This formerly unfinished basement in Montclair, NJ, has plenty of new space - a powder room, entertainment room, large bar, large laundry room and a billiard room. The client sourced a rustic bar-top with a mix of eclectic pieces to complete the interior design. MGR Construction Inc.; In House Photography.

This LVP driftwood-inspired design balances overcast grey hues with subtle taupes. A smooth, calming style with a neutral undertone that works with all types of decor.The Modin Rigid luxury vinyl plank flooring collection is the new standard in resilient flooring. Modin Rigid offers true embossed-in-register texture, creating a surface that is convincing to the eye and to the touch; a low sheen level to ensure a natural look that wears well over time; four-sided enhanced bevels to more accurately emulate the look of real wood floors; wider and longer waterproof planks; an industry-leading wear layer; and a pre-attached underlayment. The Modin Rigid luxury vinyl plank flooring collection is the new standard in resilient flooring. Modin Rigid offers true embossed-in-register texture, creating a surface that is convincing to the eye and to the touch; a low sheen level to ensure a natural look that wears well over time; four-sided enhanced bevels to more accurately emulate the look of real wood floors; wider and longer waterproof planks; an industry-leading wear layer; and a pre-attached underlayment.

Multi-Purpose Basement By removing the drop-ceiling, creating a large cased opening between rooms, and adding lots of recessed lighting this basement once over run by kids has become an adult haven for weekend parties and family get togethers. Quartz Countertops Subway Tile Backsplash LVP Flooring 205 Photography

Originally the client wanted to put the TV on one wall and the awesome fireplace on another AND have lots of seating for guests. We made the TV/Fireplace a focal point and put the biggest sectional we could in there. Photo: Matt Kocourek

The clients lower level was in need of a bright and fresh perspective, with a twist of inspiration from a recent stay in Amsterdam. The previous space was dark, cold, somewhat rustic and featured a fireplace that too up way to much of the space. They wanted a new space where their teenagers could hang out with their friends and where family nights could be filled with colorful expression. Light & clear acrylic chairs allow you to embrace the colors beyond the game table. A wallpaper mural adds a colorful back drop to the space. Check out the before photos for a true look at what was changed in the space. Photography by Spacecrafting Photography

Basement living Room with Bar Area

Full basement remodel with carpet stairway, industrial style railing, light brown vinyl plank flooring, white shiplap accent wall, recessed lighting, and dedicated workout area.

Photo by Stephen Gray

Tim Souza

Basement kitchenette

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 1933 Wauwatosa basement was dark, dingy and lacked functionality. The basement was unfinished with concrete walls and floors. A small office was enclosed but the rest of the space was open and cluttered. The homeowners wanted a warm, organized space for their family. A recent job change meant they needed a dedicated home office. They also wanted a place where their kids could hang out with friends. Their wish list for this basement remodel included: a home office where the couple could both work, a full bathroom, a cozy living room and a dedicated storage room. This basement renovation resulted in a warm and bright space that is used by the whole family. Highlights of this basement: - Home Office: A new office gives the couple a dedicated space for work. There’s plenty of desk space, storage cabinets, under-shelf lighting and storage for their home library. - Living Room: An old office area was expanded into a cozy living room. It’s the perfect place for their kids to hang out when they host friends and family. - Laundry Room: The new laundry room is a total upgrade. It now includes fun laminate flooring, storage cabinets and counter space for folding laundry. - Full Bathroom: A new bathroom gives the family an additional shower in the home. Highlights of the bathroom include a navy vanity, quartz counters, brass finishes, a Dreamline shower door and Kohler Choreograph wall panels. - Staircase: We spruced up the staircase leading down to the lower level with patterned vinyl flooring and a matching trim color. - Storage: We gave them a separate storage space, with custom shelving for organizing their camping gear, sports equipment and holiday decorations. CUSTOMER REVIEW “We had been talking about remodeling our basement for a long time, but decided to make it happen when my husband was offered a job working remotely. It felt like the right time for us to have a real home office where we could separate our work lives from our home lives. We wanted the area to feel open, light-filled, and modern – not an easy task for a previously dark and cold basement! One of our favorite parts was when our designer took us on a 3D computer design tour of our basement. I remember thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, this could be our basement!?!’ It was so fun to see how our designer was able to take our wish list and ideas from my Pinterest board, and turn it into a practical design. We were sold after seeing the design, and were pleasantly surprised to see that Kowalske was less costly than another estimate.” – Stephanie, homeowner

Marshall Evan Photography

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