The basement in this 50s brick home had been left in decades past. The mostly remodeled mid-century main floor did not match the varicolored, dated basement at all, so these homeowners turned to us for design and remodeling help. They wanted their bathrooms to feel like an extension of the rest of the home: respectful of the style, but modernized to today’s standards. We redesigned two bathrooms (one master bath, and one basement full bath), as well as updated the look of the basement as a whole. In particular, we focused on making a basement bedroom livable as a guest suite.
The basement received a face lift with new flooring, paint and millwork. That alone, made a huge difference! Cork flooring was chosen instead of hardwood to keep costs down. Cork is also more forgiving to install, and didn’t require leveling of the basement floor. Not to mention, one of our favorite, sustainable flooring choices for basements. In the bedroom, all that was left to turn the space into a true bedroom was the addition of a closet. We added two large closets to span the length of the room. Our skilled carpenters Andy and Derek were able to take the original cedar wainscoting that lined the walls, and repurpose it as reclaimed wood sliding doors. With newly bright white walls, the cedar’s natural grain is much more prominent. A beautiful addition that really makes the room shine, as well as retain some of the original character of the home.
The basement bath is understated, yet elegant. The console sink with a wrap-around towel bar is a modern take on a vintage style. It is complimented perfectly by a single white oak wall shelf mounted on the wall by a polished nickel shelf bracket. White glossy tiles and a light floor color make this windowless basement bath feel refreshing and bright.
In the master bath, the walnut Abodian cabinets catch the eye. The ergonomic, walnut cabinet pulls were chosen from Rejuvenation, and then color-matched by the Abodian team for the custom cabinets they would be attached to. You’d never know they weren’t made for each other! Above is a sleek Robern medicine cabinet with matching, dimmable lighting sconces from the same maker. The double vanity makes this master bath feel larger than it is, as does the glass-enclosed shower stall. We also added a towel warmer on the walnut wall, for added comfort and character to the bathroom.
The mid-century inspired bathrooms and unique bedroom closets uphold the era of the home in a tasteful way. The clients are thrilled with their new master bath and basement remodel.
Photos: Cindy Apple Photography
BEFORE & AFTER
