Basement Remodel Design Plan
The basement is not high on our renovation priority list, but I already have a vision for the design. For some reason it is easier for me to come up with a design plan for less “important” rooms in the house. I have no idea what I want the kitchen or living room to look like, but the basement has been planned since about the first time I toured the house! It’s going to be a homage to the 1960’s and 1970’s, with modern comforts. I can’t wait to tackle this room! Keep reading for my basement remodel design plan.
Flooring
First things first – our home inspector reported that the tile in the basement is likely asbestos. Luckily none of it has come loose or shows any signs of cracking, so it is safe to cover with flooring of our choice. This will be the first thing we do in the basement. I don’t want to risk the tile flaking and becoming unsafe. We will likely use a waterproof vinyl with a wood look.
Colors and Decor
We will be taking out the half wall prior to putting down new floors. It looks as though the previous owner had a kitchenette in this area, but we have no need for one. This will really open up the living space and give us more room for activities!! We want the basement to serve as a second living/entertaining space. So that means comfy furniture to lounge on and space to host parties. Below are two inspiration photos for the feel of the room and colors I want to use.
The bar area will stay and get updated. I actually want to keep the wood paneling in this part of the basement. So the base of the bar and the shelves will be wood paneling. It would be ideal to replace the laminate bar countertops, but we will have to see how that fits in the budget. My vision for the bar is something out of a Wisconsin supper club. Cozy, comfortable and a little kitschy. We will definitely be adding some string lights, as well as my dad’s old beer can collection. Colin and I want to get into experimenting with cocktails, so this bar should get a lot of use!
Stairs
The biggest project that we want to tackle is rebuilding the staircase. The stair risers are not all the same height and all the stairs are covered in asbestos tile. To the surprise of no one, I have already tripped TWICE going up these stairs and we haven’t even moved in yet. This is not good for the integrity of my shins.
The stairs currently open up to the kitchen, but we would love to change the direction and have them open to the dining room, giving us more room in the kitchen. This would ideally take out the curving landing at the top of the stairs as well. I have no idea if this is an option, but my dream staircase would be floating or open, similar to the one in the Brady’s house. Neither of us are architects like Mr. Brady, but fingers crossed we can make it happen.
I hope you enjoy this basement remodel design plan! It is very similar to the camp style living room board I made a few months ago. The colors and overall “feel” of these boards is what I’m shooting for in the basement. How did you/would you decorate your basement? Do you like to keep your rooms cohesive or do you choose a different style for each part of your house? I’d love to hear your feedback!
