Welcome to one of our favorite basement projects to date!
We were heavily inspired by the client’s travels and knew they wanted a colorful space to entertain and relax. We were also tasked with making it kid-friendly for their growing family, and to include a guest room with a full bathroom for visitors. Luckily, we weren’t starting from scratch (if you’re familiar with the term “Michigan basement”, you know what we’re talking about), so it was up to us to strip it down and build it to suit our client’s needs.
In adding an electric fireplace to the right side of the room, we closed off the stairway to create equal spaces on either side. The reeded detail with the sconces on each side of the fireplace wall is one of our favorite features in the living area. We also chose a Samsung Frame TV so that when it’s not in use, it would look like art. This has been a great options for clients who don’t want the look of a regular TV mounted on their wall.
To create additional sleeping space for visitors, we chose this Luonto sleeper sectional. We loved that it provided a second area for the client to have multiple guests at the same time. It can be hard to find an option that’s stylish, functional, and most importantly, comfortable.
There are simple ways to make a space beautiful while also making it functional. In this area, we chose simple soft storage baskets for all the kids’ toys to be tucked away, and still look nice and clean. We know it won’t always be 100% tidied - that’s the nature of children! - but designating a place for their things to go helps keep the space picked up when guests arrive. Here, we even styled the children’s books with beautiful marble book ends.
In designing this wing of the basement, there was a huge unused space underneath the stairs. They weren’t hurting for additional storage, so we decided to add in a wet bar that ended up being one of our favorite features of this project. It also lends as showcase display for the different liquors the clients brought back from their travels.
We sourced a vintage runner that leads you back to the guest bedroom and bathroom to create a colorful warmth to the space. The art we found felt other-worldly and was a nice, neutral touch to the color in the rug.
In addition to international travel, our client has amassed a large collection of Major League Baseball hats. Their goal is to go to a game at every field, and as you can see, their collection is almost complete. Our challenge was to display what he already had and leave enough space for the few they had left to collect. As we laid out each hat to assess the collection, we even found ticket stubs from each game! It took almost two hours, but the reaction when it was finished was all the validation we needed to know that we nailed it.
Putting a neutral paint color underneath the hat display wasn’t something that fit the bill, so we chose a fun color that would make it pop, and also lend to the room being used for guests (Benjamin Moore - Slate Teal). It makes it feel like a nice getaway!
This is also a good example of a space where you can get more accessible art pieces. You don’t always have to invest in expensive art and lighting in every room, but when you mix in pieces from both categories together, you can create a seamless blend of the two.
This long level was a life saver in getting this display just right.
For the full guest bathroom, we sourced a pre-built vanity. This is a great cost-effective option because they come with a countertop and a sink. Because of the size of the bathroom, we went with a subway tile, but wanted to do something a little different and not go with a classic brick set to give it a more elevated look.
We hope you enjoy learning more about the design behind these spaces!
-Kristie & Mikki
Contractor: Perkins Custom Remodeling | Instagram
Photography: The Mitten Tog | Instagram