We first met our clients John and Lynn in 2001 when they contacted us regarding a finished basement for their young children. In the era of “Bob, the Builder,” young Paul and Sarah enjoyed having our company founder Bob Degnan as a part of the project. The basement remodeling project included a family room, a bathroom with a shower for visiting guests, and a semi-private desk and computer area. Windows were added and enlarged to brighten the space and provide views of the private back yard. The design goal was that this finished lower level feels like a part of the home rather than an isolated basement space. The windows and lighting are vital to this design feature, as well as the way that all columns were hidden inside walls, keeping the flow and feel of the space very intentional. Only the soffits for ductwork reveal that this is a finished basement.


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This Walkout Finished Basement Is Part Of A Whole House Remodel

As time passed, we were asked back to complete additional projects such as the deck, 3-season room, kitchen, and even repairing construction flaws from the original production builder. The children grew up and moved on to college and young adulthood. John’s desire for the lower level changed, to now be a retreat for him and the “poker group” to hang out, watch sports, and play cards. 

Finished Basement Materials and Finishes

The countertop is by HanStone. It is quartz stone in a pattern called Meteorite in a color with warm deep grays and flecks of gold. The Homecrest cabinetry is a traditional overlay style in the color sand dollar with a door style called Lautner. The wine and beverage center is by Magic Chef. The basement carpet is Galante Carpet, in a color called Star Beach with Emerald Deluxe carpeting pad. The bar flooring is Platinum luxury vinyl in a Patina Carbon color.

The Homecrest Cabinetry is a Traditional Overlay Style in The Color Sand Dollar with Lautner Doors.

A Well Planned Basement Remodel

John requested for a bar area, and we were able to deliver this for him by breaking up a small amount of concrete floor in the adjacent utility room to accommodate the sink drain line. The complex ceiling ductwork didn’t allow for any conventional upper cabinetry, so instead open shelving was used as a focal point of the design. New lighting was carefully installed where it could fit in the ceiling, while a wall sconce lights the sink area. The most intriguing lighting, however, is actually built in to the custom-made shelving. A series of small LED puck lights are mounted in the bottom of the shelves to light the countertop. A beverage refrigerator is in the base cabinets, while taller cabinets are along the right side wall. The backsplash near the sink was increased in height to match perfectly with the taller countertop on the right.

John now has his card table, bar, and TV viewing area. It’s still a comfortable room for the family to use, and a key part of the home.

 
 

This project led to many more over the years including a master bathroom suite as well as a new kitchen design and remodel.

Project Design

The Team at Degnan Design-Build-Remodel

PJ Ender Lead Carpenter CLC CRPM.jpeg

Lead Carpenter

PJ Ender,
CLC, CRPM

 
“Degnan Design-Build-Remodel was referred to us from a coworker when we did our first remodeling project in 2002. We were so pleased with their work and professionalism that we keep going back to them with all of our remodel needs.”
— John M, Sun Prairie, WI