February 24 From Drab to Fab: Transforming a Basement
Living in East Tennessee, where the terrain is mountainous, many homes feature basements or lower levels. These spaces offer an affordable way to increase your home’s square footage. Unfortunately, these areas often become neglected corners of the house. Homeowners typically focus on decorating the main floors and bedrooms, leaving the basement as an afterthought. It often ends up cluttered with hand-me-down furniture, forgotten exercise equipment, storage boxes, and even relics from college dorm rooms! For some families, this setup works fine if they have plenty of space on the upper levels. Others might use it as a play area for young kids where they can run freely without worrying about damaging valuable items.
However, there comes a time when additional space becomes necessary—whether due to a growing family or because the household needs change as children grow older. That was exactly the situation for one family who reached out to us for help transforming their cramped and outdated basement into a versatile, stylish, and functional living space.
When they first moved into their home over a decade ago, the basement was nothing more than a storage area. Over time, outdated furniture from other parts of the house trickled down here. When their son was younger, it served as a playroom, with the old furniture providing enough room for games and activities. But as the years passed, the toys, exercise machines, and miscellaneous belongings piled up until the space became cluttered beyond usability.
At our initial consultation, the clients laid out their vision clearly: they wanted the basement to serve multiple purposes—not just for their son and his friends but also for hosting family gatherings, parties, and general entertaining. The space needed to accommodate seating for six people, a desk area for their son, and a spot for their treadmill. They hoped to keep their antique game table and add a serving table with a bar area for drinks and refrigeration. Their wish list included creating at least six distinct zones: a seating area, a game zone, a treadmill spot, a wet bar with an eating area, and a desk. Additionally, the existing full bath required updating, and they sought better storage solutions throughout the space. Beyond functionality, they desired elegance combined with comfort—a room that felt both sophisticated and cozy enough for unwinding or entertaining guests.
After reviewing their requirements, we got to work designing a comprehensive plan.
We began by rethinking the layout to maximize the available space while meeting the clients’ needs. After exploring various configurations, we settled on a design that made the most of the longest wall in the room. A large 80-inch TV was placed on this wall, with built-in storage units filling the remaining space. Placing the desk at the end of the wall created symmetry and balanced the built-ins beautifully. On the opposite side of the TV, we positioned the seating area for optimal viewing angles and used the back of the sectional to visually separate the entertainment section from the bar and dining area. The wet bar was located near the bathroom to simplify plumbing connections. Across from the bar, we planned a round table with chairs. To ensure everyone could see the screen easily, we opted for a counter-height table and stools. This arrangement ensured that those seated at the table wouldn’t block anyone’s view.
The final layout utilized the two far ends of the room—the bay window overlooking the garden and the wall closest to the staircase—for the treadmill and game table. For daily use, the treadmill stays in the bay window, offering stunning garden views and a perfect vantage point for the TV. During events, the treadmill folds up and moves to the stairwell wall or an adjacent closet, making room for the game table to take center stage. This flexible design gives the homeowners ultimate adaptability for different occasions.
With the floor plan finalized, it was time to select materials and finishes that would enhance the overall aesthetic while maintaining durability and ease of maintenance.
We chose a porcelain tile with an antique wood finish to cover the entire floor. This choice unified the space and offered low-maintenance, easy-to-clean flooring. The exterior garden inspired our selection of a Thibaut wallpaper for the wet bar and dining area. Its silhouette design of tree branches brings an outdoor element indoors, adding warmth and depth. Since this corner of the room has a lower ceiling, the vertical branches visually elevate the space.
We selected a warm neutral wall color that complements the wallpaper’s backdrop, ensuring continuity across the room. All trim and the custom-built storage unit received a crisp white finish. Previously, the drapes at the bay window hung below the soffit, obstructing the view. For the redesign, we chose a light cream and green lattice fabric and mounted it high against the ceiling, opening up the window space and enhancing the natural light. Positioning the drapes at the ceiling also creates the illusion of greater height.
The wet bar became a focal point, so we treated it accordingly. Walnut wood cabinets paired with a rhomboid-shaped glass backsplash from Oceanside Glass Tile brought in shades of pale blue and soft green reminiscent of the outdoor scenery. For the adjoining bathroom, we carried forward the white walls and walnut wood elements, adding a custom accent wall of Calacatta marble. Not only does this marble add visual interest, but it also doubles as a practical backsplash for the vanity and toilet, echoing the mountainous landscape surrounding our region.
Once our material choices were approved, our team began demolishing the old setup and transforming the space. Weeks of hard work from our skilled carpenters, painters, electricians, plumbers, and tile installers culminated in a completely renovated room. Finally, it was time to bring in the furnishings and give the family their new space.
To maintain a cohesive look, we stuck mostly to neutral tones, allowing the garden views and the bar’s tiles to stand out. Fabrics were chosen for durability and ease of cleaning. Texture played a crucial role, blending smooth vinyl ottomans with the tweed of the sofa, the patterned rug, and the woven geometric fabric of the swivel chair. Neutral colors don’t have to be bland when texture is involved. For added visual interest, we incorporated greens and blues from the outdoors and our accent tiles, carefully placing them throughout the room using the clients’ existing accessories alongside custom pillows and a newly acquired piece of artwork.
Our clients couldn’t be happier with the outcome. What was once an underused, uninviting space is now a vibrant and functional addition to their home. Their son can comfortably study at the desk, the family enjoys movie nights on the big screen, and exercising feels more enjoyable thanks to the garden views or the nearby screen. Guests now have access to an elegant yet welcoming adult space complete with ample storage and areas suited for various activities. We transformed a neglected corner into a cherished part of their home—one no one ever wants to leave.
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