The homeowners had a very specific vision for their large daylight basement. To begin, Neil Kelly's team, led by Portland Design Consultant Fabian Genovesi, took down numerous walls to completely open up the space, including the ceilings, and removed carpet to expose the concrete flooring. The concrete flooring was repaired, resurfaced and sealed with cracks in tact for authenticity. Beams and ductwork were left exposed, yet refined, with additional piping to conceal electrical and gas lines. Century-old reclaimed brick was hand-picked by the homeowner for the east interior wall, encasing stained glass windows which were are also reclaimed and more than 100 years old. Aluminum bar-top seating areas in two spaces. A media center with custom cabinetry and pistons repurposed as cabinet pulls. And the star of the show, a full 4-seat wet bar with custom glass shelving, more custom cabinetry, and an integrated television-- one of 3 TVs in the space. The new one-of-a-kind basement has room for a professional 10-person poker table, pool table, 14' shuffleboard table, and plush seating.

We started with a blank slate on this basement project where our only obstacles were exposed steel support columns, existing plumbing risers from the concrete slab, and dropped soffits concealing ductwork on the ceiling. It had the advantage of tall ceilings, an existing egress window, and a sliding door leading to a newly constructed patio. This family of five loves the beach and frequents summer beach resorts in the Northeast. Bringing that aesthetic home to enjoy all year long was the inspiration for the décor, as well as creating a family-friendly space for entertaining. Wish list items included room for a billiard table, wet bar, game table, family room, guest bedroom, full bathroom, space for a treadmill and closed storage. The existing structural elements helped to define how best to organize the basement. For instance, we knew we wanted to connect the bar area and billiards table with the patio in order to create an indoor/outdoor entertaining space. It made sense to use the egress window for the guest bedroom for both safety and natural light. The bedroom also would be adjacent to the plumbing risers for easy access to the new bathroom. Since the primary focus of the family room would be for TV viewing, natural light did not need to filter into that space. We made sure to hide the columns inside of newly constructed walls and dropped additional soffits where needed to make the ceiling mechanicals feel less random. In addition to the beach vibe, the homeowner has valuable sports memorabilia that was to be prominently displayed including two seats from the original Yankee stadium. For a coastal feel, shiplap is used on two walls of the family room area. In the bathroom shiplap is used again in a more creative way using wood grain white porcelain tile as the horizontal shiplap “wood”. We connected the tile horizontally with vertical white grout joints and mimicked the horizontal shadow line with dark grey grout. At first glance it looks like we wrapped the shower with real wood shiplap. Materials including a blue and white patterned floor, blue penny tiles and a natural wood vanity checked the list for that seaside feel. A large reclaimed wood door on an exposed sliding barn track separates the family room from the game room where reclaimed beams are punctuated with cable lighting. Cabinetry and a beverage refrigerator are tucked behind the rolling bar cabinet (that doubles as a Blackjack table!). A TV and upright video arcade machine round-out the entertainment in the room. Bar stools, two rotating club chairs, and large square poufs along with the Yankee Stadium seats provide fun places to sit while having a drink, watching billiards or a game on the TV. Signed baseballs can be found behind the bar, adjacent to the billiard table, and on specially designed display shelves next to the poker table in the family room. Thoughtful touches like the surfboards, signage, photographs and accessories make a visitor feel like they are on vacation at a well-appointed beach resort without being cliché.

Modern geometric black and white tile wall adds dimension and contemporary energy to the snack and beverage bar. Photos: Jody Kmetz

Lower Level of home on Lake Minnetonka Nautical call with white shiplap and blue accents for finishes.

This full basement renovation included adding a mudroom area, media room, a bedroom, a full bathroom, a game room, a kitchen, a gym and a beautiful custom wine cellar. Our clients are a family that is growing, and with a new baby, they wanted a comfortable place for family to stay when they visited, as well as space to spend time themselves. They also wanted an area that was easy to access from the pool for entertaining, grabbing snacks and using a new full pool bath.We never treat a basement as a second-class area of the house. Wood beams, customized details, moldings, built-ins, beadboard and wainscoting give the lower level main-floor style. There’s just as much custom millwork as you’d see in the formal spaces upstairs. We’re especially proud of the wine cellar, the media built-ins, the customized details on the island, the custom cubbies in the mudroom and the relaxing flow throughout the entire space.

This Hartland, Wisconsin basement is a welcoming teen hangout area and family space. The design blends both rustic and transitional finishes to make the space feel cozy. This space has it all – a bar, kitchenette, lounge area, full bathroom, game area and hidden mechanical/storage space. There is plenty of space for hosting parties and family movie nights. Highlights of this Hartland basement remodel: - We tied the space together with barnwood: an accent wall, beams and sliding door - The staircase was opened at the bottom and is now a feature of the room - Adjacent to the bar is a cozy lounge seating area for watching movies and relaxing - The bar features dark stained cabinetry and creamy beige quartz counters - Guests can sit at the bar or the counter overlooking the lounge area - The full bathroom features a Kohler Choreograph shower surround

