A New Basement Complete with a Cozy Reading Nook Under the Stairs

The goal of this Middleton family's basement remodel was to create a gathering space for friends and family and apartment-style living for their college-age daughter.

We recently completed a basement remodel for Tony, Cami, and their family. As the parents of teenagers and a host family for foreign exchange students, Tony and Cami needed additional living space and decided a basement remodel to give them the space they needed. The couple's goal was to create a finished living space. A rec room for the kids to hang out with friends and family. They also wanted a bedroom for their college-age daughter. The refinished basement would need to function as a family gathering space but also provide apartment-style living, complete with a study, bathroom, and kitchen with full-size appliances.

Learn how Degnan Design-Build-Remodel met this family's basement remodeling goals, including a cozy reading nook under the stairs!

Adding Usable Space with a Basement Remodel

We were contacted by Tony and Cami after they saw our signs at the home of another Degnan customer in their neighborhood. The family loved their 2001 Colonial home, but the basement was completely unfinished and being used for storage.

The family tried to create a makeshift living space in the basement, including sheet vinyl on the floor and carpet remnants in the area that we would soon use for the rec room. There was a tiny window in the area where the new bedroom would be located, and the area behind the open staircase was the ideal location for a new bathroom. We designed the rec room within the parameters the family had already established in the space and helped their vision come to life!

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Adding Egress

To include a bedroom in our basement remodel, we added an egress window and worked with Zander Solutions to install a 4' x 4' egress window with a well. This new window created the perfect space for the bright, cheerful bedroom for the couple's college-age daughter, with the added bonus of providing a comfortable perch for her cat.

A New Full Bathroom

We added a full bathroom to the project to provide an apartment-like living space for their college-age daughter. The bathroom needed to be modest but still aesthetically pleasing. There were no rough-ins in the space we chose for the bathroom, so we needed to break up the concrete to add plumbing.

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We installed a Sterling Vikrell shower module, which left us with a significant amount of space for a shaker-style Amish Cabinetry linen cabinet, which matched the kitchen cabinets and the built-ins in the rec room. A new toilet and simple vanity with a white Daltile quartz top completed the look. As a budget-friendly solution, the family requested white quartz. Our supplier found a white quartz remnant at a discounted price helping to keep the bathroom within the budget.

Finishing The Staircase

We redid the open unfinished staircase to create a beautiful carpeted staircase. New white stringers and a stained wood railing tied into the white trim and the wood mantle we installed in the basement. The homeowners had always dreamed of a quiet staircase reading nook, which gave us the perfect opportunity.

We built up walls on either side of the staircase, which allowed us to use the remaining space underneath the stairs to frame a cozy reading nook. The space was designed to fit a twin-size mattress, making it easy to decorate. For cohesion, the wood-stained trim matches the railing and fireplace mantle. Tony and Cami are thrilled with their cozy new reading nook. It is the perfect space to read, journal, or chat with friends!

A Full-Size Kitchen to Complement the Family Space

The rec room and kitchen are perfect for family gatherings, movie nights, and hanging out with friends. The homeowners wanted the kitchen to complement the open concept and showcase a Samsung full-size refrigerator, range, microwave, and dishwasher. The handcrafted Amish cabinetry made in Wisconsin was painted white to complement the built-ins in the rec room and the white-painted cabinetry in the bathroom down the hall. The clients provided a separate island for in-kitchen seating, a great addition to the space. The island was painted to match the nickel gap wall in the connected family room. It is the perfect complement!

Finally, the family room design is perfect for hanging with friends or family movie nights. We included an electric fireplace in our design to offer just the right ambiance and comfort during those cold Wisconsin winters. The nickel gap wall ties the rec room and kitchen together design-wise and is the perfect setting for the wide-screen TV. The TV/fireplace is framed by built-in Amish handcrafted bookshelves, which are ideal for décor, movies, and books. Now, the family has a great space to watch movies, play games, or even bake cookies when inspiration strikes!

To tie the entire lower level together and give it a cohesive feeling of home, we installed new Coratec Premium luxury vinyl plank flooring.

Our Client's Love This Basement Remodel

Tony, Cami, and their family now have plenty of additional usable space with a comfortable family room complete with a fireplace, an extra full bath, a kitchen featuring full-size appliances, an inviting bright bedroom, and a study. With their newly remodeled basement, the family is ready for their next exchange student, and their college-aged daughter has privacy, comfort, and apartment-style living during her time at home.

Are you considering a home remodeling or basement remodel? Let us help you create a new look and design the perfect finished space to meet your family's needs! If you live in the Greater Madison area, call the experts at Degnan Design-Build-Remodel at (608) 846-5963. We can take your home to the next level of comfort, design, and function! Ready to learn more? We're always happy to answer your questions.