The bed wall is finished with 3D wall panels with hidden cove lighting. The bedside lamps are suspended from the ceiling. ©Finished Basement Company

Golf club organizer placed in the golf simulator.

Photo Credit: Steve Humphrey Photography

Our client bought a Hacienda styled house in Hove, Sussex, which was unloved, and had a dilapidated pool and garden, as well as a tired interior. We provided a full architectural and interior design service through to completion of the project, developing the brief with the client, and managing a complex project and multiple team members including an M and E consultant, stuctural engineer, specialist pool and glazing suppliers and landscaping designers. We created a new basement under the house and garden, utilising the gradient of the site, to minimise excavation and impact on the house. It contains a new swimming pool, gym, living and entertainment areas, as well as storage and plant rooms. Accessed through a new helical staircase, the basement area draws light from 2 full height glazed walls opening onto a lower garden area. The glazing was a Skyframe system supplied by cantifix. We also inserted a long linear rooflight over the pool itself, which capture sunlight onto the water below. The existing house itself has been extended in a fashion sympathetic to the original look of the house. We have built out over the existing garage to create new living and bedroom accommodation, as well as a new ensuite. We have also inserted a new glazed cupola over the hallway and stairs, and remodelled the kitchen, with a curved glazed wall and a modern family kitchen. A striking new landscaping scheme by Alladio Sims has embeded the redeveloped house into its setting. It is themed around creating a journey around different zones of the upper and lower gardens, maximising opportunities of the site, views of the sea and using a mix of hard and soft landscaping. A new minimal car port and bike storage keep cars away from the front elevation of the house. Having obtained planning permission for the works in 2019 via Brighton and Hove council, for a new basement and remodelling of the the house, the works were carrried out and completed in 2021 by Woodmans, a contractor we have partnered with on many occasions.

Updated Spec Home: Basement Living Area I promised you there would be a Season 2 of our series Updated Spec Home and here it is – Basement Family Room. My mom and sister found themselves spending more and more time in this room because it was a great open space to watch television and hang out with my sister’s two border collies. Color Scheme We pulled our color scheme from a floral fabric that they saw on a chair at my store, and we used it to reupholster their existing wood accent chairs. We used pops of turquoise and green throughout the space including the long back wall which was perfect to make a feature with this vibrant wallpaper in a geometric design. Defining the Space The room was so large that we needed to define different areas. The large rug in the oversized pattern was perfect for the seating area. Lighting Since there is only one small window bringing natural light into the space, we painted the remaining walls a light warm gray (Sherwin Williams’ City Loft SW7631) and added several table lamps and a floor lamp for task lighting. Reusing Existing Furniture Fortunately the space was large enough so my sister could keep her fabulous worn leather chair and ottoman and my mom could have an upholstered chair and ottoman in a subtle blue and green tweed. The large hallway leading to the storage area was the perfect place for these small bookcases which house family photos in various silver frames. The bookcases have a special place in our hearts – they belonged to my grandparents. We accessorized with a long painted box which was the perfect scale for the bookcases and a grouping of vibrant botanical prints. In lieu of a conventional media cabinet, my mom and sister found this one with a built-in fireplace. It brings a lot of warmth into the space – literally! Painted Furniture We had Kelly Sisler of Kelly Faux Creations paint their existing glass front cabinet this awesome apple green. Accessories include turquoise floral vases, a metallic circular vase, and a beautiful floral print. Reading Nook We positioned this original oil painting in the landing so it would be visible from the seating area. The landing was the perfect spot to display my sister’s collection of art glass. I love the small reading nook created with this rattan wooden accent chair and lantern floor lamp. We were able to make good use of the ledge in the stairwell by leaning these vibrant watercolors. The dogs even have their own space. Meet my two “nephews” – Dill and Atticus (the one with his back to us pouting). We used this colorful oversized canvas to define their space and break up the long wall. As you know, one good thing leads to another. Be sure to tune in next week for a surprise addition to this Updated Spec Home. In the meantime, check out this Basement Family Room designed by Robin’s Nest Interiors. Enjoy!

The lower level of this Yankee Barn Homes post and beam shingle style is completely finished, right down to a guest living room with fireplace and windows to allow in natural light.

THEME Inspired by the Magic Tree House series of children’s books, this indoor tree house provides entertainment, fun and a place for children to read about or imagine adventures through time. A blue sky, green meadows, and distant matching beech trees recreate the magic of Jack and Annie’s Frog Creek, and help bring the characters from the series to life. FOCUS A floor armoire, ceiling swing and climbing rope give the structure a true tree house look and feel. A drop-down drawing and writing table, wheeled work table and recessed ceiling lights ensure the room can be used for more than play. The tree house has electric interior lighting, a window to the outdoors and a playful sliding shutter over a window to the room. The armoire forms a raised, nine-foot-wide play area, while a TV within one of the wall’s floor-to-ceiling cabinets — with a delightful sliding ladder — transforms the room into a family theater perfect for watching movies and holding Wii competitions. STORAGE The bottom of the drawing table is a magnetic chalk board that doubles as a display for children’s art works. The tree’s small niches are for parents’ shoes; the larger compartment stores children’s shoes and school bags. Books, games, toys, DVDs, Wii and other computer accessories are stored in the wall cabinets. The armoire contains two spacious drawers and four nifty hinged storage bins. A rack of handy “vegetable buckets” above the armoire stores crayons, scissors and other useful items. GROWTH The room easily adapts from playroom, to party room, to study room and even to bedroom, as the tree house easily accommodates a twin-size mattress. SAFETY The rungs and rails of the ladder, as well as the grab bars beside the tree house door are wrapped with easy-grip rope for safe climbing. The drawing table has spring-loaded hinges to help prevent it from dropping dangerously from the wall, and the table door has double sets of locks up top to ensure safety. The interior of each storage compartment is carpeted like the tree house floor to provide extra padding.

Skatehouse 2.5. Converted from full skatepark to combination of skateboard ramp and gymnastics area. Converted from this: http://www.houzz.com/photos/32641054/Basement-Skatepark-craftsman-basement-charlotte

Stone ledge and hearthstone, 6" rough cut cedar mantel, heatilator fireplace, custom finished clear fir trim, waterfall stair cap, solid fir smooth shaker doors, white washed pine t&g ceiling, LED lighting, integrated surround sound w/ hidden AV equipment, oversheeted corrugated subfloor membrane throughout.

Wet bar (with maple cabinetry and tile backsplash)