Basement Remodeling For A 1990s Wisconsin Home

Eric and Katy are professional millennials who recently purchased their dream family home in the country in a rural valley near Verona, Wisconsin. The house is in a fantastic location. It features plenty of space and a beautiful wooded yard this young family loves! They found us via Facebook and asked us to propose a complete remodel of their new home. Eric and Katy's goal included updating their 1990s home to fit their family's needs and taste better, creating their dream home. They requested a finished basement remodeling project to update and add functionality to the awkward, dated, but previously finished space.

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Remodeling an Already-Finished Basement

A part of Eric and Katy's whole house project was reimagining the already-finished basement space. While the existing basement was finished, it featured an awkward layout that limited its functionality. The existing basement stairway dead-ended into a maze of doors. It was secluded from the walk-out to the home's fabulous backyard. The family's main goal was to create a family-friendly space that included a guest bedroom, a bathroom upgrade, a bar, a home office, and a theater room the whole family and friends could enjoy.

The original lower level had a strange design that included a large open area and the bottom of the stairs that served no real purpose. The walls enclosed the original stairway. You had to either go through a doorway into an awkward office or walk through a narrow opening to the exposed basement family room. This floor plan wasted space, felt claustrophobic, and was inefficient.

This Basement Remodeling Project Created a More Functional Space

We opened the stairway and put in an open balustrade for visual guidance and light. This more open entryway connected the space in a more functional way. We combined the open area at the base of the stairs with another room to provide the space for the home theater. Mass-loaded vinyl and acoustic insulation sonically isolate the theater from the rest of the house. Strategically placed barn doors in the theater and the office allow the spaces to be private and, when open, connect the rooms to create an open feel.

The existing half bathroom was converted into a ¾ bath. The study doubles as a guest space, and the home office is conveniently located at the base of the stairs. We added a bar to the reimagined family room for entertaining family and friends. The bar offers the perfect setting for relaxing by the fireplace while watching the game.

The Updated Basement Was Designed To Exceed the Needs of Our Clients

Careful design choices allow the homeowners to get the most for their budget. The result is a home that comes into the 2020s, provides an updated connection to the backyard, and flows in a way that the original floor plan didn't. The newly remodeled basement adds plenty of space the entire family can enjoy, and this whole house remodeling means the family will live comfortably for decades to come!