Example of a large trendy walk-out vinyl floor, brown floor and shiplap wall basement design in Atlanta with a bar, black walls, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace

Luxury finished basement with full kitchen and bar, clack GE cafe appliances with rose gold hardware, home theater, home gym, bathroom with sauna, lounge with fireplace and theater, dining area, and wine cellar.

A blank slate and open minds are a perfect recipe for creative design ideas. The homeowner's brother is a custom cabinet maker who brought our ideas to life and then Landmark Remodeling installed them and facilitated the rest of our vision. We had a lot of wants and wishes, and were to successfully do them all, including a gym, fireplace, hidden kid's room, hobby closet, and designer touches.

Lower Level of home on Lake Minnetonka Nautical call with white shiplap and blue accents for finishes. This photo highlights the built-ins that flank the fireplace.

Now this is the perfect place for watching some football or a little blacklight ping pong. We added wide plank pine floors and deep dirty blue walls to create the frame. The black velvet pit sofa, custom made table, pops of gold, leather, fur and reclaimed wood give this space the masculine but sexy feel we were trying to accomplish.

Mid-sized transitional walk-out gray floor basement photo in St Louis with a bar, gray walls, a hanging fireplace and a stone fireplace

We converted this unfinished basement into a hip adult hangout for sipping wine, watching a movie and playing a few games.
Inspiration for a large modern walk-out gray floor basement remodel in Philadelphia with a bar, white walls, a ribbon fireplace and a metal fireplace

Example of a mid-sized transitional walk-out gray floor basement design in St Louis with a bar, gray walls, a hanging fireplace and a stone fireplace

Basement - mid-sized contemporary carpeted and gray floor basement idea in Other with a bar, gray walls and a standard fireplace

Chic. Moody. Sexy. These are just a few of the words that come to mind when I think about the W Hotel in downtown Bellevue, WA. When my client came to me with this as inspiration for her Basement makeover, I couldn’t wait to get started on the transformation. Everything from the poured concrete floors to mimic Carrera marble, to the remodeled bar area, and the custom designed billiard table to match the custom furnishings is just so luxe! Tourmaline velvet, embossed leather, and lacquered walls adds texture and depth to this multi-functional living space.

Instead of trying to mask the changes in ceiling elevations which could not be removed due to mechanicals therein, the elevation changes were turned into a piece of architectural sculpture. The basement remodel was designed and built by Meadowlark Design Build in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Photography by Sean Carter

Huge trendy walk-out basement photo in Other with a bar, a ribbon fireplace and a plaster fireplace

Inspiration for a large underground light wood floor, gray floor, exposed beam and brick wall basement remodel in Detroit with a bar, white walls, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace

Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless carpeted basement remodel in Denver with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a bar

When my client had to move from her company office to work at home, she set up in the dining room. Despite her best efforts, this was not the long-term solution she was looking for. My client realized she needed a dedicated space not on the main floor of the home. On one hand, having your office space right next to the kitchen is handy. On the other hand, it made separating work and home life was not that easy. The house was a ranch. In essence, the basement would run entire length of the home. As we came down the steps, we entered a time capsule. The house was built in the 1950’s. The walls were covered with original knotty pine paneling. There was a wood burning fireplace and considering this was a basement, high ceilings. In addition, there was everything her family could not store at their own homes. As we wound though the space, I though “wow this has potential”, Eventually, after walking through the laundry room we came to a small nicely lit room. This would be the office. My client looked at me and asked what I thought. Undoubtedly, I said, this can be a great workspace, but do you really want to walk through this basement and laundry to get here? Without reservation, my client said where do we start? Once the design was in place, we started the renovation. The knotty pine paneling had to go. Specifically, to add some insulation and control the dampness and humidity. The laundry room wall was relocated to create a hallway to the office. At the far end of the room, we designated a workout zone. Weights, mats, exercise bike and television are at the ready for morning or afternoon workouts. The space can be concealed by a folding screen for party time. Doors to an old closet under the stairs were relocated to the workout area for hidden storage. Now we had nice wall for a beautiful console and mirror for storage and serving during parties. In order to add architectural details, we covered the old ugly support columns with simple recessed millwork panels. This detail created a visual division between the bar area and the seating area in front of the fireplace. The old red brick on the fireplace surround was replaced with stack stone. A mantle was made from reclaimed wood. Additional reclaimed wood floating shelves left and right of the fireplace provides decorative display while maintaining a rustic element balancing the copper end table and leather swivel rocker. We found an amazing rug which tied all of the colors together further defining the gathering space. Russet and burnt orange became the accent color unifying each space. With a bit of whimsy, a rather unusual light fixture which looks like roots from a tree growing through the ceiling is a conversation piece. The office space is quite and removed from the main part of the basement. There is a desk large enough for multiple screens, a small bookcase holding office supplies and a comfortable chair for conference calls. Because working from home requires many online meetings, we added a shiplap wall painted in Hale Navy to contrast with the orange fabric on the chair. We finished the décor with a painting from my client’s father. This is the background online visitors will see. The last and best part of the renovation is the beautiful bar. My client is an avid collector of wine. She already had the EuroCave refrigerator, so I incorporated it into the design. The cabinets are painted Temptation Grey from Benjamin Moore. The counter tops are my favorite hard working quartzite Brown Fantasy. The backsplash is a combination of rustic wood and old tin ceiling like porcelain tiles. Together with the textures of the reclaimed wood and hide poofs balanced against the smooth finish of the cabinets, we created a comfortable luxury for relaxing. There is ample storage for bottles, cans, glasses, and anything else you can think of for a great party. In addition to the wine storage, we incorporated a beverage refrigerator, an ice maker, and a sink. Floating shelves with integrated lighting illuminate the back bar. The raised height of the front bar provides the perfect wine tasting and paring spot. I especially love the pendant lights which look like wine glasses. Finally, I selected carpet for the stairs and office. It is perfect for noise reduction. Meanwhile for the overall flooring, I specifically selected a high-performance vinyl plank floor. We often use this product as it is perfect to install on a concrete floor. It is soft to walk on, easy to clean and does not reduce the overall height of the space.

Example of a huge trendy walk-out tray ceiling basement design in Other with a bar, a ribbon fireplace and a plaster fireplace

Our in-house design staff took this unfinished basement from sparse to stylish speak-easy complete with a fireplace, wine & bourbon bar and custom humidor.

Inspiration for a large timeless dark wood floor and brown floor basement remodel in St Louis with a bar, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Paul Saini
Mid-sized mountain style ceramic tile basement photo in Chicago with a bar, beige walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace