This 1933 Wauwatosa basement was dark, dingy and lacked functionality. The basement was unfinished with concrete walls and floors. A small office was enclosed but the rest of the space was open and cluttered. The homeowners wanted a warm, organized space for their family. A recent job change meant they needed a dedicated home office. They also wanted a place where their kids could hang out with friends. Their wish list for this basement remodel included: a home office where the couple could both work, a full bathroom, a cozy living room and a dedicated storage room. This basement renovation resulted in a warm and bright space that is used by the whole family. Highlights of this basement: - Home Office: A new office gives the couple a dedicated space for work. There’s plenty of desk space, storage cabinets, under-shelf lighting and storage for their home library. - Living Room: An old office area was expanded into a cozy living room. It’s the perfect place for their kids to hang out when they host friends and family. - Laundry Room: The new laundry room is a total upgrade. It now includes fun laminate flooring, storage cabinets and counter space for folding laundry. - Full Bathroom: A new bathroom gives the family an additional shower in the home. Highlights of the bathroom include a navy vanity, quartz counters, brass finishes, a Dreamline shower door and Kohler Choreograph wall panels. - Staircase: We spruced up the staircase leading down to the lower level with patterned vinyl flooring and a matching trim color. - Storage: We gave them a separate storage space, with custom shelving for organizing their camping gear, sports equipment and holiday decorations. CUSTOMER REVIEW “We had been talking about remodeling our basement for a long time, but decided to make it happen when my husband was offered a job working remotely. It felt like the right time for us to have a real home office where we could separate our work lives from our home lives. We wanted the area to feel open, light-filled, and modern – not an easy task for a previously dark and cold basement! One of our favorite parts was when our designer took us on a 3D computer design tour of our basement. I remember thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, this could be our basement!?!’ It was so fun to see how our designer was able to take our wish list and ideas from my Pinterest board, and turn it into a practical design. We were sold after seeing the design, and were pleasantly surprised to see that Kowalske was less costly than another estimate.” – Stephanie, homeowner

Photography ©Jeff Allen
Trendy medium tone wood floor basement photo in Boston with white walls

Blending exposed brick with graphic prints. Jerrica Zaric Interior Design furnished this open-concept condo that overlooks Milwaukee's Third Ward neighborhood. We paired graphic geometrical, tribal and Asian prints with modern accents and this condo's historical Cream City brick.

Inspiration for a large industrial open concept laminate floor family room remodel with black walls, a wall-mounted tv, a ribbon fireplace and a metal fireplace

Living room design in Dallas featuring an open concept layout with a central fireplace, built-in seating nook, and layered furnishings, creating a bright, cohesive space designed for everyday living.

The side of the staircase was a natural place to create a built-in TV and entertainment center with adjustable shelving and lots of storage. This space is bright and welcoming, and the open floor plan allows for easy entertaining. Welcome to this sports lover’s paradise in West Chester, PA! We started with the completely blank palette of an unfinished basement and created space for everyone in the family by adding a main television watching space, a play area, a bar area, a full bathroom and an exercise room. The floor is COREtek engineered hardwood, which is waterproof and durable, and great for basements and floors that might take a beating. Combining wood, steel, tin and brick, this modern farmhouse looking basement is chic and ready to host family and friends to watch sporting events! Rudloff Custom Builders has won Best of Houzz for Customer Service in 2014, 2015 2016, 2017 and 2019. We also were voted Best of Design in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 which only 2% of professionals receive. Rudloff Custom Builders has been featured on Houzz in their Kitchen of the Week, What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen as well as included in their Bathroom WorkBook article. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area. This business, like most others, developed from a friendship of young entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference in their clients’ lives, one household at a time. This relationship between partners is much more than a friendship. Edward and Stephen Rudloff are brothers who have renovated and built custom homes together paying close attention to detail. They are carpenters by trade and understand concept and execution. Rudloff Custom Builders will provide services for you with the highest level of professionalism, quality, detail, punctuality and craftsmanship, every step of the way along our journey together. Specializing in residential construction allows us to connect with our clients early in the design phase to ensure that every detail is captured as you imagined. One stop shopping is essentially what you will receive with Rudloff Custom Builders from design of your project to the construction of your dreams, executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsmen. Our concept: envision our client’s ideas and make them a reality. Our mission: CREATING LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND INTEGRITY. Photo Credit: Linda McManus Images

Open concept kitchen built by Lowell Custom Homes with cabinetry by Geneva Cabinet Company in Lake Geneva, Wi. White flat panel cabinet doors, range hood inset with stainless steel banding, modern hardware, large island with seating and double sink.

Inspiration for a timeless l-shaped dark wood floor open concept kitchen remodel in Denver with raised-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, stainless steel appliances and an island

Tucked neatly into an existing bay of the barn, the open kitchen is a comfortable hub of the home. Rather than create a solid division between the kitchen and the children's TV area, Franklin finished only the lower portion of the post-and-beam supports. The ladder is one of the original features of the barn that Franklin could not imagine ever removing. Cleverly integrated into the support post, its original function allowed workers to climb above large haystacks and pick and toss hay down a chute to the feeding area below. Franklin's children, 10 and 14, also enjoy this aspect of their home. "The kids and their friends run, slide, climb up the ladder and have a ton of fun," he explains, "It’s a barn! It is a place to share with friends and family." Adrienne DeRosa Photography

With its myriad views and open-concept living, the main floor offers a family-friendly lifestyle. An upstairs loft serves as an additional TV room. The modular sectional from Kravet and black leather accent chairs surround a custom coffee table by Peter Thomas Designs. The Village at Seven Desert Mountain—Scottsdale Architecture: Drewett Works Builder: Cullum Homes Interiors: Ownby Design Landscape: Greey | Pickett Photographer: Dino Tonn https://www.drewettworks.com/the-model-home-at-village-at-seven-desert-mountain/

Opened up wall between kitchen/dining and living room. Filled in and refinished oak floors. Refinished existing doors. Replaced/updated baseboards and casing. Tiled fireplace surround and kitchen backsplash. New kitchen cabinets/ countertops/ island. New appliances and fixtures.

