5. Martini TimeIf you enjoy a cocktail at the day’s end, the area beneath the stairs could be a good place to put your bar, particularly if your kitchen or dining room have no more real estate. This one has been outfitted with a sink and wine fridge, making it fully functional for a household that enjoys entertaining. With cabinets, a counter and shelving, it’s like a mini kitchen. The silvery basketweave tile backsplash and sparkle of the sink and glassware communicate that any time can be party time.
Custom Concrete FloorThis gorgeous floor is the result of some creative value engineering by the homeowners. While they were hoping for wood, it just didn’t fit the budget. Concrete was a beautiful alternative that will allow them to easily install wood on top of it should they eventually opt to splurge. Why it works here: The rich chocolate brown takes the cold commerciality out of the finish, creating a cozy and relaxing space.Tip: Amy Simmons of Greenbelt Construction advises homeowners to embrace the cracks and color changes that will eventually happen to a concrete floor. “That’s the beauty of concrete floors: Nobody else’s floor is ever going to look just like yours,” she says. Installation by Gkrete
Stained Concrete FloorThe rich chocolate finish of this concrete floor evokes the warmth and richness of leather.How it was made: The color was achieved using a semitransparent concrete stain that comes in several colors. Why it works here: “We felt that the color we chose went well with the natural wood in the house,” says Curtis Gelotte, Principal at Gelotte Hommas Architecture. Concrete is also an economical finish in homes with radiant heat, like this one.Tip: Stained concrete floors will always have natural variations in color, because of the way concrete takes the stain. “You have to embrace its uncontrollability in a sense and go with the organic nature,” says Gelotte.Installed by Clark Boa Construction
3. Ceiling joists. If it’s not in the budget to dig out your basement, but you’d really like to create the illusion of higher ceilings, then you may want to consider leaving the joists exposed and painting them instead of drywalling the ceilings. You can slot track lights between the joists to get the light you need.
The other half of the main basement area had been where Mark, a big John Wayne fan, displayed images of the late actor. “There was space available to be used, but there was so much going on it didn’t function as being anything in particular,” Catherine says. Now the room feels unified. Each seating arrangement can enjoy the TV and fireplace and gets a window to look through. A built-in display case shows off Diane’s antique collection, which was previously stored in boxes in a shed. “If Diane walked down at the end and it was all John Wayne stuff, we would have totally missed the target of what she wanted,” Catherine says. Mark’s photo collection found a home in a new bonus TV room nearby.WATCH: See Diane’s reaction after seeing the final reveal of her surprise remodelCustom cabinetry: Echelon Cabinetry; sofa accent pillows: RoomCraft solid color throw pillow cover set in white cotton, 14 by 14 inches; end tables: Holly & Martin Guthrie metal end table; square cushions: Wales ottoman in magnolia, large
To make up for the lack of natural light, Kennedy introduced layers of lighting. She also selected 3,000 Kelvin temperature bulbs to replace fluorescent ones. “We didn’t want to go too warm. We went a little bit cooler to simulate natural light,” she says. Pillow in foreground similar to Edie Hollywood Regency: Kathy Kuo Home; Tobias throw blanket: Surya; Kenzie decorative pillow: Colorfly; Tuscany linen throw pillow: Pillow Decor; Edison bulb industrial floor lamp: Peared Creation
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