A warm, inviting, and cozy family room and kitchenette. This entire space was remodeled, this is the kitchenette on the lower level looking into the family room. Walls are pine T&G, ceiling has split logs, uba tuba granite counter, stone fireplace with split log mantle jakobskogheim.com

epoxy concrete floor, hickory and maple custom wall system, custom metal floating stairway

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.

Today’s basements are much more than dark, dingy spaces or rec rooms of years ago. Because homeowners are spending more time in them, basements have evolved into lower-levels with distinctive spaces, complete with stone and marble fireplaces, sitting areas, coffee and wine bars, home theaters, over sized guest suites and bathrooms that rival some of the most luxurious resort accommodations. Gracing the lakeshore of Lake Beulah, this homes lower-level presents a beautiful opening to the deck and offers dynamic lake views. To take advantage of the home’s placement, the homeowner wanted to enhance the lower-level and provide a more rustic feel to match the home’s main level, while making the space more functional for boating equipment and easy access to the pier and lakefront. Jeff Auberger designed a seating area to transform into a theater room with a touch of a button. A hidden screen descends from the ceiling, offering a perfect place to relax after a day on the lake. Our team worked with a local company that supplies reclaimed barn board to add to the decor and finish off the new space. Using salvaged wood from a corn crib located in nearby Delavan, Jeff designed a charming area near the patio door that features two closets behind sliding barn doors and a bench nestled between the closets, providing an ideal spot to hang wet towels and store flip flops after a day of boating. The reclaimed barn board was also incorporated into built-in shelving alongside the fireplace and an accent wall in the updated kitchenette. Lastly the children in this home are fans of the Harry Potter book series, so naturally, there was a Harry Potter themed cupboard under the stairs created. This cozy reading nook features Hogwartz banners and wizarding wands that would amaze any fan of the book series.

The owners wanted to add space to their DC home by utilizing the existing dark, wet basement. We were able to create a light, bright space for their growing family. Behind the walls we updated the plumbing, insulation and waterproofed the basement. You can see the beautifully finished space is multi-functional with a play area, TV viewing, new spacious bath and laundry room - the perfect space for a growing family.

Picture Perfect Home

Marshall Evan Photography

Alyssa Lee Photography

This cozy basement finish has a versatile TV fireplace wall. Watch the standard TV or bring down the projector screen for your favorite movie or sports event.

The back wall of the finished basement craft room is floor to ceiling custom cabinetry from Showplace in the Savannah door style, with a white satin finish. The cabinet knobs and pulls are Alcott by Atlas. The drywall has 3/4" radius trims to create softly curved edges. Photo by Toby Weiss

Rafael Soldi

Stone wall with modern paint colors makes this basement remodel sophisticated and functional.

It’s been said that when you dream about a house, the basement represents your subconscious level. Perhaps that was true in the past, when basements were often neglected. But in most of today’s new builds and remodels, lower levels are becoming valuable living spaces. If you’re looking at building or renovating, opening up that lower level with sufficient light can add square footage and value to your home. In addition, having access to bright indoor areas can help combat cabin fever, which peaks in late winter. Looking at the photos here, you’d never know what you’re seeing is a lower level. That’s because a smart builder knew that bringing natural light into the space was key. Our job, in furnishing the space, was to make the most of that light. The off-white walls and light grey carpet provide a good base. A grey sectional sofa with clean, modern lines easily fits into the spacious room. It’s an ideal piece to encourage people to spend time together. The strong, forgiving linen resists staining, and like a blank canvas this true neutral allows for accessorizing with various throws and pillows depending on the season. The cream-colored throw echoes the light colors in the space, while the nubby pillow adds a textured contrast.

Basement, bar area, wood, curved seating, hard wood floor, bar lighting,

Paul Saini

Now this is the perfect place for watching some football or a little blacklight ping pong. We added wide plank pine floors and deep dirty blue walls to create the frame. The black velvet pit sofa, custom made table, pops of gold, leather, fur and reclaimed wood give this space the masculine but sexy feel we were trying to accomplish.