Basement of the Week: By Dumping Earth to Family Hangout
This young family’s 1911 Craftsman house in Seattle was exploding at the seams. While it had a substantial basement, it was gruesome, and the family had been using it as a dumping ground for little-used items and junk.
They envisioned it as a place where they could spend more time as a family, home overnight guests and amuse, and where the kids could hang out with friends. Working within the present space (including the present ceiling height and windows), the pros in Potter Construction and Lathrop Douglass Architects fulfilled their dreams, adding details like ample storage, a custom made desk and molding that suits the home’s Craftsman design.
Before Photo
Potter Construction Inc
Potter Construction Inc
AFTER: The team maintained the current flooring, resurfacing and staining the concrete; without the need for subflooring or carpeting, they saved a little more ceiling height. When you’re coping with low ceilings (these are just 6 feet, 11 inches high), then you need to consider every extra inch between the ceilings and the floors.
Floor completing: Semco Flooring; stain color: Marble Gray
Potter Construction Inc
The basement is a walk-out. A window on the cover of the door lets in natural light and keeps things from feeling underground.
The present staircase simply obtained a dark stain on the treads and handrail and a new coat of paint everywhere else.
Potter Construction Inc
The space beside the staircase was the ideal place to get a wet bar complete with a refrigerator. Custom made cabinets with undercabinet lighting dress up it. Canyon Creek made all of the cabinets and lots of built-ins throughout.
Faucet: Brantford Single Handle High-Arch Pulldown Prep/Bar, Moen; faucet: One-Bowl undermount, 15 by 20 inches, Mirabelle; cabinets: Cornerstone line, beech Shaker doors in Caraway, Canyon Creek; counter tops: Unsui quartz, 3 centimeters, Silestone
Potter Construction Inc
The brick in the TV couch was a happy surprise hiding beneath old drywall; it was found during construction. The team cleaned it up and left it a rustic feature wall.
Potter Construction Inc
Custom built-in media storage cabinets surround a fresh gas fireplace.
Fireplace: P33CE Gas Fireplace, Regency; tile surround: Brick Mosaic Piombo, 2 by 4 inches, Ekos; cabinets: Cornerstone line, beech Shaker doors, Canyon Creek; wall paint: Shaker Beige, Benjamin Moore; ceiling paint: Cloud White, Benjamin Moore
Potter Construction Inc
Potter Construction Inc
The team boxed out the present structural components, turning them into more substantial columns and column particulars that match the scale of this room. “It gives it a nice, finished look without a lot of structure showing,” says Lisa Wallace of Potter Construction. The columns also help delineate the TV couch and playroom within the room.
Potter Construction Inc
An office sits to the left of the staircase.
Potter Construction Inc
In the workplace an present window is now boxed in using molding that makes it look larger. Recessed lighting and pendant lights also maintain the room bright.
Window: Marvin
Potter Construction Inc
A guest room, a bathroom with shower plus a utility room lie beyond the workplace. Canyon Creek custom built here to the desk and cabinets, also.
Potter Construction Inc
In the playroom a custom made window seat is comfy and supplies storage. A large cabinet keeps toys and games arranged. These kinds of built-ins, alongside the molding around the radiator, are Craftsman touches.
Potter Construction Inc
Potter Construction Inc
A curbless shower in the baths is a universal design proceed.
Know more about universal design
Potter Construction Inc
Toilet: Aquia II Close Coupled, Toto; cabinets: Cornerstone line, Winterset design in white thermafoil, Canyon Creek; counter: Unsui quartz, 3 centimeters, Silestone; faucet: undermount lavatory sink, Mirabelle; faucet faucet: Key West two handle bathroom faucet, polished chrome, Mirabelle; shower faucet: Brantford only handle, Moen
More: Digging Down for Extra Living Space