LUXUDIO
Large urban underground concrete floor basement photo in Columbus with brown walls

Once apon a time I was a scary basement located in a congested section of Cambridge MA. My clients and I set out to create a new space inspired by France that could also double as a guest room when needed. Painting the existing wood joists and adding bead board in between the joists and painting any exposed pipes white celebrates the ceiling rather than trying to hide it keeps the much needed ceiling height. Italian furniture, books and antique rug gives this once basement a very European well travelled feel.

This project involved converting a partially finished basement into an ultimate media room with an English pub. The family is big on entertaining and enjoys watching movies and college football. It was important to combine the media area with the pub to create options for guests within the same space. Although the home has a full sized basement the staircase was centrally located, which made it difficult for special configuration. As a result, we were able to work with the existing plan be designing a media area large enough for a sectional sofa and additional seating with the English pub at the far end of the room. The home owner had a projection screen on a bare wall with the electrical components stacked on boxes. The new plan involved installing new cabinets to accommodate components and surround the screen to give it a built-in finish. Open shelving also allows the homeowner to feature some of their collectible sports memorabilia. As if the 130 inch projection screen wasn’t large enough, the surround sound system makes you feel like you are part of the action. It is as close to the I MAX viewing experience as you are going to get in a home. Sound-deadening insulation was installed in the ceiling and walls to prevent noise from penetrating the second floor. The design of the pub was inspired by the home owner’s favorite local pub, Brazenhead. The bar countertop with lift-top entrance was custom built by our carpenters to simulate aged wood. The finish looks rough, but it is smooth enough to wipe down easily. The top encloses the bar and provides seating for guests. A TV at the bar allows guest to follow along with the game on the big screen or tune into another game. The game table provides even another option for entertainment in the media room. Stacked stone with thick mortar joints was installed on the face of the bar and to an opposite wall containing the entrance to a wine room. Hand scrapped hardwood floors were installed in the pub portion of the media room to provide yet another touch to “Brazenhead” their own pub. The wet bar is under a soffit area that continues into the media area due to existing duct work. We wanted to creatively find a way to separate the two spaces. Adding trim on the ceiling and front of soffit at the bar defined the area and made a great transition from the drywall soffit to the wet bar. A tin ceiling was installed which added to the ambience of the pub wet bar and further aided in defining the soffit as an intentional part of the design. Custom built wainscoting borders the perimeter of the media room. The end result allows the client to comfortably entertain in a space designed just for them.

This complete fireplace wall renovation erased the 1980's and resulted in a modern inviting family room retreat. Roy Weinstein & Ken Kast Photography

Dark & Moody Media Room
Example of a transitional home theater design in Austin

Large family and media room with frosted glass, bronze doors leading to the living room and foyer. An 82" wide screen 3-D TV is built into the bookcases and a projector and screen are built into the ceiling.

Basement - large country look-out vinyl floor and gray floor basement idea in Detroit with gray walls

Located on a corner lot perched high up in the prestigious East Hill of Cresskill, NJ, this home has spectacular views of the Northern Valley to the west. Comprising of 7,200 sq. ft. of space on the 1st and 2nd floor, plus 2,800 sq. ft. of finished walk-out basement space, this home encompasses 10,000 sq. ft. of livable area. The home consists of 6 bedrooms, 6 full bathrooms, 2 powder rooms, a 3-car garage, 4 fireplaces, huge kitchen, generous home office room, and 2 laundry rooms. Unique features of this home include a covered porte cochere, a golf simulator room, media room, octagonal music room, dance studio, wine room, heated & screened loggia, and even a dog shower!

This family of five live miles away from the city, in a gorgeous rural setting that allows them to enjoy the beauty of the Oregon outdoors. Their charming Craftsman influenced farmhouse was remodeled to take advantage of their pastoral views, bringing the outdoors inside. Our gallery showcases this stylish space that feels colorful, yet refined, relaxing but fun. Our unexpected color palette was inspired by a custom designed crewel fabric made exclusively for the client. For more about Angela Todd Studios, click here: https://www.angelatoddstudios.com/

A large space that was made narrow by a second staircase. We took the stairs out and turned it into the principle gathering space for the family, combining the functionalities of living room, great room, family room and media room.

