Cottage l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen photo in Indianapolis with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Today’s basements are much more than dark, dingy spaces or rec rooms of years ago. Because homeowners are spending more time in them, basements have evolved into lower-levels with distinctive spaces, complete with stone and marble fireplaces, sitting areas, coffee and wine bars, home theaters, over sized guest suites and bathrooms that rival some of the most luxurious resort accommodations. Gracing the lakeshore of Lake Beulah, this homes lower-level presents a beautiful opening to the deck and offers dynamic lake views. To take advantage of the home’s placement, the homeowner wanted to enhance the lower-level and provide a more rustic feel to match the home’s main level, while making the space more functional for boating equipment and easy access to the pier and lakefront. Jeff Auberger designed a seating area to transform into a theater room with a touch of a button. A hidden screen descends from the ceiling, offering a perfect place to relax after a day on the lake. Our team worked with a local company that supplies reclaimed barn board to add to the decor and finish off the new space. Using salvaged wood from a corn crib located in nearby Delavan, Jeff designed a charming area near the patio door that features two closets behind sliding barn doors and a bench nestled between the closets, providing an ideal spot to hang wet towels and store flip flops after a day of boating. The reclaimed barn board was also incorporated into built-in shelving alongside the fireplace and an accent wall in the updated kitchenette. Lastly the children in this home are fans of the Harry Potter book series, so naturally, there was a Harry Potter themed cupboard under the stairs created. This cozy reading nook features Hogwartz banners and wizarding wands that would amaze any fan of the book series.

Cynthia Wu
Eat-in kitchen - contemporary l-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen idea in New York with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, metallic backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Photography: Jeff Cate
Example of a trendy white tile alcove shower design in New York with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets and a pedestal sink

Bedroom - contemporary light wood floor and beige floor bedroom idea in New York with white walls

Custom designed wine cellar by MA Peterson of Edina, MN
Inspiration for a mediterranean wine cellar remodel in Minneapolis

Inspiration for a transitional built-in desk gray floor craft room remodel in Salt Lake City with white walls

Photo by Antoine Bootz
Example of a large urban medium tone wood floor great room design in New York with no fireplace and red walls

Bathroom - rustic concrete floor and gray floor bathroom idea in Minneapolis with shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, green walls and gray countertops

Great room - rustic dark wood floor great room idea in Los Angeles with multicolored walls

This 1963 brick home was given the opportunity for new life when a creative couple from Brooklyn took a chance and moved their life to Nashville! The kitchen went from a dreary, sad, barely functional room to an inspiring space to gather and entertain. Removing the wall between the living and kitchen opened up the previously choppy, inefficient layout to bring a sense of flow and ease to the home. We designed a custom island/dining table, seamlessly flowing from the terrazzo style quartz countertops into the solid maple table, complimented by the slat wood design on the range hood. We decided to go with a larger scale subway tile in a horizontal stacked pattern to keep the feel light, but also modern and timeless. The built-in matte black wall cabinetry brings a minimal but striking moment to balance the airiness of the other side of the kitchen, while providing ample storage for the pantry as well as a large bar for the cocktail aficionado couple. We incorporated some beautiful handmade pendants from Mexico and hung them at differing heights to accentuate the custom island. Now the space is modern, bright, textured, minimal and elevated. The clients are so pleased, and feel that this house can be a home for them to create and host and be.

Home bar - transitional home bar idea in Minneapolis

Example of a transitional medium tone wood floor enclosed dining room design in San Francisco with black walls

Example of a transitional l-shaped light wood floor and beige floor home bar design in Grand Rapids with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, multicolored backsplash, brick backsplash and gray countertops

Bedroom - contemporary master carpeted and multicolored floor bedroom idea in New York with gray walls and no fireplace

Looking through kitchen to rear courtyard . Village House GLOW design group Photo Jack Lovel
Inspiration for a mid-sized country l-shaped concrete floor and gray floor open concept kitchen remodel in Melbourne with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, marble backsplash, an island, white countertops and paneled appliances

The staircase to the lower level is flanked by a matte black metal railing. Along with two bedrooms, a jack & jill bath, and a powder room, this lower level is also set up for entertaining. A sunken media lounge, game area, walk-up wet bar, and see-through fireplace lounge, all set the lower level as a perfect atmosphere to host your next movie night or big game. Secret room.

Enclosed dining room - transitional dark wood floor and brown floor enclosed dining room idea in New York with white walls

Alyssa Lee Photography
Example of a mid-sized farmhouse single-wall medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen design in Minneapolis with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island