Exposed ceiling painted for industrial feel and allow for full head height in a basement with a low ceiling.

Barn Door with Asian influence Photo by:Jeffrey E. Tryon

Basement at North Bay - Architecture/Interiors: HAUS | Architecture For Modern Lifestyles - Construction Management: WERK | Building Modern - Photography: The Home Aesthetic

Our clients owned a Greek Revival home in Cambridge that was becoming too small for their growing family. Instead of moving, they decided to make use of their entire basement and create a Family Room and an adjacent Projects Room/Spare Bedroom. Finishing old basements pose several problems, chief of which is keeping the water out. So our first step was installing a waterproofing system consisting of a French drain beneath the slab and a membrane that we applied to the inside of the foundation walls. With water taken care of, their goal of making full use of this space was a success. A cork floor, plastered walls and ceilings, some nice lighting and the space feels great.

The view of the space without furnishings.

The basement can function as an entire rentable studio unit. There is a separate access door, a kitchenette, living room, bathroom, laundry and storage.

This 1930's Barrington Hills farmhouse was in need of some TLC when it was purchased by this southern family of five who planned to make it their new home. The renovation taken on by Advance Design Studio's designer Scott Christensen and master carpenter Justin Davis included a custom porch, custom built in cabinetry in the living room and children's bedrooms, 2 children's on-suite baths, a guest powder room, a fabulous new master bath with custom closet and makeup area, a new upstairs laundry room, a workout basement, a mud room, new flooring and custom wainscot stairs with planked walls and ceilings throughout the home. The home's original mechanicals were in dire need of updating, so HVAC, plumbing and electrical were all replaced with newer materials and equipment. A dramatic change to the exterior took place with the addition of a quaint standing seam metal roofed farmhouse porch perfect for sipping lemonade on a lazy hot summer day. In addition to the changes to the home, a guest house on the property underwent a major transformation as well. Newly outfitted with updated gas and electric, a new stacking washer/dryer space was created along with an updated bath complete with a glass enclosed shower, something the bath did not previously have. A beautiful kitchenette with ample cabinetry space, refrigeration and a sink was transformed as well to provide all the comforts of home for guests visiting at the classic cottage retreat. The biggest design challenge was to keep in line with the charm the old home possessed, all the while giving the family all the convenience and efficiency of modern functioning amenities. One of the most interesting uses of material was the porcelain "wood-looking" tile used in all the baths and most of the home's common areas. All the efficiency of porcelain tile, with the nostalgic look and feel of worn and weathered hardwood floors. The home’s casual entry has an 8" rustic antique barn wood look porcelain tile in a rich brown to create a warm and welcoming first impression. Painted distressed cabinetry in muted shades of gray/green was used in the powder room to bring out the rustic feel of the space which was accentuated with wood planked walls and ceilings. Fresh white painted shaker cabinetry was used throughout the rest of the rooms, accentuated by bright chrome fixtures and muted pastel tones to create a calm and relaxing feeling throughout the home. Custom cabinetry was designed and built by Advance Design specifically for a large 70” TV in the living room, for each of the children’s bedroom’s built in storage, custom closets, and book shelves, and for a mudroom fit with custom niches for each family member by name. The ample master bath was fitted with double vanity areas in white. A generous shower with a bench features classic white subway tiles and light blue/green glass accents, as well as a large free standing soaking tub nestled under a window with double sconces to dim while relaxing in a luxurious bath. A custom classic white bookcase for plush towels greets you as you enter the sanctuary bath. Joe Nowak

Mike Chajecki www.mikechajecki.com

Basement designed for partys! Home theater, pool table and bar to make entertaining a breeze. Photo Credit Scott Rockbear

Urszula Muntean Photography

The main space. Curtains add privacy and create a sense of playfullness.