The Basement Renovation Story

This homeowner found the size of her home ideal. It had a main level that fit her needs, plus there was the potential to create more useable living space in the basement. On the main level, she loved that there was so much natural light, and adored the warmth of the wood floors. But she also dreamt of being able to have nice guest accommodations, more storage, and  comfortable places to do laundry and work out. Ideally, she could someday even have a lower level that was almost as bright and cheerful as the upstairs parts of the house.

The owner was planning to stay in the house 5-8 years more – or maybe even up to retirement, so it made sense to invest in her home. As a recent empty nester, she could even imagine eventually aging in place there.

After years of dreaming, she finally has the basement she hoped for, and couldn't be happier with the results. Her home now fully supports both her current lifestyle and future needs.

This basement renovation is a great example of creating a multi-function, multipurpose basement - complete with personalized spaces and function.

Before the Basement Renovation

• Cold, small, unpleasant bathroom
• Lack of storage space
• Inefficient use of space
• Dark and dreary
• Cold floors
• Dated aesthetic
• No space for exercise equipment unless passageways were blocked
• Always felt dirty
• Cold and creepy

Renovation Needs, Goals And Wishes

What are your hopes for your new basement?

“I’d like to create a multi-functional basement space - that also feels like part of the rest of the house".

This homeowner had long hoped she could transform her basement into a guest bedroom where her parents could come and stay, and then wake up and relax in a cozy family room space until the rest of the household was up.

She daydreamed of her daughter coming home on college breaks and staying in a new guest room, with her very own bathroom, and even a place for friends to come over and hang out in.

She dreamed of a space she herself could enjoy being in, as well as friends and family.

Primary Basement Renovation Needs:

• A larger bathroom with more storage and an inviting look/feel
• A pleasant, finished laundry room area
• Storage space, accessible separately from the bedroom
• Noise reduction
• Family room/living area
• Exercise space
• A living and family room that was bright and felt more like a part of the home, and less like a basement
• Sufficient storage to keep cat litter boxes and cleaning supplies organized but out of sight.
• A cozy spot to turn on the fireplace and snuggle in with a book or to watch a movie
• Room to move about– without tripping over boxes and exercise equipment
• Space to comfortably accommodate family and friends - with their own bedroom and bathroom space
• Energy-efficient appliances
• Upgraded LED lighting
• De-humidification systems to reduce and prevent basement mold growth

Guest Bedroom Goals

• Lighting options to for bright like natural light or cozy and inviting at night.
• Room for both a queen bed and a dresser, with plenty of space left to move around in
• A decent sized closet

Basement Aesthetic Goals

• Incorporate MidCentury Modern elements such as those found throughout the rest of the home
• Enhance the overall MCM style throughout the entire house.
• Bring in the warmth of the wood upstairs, for a natural and soft feeling, consistent with the upstairs areas.
• A basement that would make people forget they were down in a basement.

After the Basement Remodel:

The new basement feels energized and new, with pops of color and elements of modern geometry. It's full of Mid-century Modern charm, and the use of color makes the spaces feel energetic and lively while not overwhelming the space. Bold design elements were incorporated carefully and selectively.

Final Remodeled Spaces Include:

• Living room/Family room
• Workout area
• Larger basement bathroom
• Guest bedroom
• Laundry room

Features Include:

• New, large egress windows
• Opened up stairwell to let light shine through
• Cat litter box closet - with wall cutout for access

This homeowner loves spending time in her new basement. She adores having the new spaces to be in, whether by herself or entertaining guests. The new basement living space gets so bright it's often even brighter than the upstairs parts of the home! Doing laundry is now a much more pleasant experience, and she loves having a comfortable place to sort and fold laundry in. Guests enjoy the new guest room, complete with a walk-in closet. Her basement turned out exactly the type of space she dreamed of - and her daughters are thrilled to have the new space to come home to.