Modern speak easy vibe for this basement remodel. Created the arches under the family room extension to give it a retro vibe. Dramatic lighting and ceiling with ambient lighting add to the feeling of the space.

The home bar also includes a place for books, making this area more like a study or lounge.

Custom liquor display cabinet made to look like it'd been in the house from the beginning.

Painted existing bar cabinetry, replaced hardware and countertops, new flooring, paint, furnishings and updated fireplace facade.

An otherwise unremarkable lower level is now a layered, multifunctional room including a place to play, watch, sleep, and drink. Our client didn’t want light, bright, airy grey and white - PASS! She wanted established, lived-in, stories to tell, more to make, and endless interest. So we put in true French Oak planks stained in a tobacco tone, dressed the walls in gold rivets and black hemp paper, and filled them with vintage art and lighting. We added a bar, sleeper sofa of dreams, and wrapped a drink ledge around the room so players can easily free up their hands to line up their next shot or elbow bump a teammate for encouragement! Soapstone, aged brass, blackened steel, antiqued mirrors, distressed woods and vintage inspired textiles are all at home in this story - GAME ON! Check out the laundry details as well. The beloved house cats claimed the entire corner of cabinetry for the ultimate maze (and clever litter box concealment). Overall, a WIN-WIN!

J.E. Evans

Another view of this amazing home bar and game room! BUILT Photography

Cambria Portrush quartz and slate blue cabinets in a home wet bar area.

Who doesn't want to transform your living room into the perfect at-home bar to host friends for cocktails? #OneStepDownProject

Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW The homeowners built their traditional Colonial style home 17 years’ ago. It was in great shape but needed some updating. Over the years, their taste had drifted into a more contemporary realm, and they wanted our help to bridge the gap between traditional and modern. We decided the layout of the kitchen worked well in the space and the cabinets were in good shape, so we opted to do a refresh with the kitchen. The original kitchen had blond maple cabinets and granite countertops. This was also a great opportunity to make some updates to the functionality that they were hoping to accomplish. After re-finishing all the first floor wood floors with a gray stain, which helped to remove some of the red tones from the red oak, we painted the cabinetry Benjamin Moore “Repose Gray” a very soft light gray. The new countertops are hardworking quartz, and the waterfall countertop to the left of the sink gives a bit of the contemporary flavor. We reworked the refrigerator wall to create more pantry storage and eliminated the double oven in favor of a single oven and a steam oven. The existing cooktop was replaced with a new range paired with a Venetian plaster hood above. The glossy finish from the hood is echoed in the pendant lights. A touch of gold in the lighting and hardware adds some contrast to the gray and white. A theme we repeated down to the smallest detail illustrated by the Jason Wu faucet by Brizo with its similar touches of white and gold (the arrival of which we eagerly awaited for months due to ripples in the supply chain – but worth it!). The original breakfast room was pleasant enough with its windows looking into the backyard. Now with its colorful window treatments, new blue chairs and sculptural light fixture, this space flows seamlessly into the kitchen and gives more of a punch to the space. The original butler’s pantry was functional but was also starting to show its age. The new space was inspired by a wallpaper selection that our client had set aside as a possibility for a future project. It worked perfectly with our pallet and gave a fun eclectic vibe to this functional space. We eliminated some upper cabinets in favor of open shelving and painted the cabinetry in a high gloss finish, added a beautiful quartzite countertop and some statement lighting. The new room is anything but cookie cutter. Next the mudroom. You can see a peek of the mudroom across the way from the butler’s pantry which got a facelift with new paint, tile floor, lighting and hardware. Simple updates but a dramatic change! The first floor powder room got the glam treatment with its own update of wainscoting, wallpaper, console sink, fixtures and artwork. A great little introduction to what’s to come in the rest of the home. The whole first floor now flows together in a cohesive pallet of green and blue, reflects the homeowner’s desire for a more modern aesthetic, and feels like a thoughtful and intentional evolution. Our clients were wonderful to work with! Their style meshed perfectly with our brand aesthetic which created the opportunity for wonderful things to happen. We know they will enjoy their remodel for many years to come! Photography by Margaret Rajic Photography