A Finished Basement Gets a New Rustic Colonial Design

Homeowners Joe and Lila wanted a more usable and cohesive finished basement space to enjoy with their kids.

Joe and Lila are entrepreneurs living with their two young sons in a relaxed colonial home in Prairie Home Estates in Middleton, Wisconsin. They first contacted us to redesign and reimagine their inefficient and dated kitchen. As their kitchen project progressed, they were so happy with our team that, midway through the design and construction process, they asked us to redesign their already-finished basement with the same energy, style, and magic we brought to their kitchen!

Learn how we created an attractive and flexible finished basement that would grow and change as their children grow and their interests and hobbies change.

Improving An Early 2000s Luxury Finished Basement

Their home was built in the early 2000s and featured all the amenities you would expect from a 2000s luxury home. Like their kitchen, the existing basement was the picture-perfect example of an early 2000s luxury home, complete with all the inefficiencies that come with living in it.

At the bottom of the stairs was a nicely sized gathering room. It was open to the upstairs living area, resulting in plenty of noise leaking into the main living area when the kids played downstairs. To the left of the stairs was a closed room. This was the existing home theater, another staple of early 2000s luxury living. The theater was underutilized, and Joe and Lila dreamed of opening the space to create a larger, more open area for entertaining friends and family.

Beginning the Design Process

The first step in the redesign process was to tackle the challenge of creating a large open space. The stair landing was directly between the two spaces. Opening the doorway between them would still end up with the stairs splitting the new room. Due to budget considerations, reframing the stairs to turn them was not an option, so we needed a more creative approach.

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After creating a few different design options, our solution was to pull back the side walls of the staircase and install an open railing to invite activity between the rooms by creating sight lines and improving the flow between the spaces. The solution is an open, inviting, and dramatic design!

Another challenge was what to do to block the noise from the basement bleeding into the upstairs living space. Our solution was both practical and aesthetically pleasing. We framed a new doorway at the top of the stairs and installed a decorative French door. It eliminates the noise problem and opens up a visual sight line into the new space.

Moving From Structural Changes to Design

Joe and Lila's home had a casual rustic design feel. They wanted us to carry this aesthetic theme into the basement to create a cozy, warm, and welcoming vibe for the space. We incorporated Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring throughout the open area to tie the new space together. Next, we installed a decorative faux beam ceiling in the gathering room.

To compliment and tie in the design, we created a new bar area at the rear of the space featuring cabinetry with the same wood as the ceiling beams. We also installed a decorative brick backsplash and floating shelves to create a rustic yet refined feel.

Topping off the bar area, we designed custom cabinet doors to attach to the new Subzero wine refrigerator and freezer, along with an island table with a chevron-patterned wood top. All the wood elements, from the cabinetry and ceiling beams to the island, warmed up our design to create the rustic feel that Joe and Lila were seeking.

Moving on to the former theater room, Joe and Lila told us that the basement did not always get warm. They wanted a heating source to improve the climate. We added an electric fireplace to our design that now serves as the visual centerpiece of a new media wall. Unfortunately, there was not enough space above the fireplace for a TV, so we added 2 niches for art and decoration. Below the fireplace, we installed a custom cabinet for the media equipment and the gaming consoles and installed “smurf tubes” within the wall to route the cables to the TV, giving it a clean, streamlined look. The finishing touch was to install the same LVP flooring in the existing office to tie together the design.

The Result Of This Basement Renovation

When Joe and Lila first engaged us for their finished basement renovation, one of their key goals with the new space was that it would be an entertainment space for their young boy that could change and grow as their kids' interests and hobbies change. By reimagining their basement, we gave them an attractive, flexible, warm, and comfortable space that will serve their family well for many years!

Are you considering a home remodeling project? Let us help you create your dream finished basement! 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 are always happy to answer your questions.