Playroom & craft room: We transformed a large suburban New Jersey basement into a farmhouse inspired, kids playroom and craft room. Kid-friendly custom millwork cube and bench storage was designed to store ample toys and books, using mixed wood and metal materials for texture. The vibrant, gender-neutral color palette stands out on the neutral walls and floor and sophisticated black accents in the art, mid-century wall sconces, and hardware. Bold color midcentury chairs and a scalloped wallpaper invite creativity to the craft room, and the addition of a teepee to the play area was the perfect, fun finishing touch! This kids space is adjacent to an open-concept family-friendly media room, which mirrors the same color palette and materials with a more grown-up look. See the full project to view media room. Photo Credits: Erin Coren, Curated Nest Interiors

An eclectic, modern media room with bold accents of black metals, natural woods, and terra cotta tile floors. We wanted to design a fresh and modern hangout spot for these clients, whether they’re hosting friends or watching the game, this entertainment room had to fit every occasion. We designed a full home bar, which looks dashing right next to the wooden accent wall and foosball table. The sitting area is full of luxe seating, with a large gray sofa and warm brown leather arm chairs. Additional seating was snuck in via black metal chairs that fit seamlessly into the built-in desk and sideboard table (behind the sofa).... In total, there is plenty of seats for a large party, which is exactly what our client needed. Lastly, we updated the french doors with a chic, modern black trim, a small detail that offered an instant pick-me-up. The black trim also looks effortless against the black accents. Designed by Sara Barney’s BANDD DESIGN, who are based in Austin, Texas and serving throughout Round Rock, Lake Travis, West Lake Hills, and Tarrytown. For more about BANDD DESIGN, click here: https://bandddesign.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://bandddesign.com/lost-creek-game-room/

Example of a trendy family room design in Seattle

Home Pix Media
Trendy beige floor family room photo in Nashville with gray walls

Dining room - mid-sized contemporary laminate floor, brown floor, exposed beam and wallpaper dining room idea in Portland with a tile fireplace, white walls and a standard fireplace

The custom bar uses every square foot to maximize entertaining. In the LEGO room beyond a custom table sits below the work area which can slide out and double the work space. John Wilbanks Photography

Laundry room - transitional laundry room idea in Boston

The basement is designed as a warm, immersive retreat that blends eclectic design with spa-like tranquility and hidden entertainment spaces. The overall palette centers around warm natural woods, matte black accents, and layered moody lighting, creating a cozy yet sophisticated atmosphere throughout the space. The main living area features a comfortable lounge zone anchored by a fireplace, with plush seating, textured rugs, and low, ambient lighting to create a relaxed, intimate vibe. Built-in shelving in dark wood with black metal details adds visual interest and provides space for books, art, and curated décor. The lighting plan emphasizes dim, warm, and indirect sources—wall sconces, concealed LED strips, and table lamps—to keep the environment calm and atmospheric rather than bright and open. One side of the basement transitions into a Zen-inspired spa retreat. This area uses lighter warm woods and natural stone elements to create contrast while maintaining harmony with the rest of the basement. The spa includes: A glass-front sauna with slatted cedar walls and soft backlighting A cold plunge tub with dark stone or concrete surround Minimalist fixtures in matte black Subtle greenery and natural textures to reinforce the calming, restorative feel The spa zone should feel like a boutique wellness retreat tucked inside the home—clean, quiet, and intentionally minimal. A unique feature of the basement is a hidden “man cave” lounge accessed through a secret door disguised as a built-in shelving unit. When opened, it reveals a darker, more intimate room designed for entertaining or unwinding. This space uses rich two-tone walls in deep warm hues—such as charcoal paired with dark walnut or oxblood—along with low lighting and heavier textures. The room could include a bar area, media setup, leather seating, and subtle accent lighting to enhance the clandestine, speakeasy-like atmosphere. Overall, the basement should feel layered, cozy, slightly mysterious, and luxurious, balancing relaxation, wellness, and entertainment in a way that feels cohesive but full of discovery.

Heidi Lancaster
Family room - mid-sized transitional open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor family room idea in San Francisco with white walls and a media wall