnishings and use of the space. The Heat N Glo Slimline Natural Gas fireplace and TV were the focal point in the family room. A perfectly sized sectional nestled up against a column is the perfect place to enjoy the fireplace and watch the game. We installed a luxury Coretec Pro Plus vinyl plank floor in Biscayne Oak throughout the lower level, including the bathroom to tie the design together.

Steve wanted a bar in the space to entertain friends. The design required several revisions to get it right. Steve wanted a design with a traditional bar mirror and a display area to show off glassware and liquor bottles. Lana wanted the alcohol locked away. In the end, we met both of their needs.

Creating The Perfect Space For a Teenage Daughter

The family room met the entertaining needs of our clients, however, the finished basement also needed to function as a private sanctuary for their teenage daughter. The bedroom was located at one end of the basement. The challenge was incorporating a bathroom close by to primarily be used by their daughter while allowing access to visitors without entering the bedroom. The full bathroom includes a stylish acrylic shower module by Sterling, with a Delta Simplicity semi-frameless glass door and a serene painted Amish cabinet handcrafted in Wisconsin.

Our Clients Love Their Newly Remodeled Basement

The result was a finished lower level that provides the family with exactly what they needed. Their oldest daughter got her own bedroom and bathroom, away from her siblings. Steve has his bar to entertain his friends, and the whole family has a warm, spacious family room to enjoy game night, movies, or the big game!