We’ve been looking back at some of our favorite projects from the last few years and planning for ways to serve our customers better in the coming years. We specialize in kitchen renovations, basement finishes, bathroom remodels and whole-house remodels. Personally, one of my favorite projects is finishing basements. It’s very satisfying to transform an empty space into a beautiful living area that our customers love.
Today I’m thinking about a basement we finished in 2021 in the Wilds community in Prior Lake. The basement was being used for storage. It was a wide open space, full of potential. The builder had installed drains for a 3/4 bathroom, but besides that there wasn’t anything to guide the design. We met with the owners’ who had a list of several things they wanted: a wet bar area with plenty of seating, a flex room that could serve as a guest bedroom and workout room, and a family room with a fireplace. We’d finish the 3/4 bathroom and build an unfinished storage room. Lighting was also a high priority. Even with the large windows and patio door, the nearby woods in the backyard and covered patio blocked most of the sunlight. As we talked more, the owners said they really wanted their new basement to have a wow factor. That’s something we love to make happen!
The first challenge was locating the wet bar. There wasn’t a drain system for the bar, so the further from the established plumbing we went, the higher the cost would be. One option was to build the bar in the back corner of the basement. That would leave the area in front of the patio door open for a dining table but that didn’t seem like a good use of space. The bar area would also be dark which wouldn’t be ideal. Instead, we combined the bar and seating areas near the patio door and incorporated a large island with seating on 3 sides. We left the corner of the basement for a potential sitting or study area for the kids.
We designed the sitting area to include a fireplace with a large-screen television above it. The owners chose the Kozyheat Callaway 50, a beautiful natural gas linear fireplace. It puts out a lot of heat so installing a television above it required a special heat ventilation system. We planned out the location of the fireplace, television, ventilation system and soffit down to the inch and it worked out perfectly!
Having accomplished our customers’ main goals, we looked for opportunities to create a wow factor. Instead of adding a specific feature, we focused on subtle aspects like lighting and finishes. We added textured wallpaper on accent walls, a wavy tile around the fireplace, and lighting accents to illuminate the ceilings and other accent walls. In the bathroom, we included a few accents like stone tile and a custom floor drain in the shower. Small touches here and there elevate the entire space. The results are sophisticated, modern and comfortable.
I checked in with the owners recently to check on the basement and see if they have any regrets. They said they love everything about the basement and it’s their favorite area of their home. They spend most of their family and entertaining time there and it works perfectly for them. That’s what I like to hear! I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with them. If you’re planning to finish your basement, now is a great time to get started! We’ll help you design your new living space to meet your needs and exceed your hopes. Give us a call to get started, or fill out our contact form and we’ll reach out.