The side of the staircase was a natural place to create a built-in TV and entertainment center with adjustable shelving and lots of storage. This space is bright and welcoming, and the open floor plan allows for easy entertaining. Welcome to this sports lover’s paradise in West Chester, PA! We started with the completely blank palette of an unfinished basement and created space for everyone in the family by adding a main television watching space, a play area, a bar area, a full bathroom and an exercise room. The floor is COREtek engineered hardwood, which is waterproof and durable, and great for basements and floors that might take a beating. Combining wood, steel, tin and brick, this modern farmhouse looking basement is chic and ready to host family and friends to watch sporting events! Rudloff Custom Builders has won Best of Houzz for Customer Service in 2014, 2015 2016, 2017 and 2019. We also were voted Best of Design in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 which only 2% of professionals receive. Rudloff Custom Builders has been featured on Houzz in their Kitchen of the Week, What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen as well as included in their Bathroom WorkBook article. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area. This business, like most others, developed from a friendship of young entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference in their clients’ lives, one household at a time. This relationship between partners is much more than a friendship. Edward and Stephen Rudloff are brothers who have renovated and built custom homes together paying close attention to detail. They are carpenters by trade and understand concept and execution. Rudloff Custom Builders will provide services for you with the highest level of professionalism, quality, detail, punctuality and craftsmanship, every step of the way along our journey together. Specializing in residential construction allows us to connect with our clients early in the design phase to ensure that every detail is captured as you imagined. One stop shopping is essentially what you will receive with Rudloff Custom Builders from design of your project to the construction of your dreams, executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsmen. Our concept: envision our client’s ideas and make them a reality. Our mission: CREATING LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND INTEGRITY. Photo Credit: Linda McManus Images

dark island, granite countertops, inset cabinetry, island pendants, kitchen remodel, lantern pendants, large island, open concept kitchen, kitchen island sink, stained island, stainless hood

The heart of the Lux Lower Level. This view showcases the seamless integration of luxury lounge seating and professional-grade wine storage, creating a sophisticated environment where the homeowner's collection serves as a glowing backdrop for conversation and relaxation.

A blend of modern farmhouse elegance and coastal relaxation, this open-concept living space creates the perfect ambiance for both casual family moments and formal gatherings. Shiplap walls, a natural stone fireplace, and a neutral-toned seating layout work in harmony with the expansive wood-look tile flooring to ground the room in warmth. Every element—from the cozy seating arrangement to the oversized wall clock and built-ins—adds a layer of personality to this thoughtfully styled coastal living room design. It's a flawless balance of modern living room sophistication and breezy, inviting charm.

AWARD WINNING | International Green Good Design Award OVERVIEW | This home was designed as a primary residence for a family of five in a coastal a New Jersey town. On a tight infill lot within a traditional neighborhood, the home maximizes opportunities for light and space, consumes very little energy, incorporates multiple resiliency strategies, and offers a clean, green, modern interior. ARCHITECTURE & MECHANICAL DESIGN | ZeroEnergy Design CONSTRUCTION | C. Alexander Building PHOTOS | Eric Roth Photography

Example of a trendy basement design in Chicago

View of the open concept kitchen and living room space of the modern Lakeshore house in Sagle, Idaho. The all white kitchen on the left has maple paint grade shaker cabinets are finished in Sherwin Willams "High Reflective White" allowing the natural light from the view of the water to brighter the entire room. Cabinet pulls are Top Knobs black bar pull. A 36" Thermardor hood is finished with 6" wood paneling and stained to match the clients decorative mirror. All other appliances are stainless steel: GE Cafe 36" gas range, GE Cafe 24" dishwasher, and Zephyr Presrv Wine Refrigerator (not shown). The GE Cafe 36" french door refrigerator includes a Keurig K-Cup coffee brewing feature. Kitchen counters are finished with Pental Quartz in "Misterio," and backsplash is 4"x12" white subway tile from Vivano Marmo. Pendants over the raised counter are Chloe Lighting Walter Industrial. Kitchen sink is Kohler Vault with Kohler Simplice faucet in black. In the living room area, the wood burning stove is a Blaze King Boxer (24"), installed on a raised hearth using the same wood paneling as the range hood. The raised hearth is capped with black quartz to match the finish of the United Flowteck stone tile surround. A flat screen TV is wall mounted to the right of the fireplace. Flooring is laminated wood by Marion Way in Drift Lane "Daydream Chestnut". Walls are finished with Sherwin Williams "Snowbound" in eggshell. Baseboard and trim are finished in Sherwin Williams "High Reflective White."

Bathroom - contemporary bathroom idea in Chicago