In this project, Rochman Design Build converted an unfinished basement of a new Ann Arbor home into a stunning home pub and entertaining area, with commercial grade space for the owners' craft brewing passion. The feel is that of a speakeasy as a dark and hidden gem found in prohibition time. The materials include charcoal stained concrete floor, an arched wall veneered with red brick, and an exposed ceiling structure painted black. Bright copper is used as the sparkling gem with a pressed-tin-type ceiling over the bar area, which seats 10, copper bar top and concrete counters. Old style light fixtures with bare Edison bulbs, well placed LED accent lights under the bar top, thick shelves, steel supports and copper rivet connections accent the feel of the 6 active taps old-style pub. Meanwhile, the brewing room is splendidly modern with large scale brewing equipment, commercial ventilation hood, wash down facilities and specialty equipment. A large window allows a full view into the brewing room from the pub sitting area. In addition, the space is large enough to feel cozy enough for 4 around a high-top table or entertain a large gathering of 50. The basement remodel also includes a wine cellar, a guest bathroom and a room that can be used either as guest room or game room, and a storage area.

2023 is the “Year of Color,” so get creative when choosing cabinet colors!✨ Choosing cabinet colors is all about expressing your personal style and bringing that vision in your mind to life. If you want to experiment with color, but aren’t ready to commit to painting your entire house bright blue, adding pops of color to spaces like your mudroom, basement, or office can be a great way to ease into the trend.

In this project, Rochman Design Build converted an unfinished basement of a new Ann Arbor home into a stunning home pub and entertaining area, with commercial grade space for the owners' craft brewing passion. The feel is that of a speakeasy as a dark and hidden gem found in prohibition time. The materials include charcoal stained concrete floor, an arched wall veneered with red brick, and an exposed ceiling structure painted black. Bright copper is used as the sparkling gem with a pressed-tin-type ceiling over the bar area, which seats 10, copper bar top and concrete counters. Old style light fixtures with bare Edison bulbs, well placed LED accent lights under the bar top, thick shelves, steel supports and copper rivet connections accent the feel of the 6 active taps old-style pub. Meanwhile, the brewing room is splendidly modern with large scale brewing equipment, commercial ventilation hood, wash down facilities and specialty equipment. A large window allows a full view into the brewing room from the pub sitting area. In addition, the space is large enough to feel cozy enough for 4 around a high-top table or entertain a large gathering of 50. The basement remodel also includes a wine cellar, a guest bathroom and a room that can be used either as guest room or game room, and a storage area.

This renovated basement is now a beautiful and functional space that boasts many impressive features. Concealed beams offer a clean and sleek look to the ceiling, while wood plank flooring provides warmth and texture to the room. The basement has been transformed into an entertainment hub, with a bar area, gaming area/lounge, and a recreation room featuring built-in millwork, a projector, and a wall-mounted TV. An electric fireplace adds to the cozy ambiance, and sliding barn doors offer a touch of rustic charm to the space. The lighting in the basement is another notable feature, with carefully placed fixtures that provide both ambiance and functionality. Overall, this renovated basement is the perfect space for relaxation, entertainment, and spending quality time with loved ones.

Our clients wanted a speakeasy vibe for their basement as they love to entertain. We achieved this look/feel with the dark moody paint color matched with the brick accent tile and beams. The clients have a big family, love to host and also have friends and family from out of town! The guest bedroom and bathroom was also a must for this space - they wanted their family and friends to have a beautiful and comforting stay with everything they would need! With the bathroom we did the shower with beautiful white subway tile. The fun LED mirror makes a statement with the custom vanity and fixtures that give it a pop. We installed the laundry machine and dryer in this space as well with some floating shelves. There is a booth seating and lounge area plus the seating at the bar area that gives this basement plenty of space to gather, eat, play games or cozy up! The home bar is great for any gathering and the added bedroom and bathroom make this the basement the perfect space!

Indulge in the luxury of a meticulously crafted custom kitchen adorned in warm brown tones. Tailored to perfection, this kitchen showcases a harmonious blend of personalized design and rich earthy hues, creating a space that exudes both elegance and functionality.

The homeowners had a very specific vision for their large daylight basement. To begin, Neil Kelly's team, led by Portland Design Consultant Fabian Genovesi, took down numerous walls to completely open up the space, including the ceilings, and removed carpet to expose the concrete flooring. The concrete flooring was repaired, resurfaced and sealed with cracks in tact for authenticity. Beams and ductwork were left exposed, yet refined, with additional piping to conceal electrical and gas lines. Century-old reclaimed brick was hand-picked by the homeowner for the east interior wall, encasing stained glass windows which were are also reclaimed and more than 100 years old. Aluminum bar-top seating areas in two spaces. A media center with custom cabinetry and pistons repurposed as cabinet pulls. And the star of the show, a full 4-seat wet bar with custom glass shelving, more custom cabinetry, and an integrated television-- one of 3 TVs in the space. The new one-of-a-kind basement has room for a professional 10-person poker table, pool table, 14' shuffleboard table, and plush seating.

Call it what you want: a man cave, kid corner, or a party room, a basement is always a space in a home where the imagination can take liberties. Phase One accentuated the clients' wishes for an industrial lower level complete with sealed flooring, a full kitchen and bathroom and plenty of open area to let loose.

Neil Kelly Design/Build Remodeling, Portland, Oregon, 2021 Regional CotY Award Winner, Basement Over $250,000