Our clients purchased their home with the hopes of hosting many gatherings of family and friends. When they moved in, the basement was finished, but it a very awkward space.  Basically, there were two finished rooms with the staircase between, no natural light, a tanning room, large storage rooms and no bathroom. This did not help them achieve their goal of entertaining. They wanted to create a space that was multi-dimensional with natural light, which was very important to the feel of the space. Because they love to entertain, their wish list included a media room, bar, transition spaces, bathroom and workout area. They wanted to open up the entire space, which included the staircase. 

First, they knew they wanted a bathroom in the basement so guests wouldn't have to run up and down the stairs. Second, there were several load bearing posts and beams which, although structural, seemed at first to present construction challenges. Lastly, the basement was dark. There wasn't any natural light, which was something these clients desired. Our design team of Tim and Linda Sweeney along with Chuck Weidenbach from the Kitchen Ideas Center was able to creatively incorporate the support columns and beams into the bar design and bury the others within walls. Our client selected all the finishes for the spaces. The design team really listened to their desires and created a design that was both functional and achieved their goals.

Step 3: Making the Dream a Reality,
Starting with a Window

Once the contract was signed, Sweeney Construction got to work! One of the largest impacts of the remodel was adding the window for natural light. Our client told us, "Adding an 8' X 4' window made a HUGE difference." Once the field crew installed the window, the entire space was bright and inviting, losing that 'basementie' feel. This was an exiting and dramatic change! Next: the bathroom. The Sweeney Team jack-hammered the floor and created access for the bathroom requirements. The other spaces began to come together as well with the addition of interior walls, cabinetry and finishes. 

Step 4: Seeing Selections Come Together

Having a bar that could seat six was important. The clients told us, "The bar cabinets and granite would be the focal point of the entire project. W e wanted the bar curved so those sitting at the bar could all be included in the conversations. We wanted this space to be dramatic and functional." They also wanted the media room - audio and video - set up to enhance their entertainment needs. The millwork provided another option to be creative and dramatic in their design. Our client commented, "The millwork was important. Our house is very traditional with white millwork through the house. We wanted the basement/bar to be different from the rest of the house. The dark millwork we chose to match the bar cabinetry is a dramatic difference, and it really provides the area with a more modern feel."