Before the remodel, the existing basement was dark and felt boxed-in with low ceilings and unnecessary walls. Now this finished basement has a bright, open look! This was accomplished by a series of strategic updates. Several walls were removed to open up the space, including a wall over stairs that had doors. Prior to the update, to access the basement, you would have to open a door and then climb down enclosed steps. You had no view of the basement until you got to the bottom of the steps, making the initial impression of the space feel uninviting. Now there are no doors and you can see into the basement from almost the top of the stairs. The removal of some of the other walls allowed for the addition of the wet bar accented by a floral pattern back-splash. Now family and guests don't need to go back upstairs to the kitchen to put together some refreshments. Instead they can use the black walnut wood counter top to organize the plates, utensils, and napkins retrieved from the white custom cabinetry and pull out cold beverages from the stainless steel built-in cooler. The addition of strategic, recessed lighting created a bright atmosphere without the worry of hitting one's head on any hanging light fixtures. While this is a great gathering space to entertain family and friends, it is also an ideal location for the kids to play. Therefore, the unfinished-looking chalkboard wall was not removed. Instead, a custom frame was added to provide an attractive accent to this special area of the room. The children love having the ability to express their creativity on this wall and so it has become a central family focal point of the space. To keep the balance of child-friendly area and charming entertainment space, vinyl flooring was installed in order to give the look of hardwood flooring but be easier to clean and maintain. With some well-thought out planning and intuitive insight, this finished basement was transformed into a charming multi-use living space.