LOVE the wall color! What is it?

Are those three boys yours?

Basketball hoop on a wall or a free-standing hoop?

I'd probably furnish it with sleepovers in mind. A large, three-sided sectional for in front of the TV and maybe a few bean bag type chairs tossed about.

Might be a few too many can lights in this space. At least have them on a dimmer. Here's a layout for the TV area. Give you husband a recliner. There are some nice ones out there.

It looks great....you and DH did a great job! I would do a sectional or L on the left where the window is, coming around in front of the TV. I think DH deserves a recliner after all the hard work. I agree with you...I don't like those big bulky padded recliners either, but perhaps you can compromise and get a more streamlined one. My DB has a leather one and you can't even tell it's a recliner. I would put it on the wall on the right in front of the bar...two if you can fit them or one angled facing the TV. The path to the sectional would be in between the sectional and the recliner. A coffe table for the sectional and an end table for the recliner or between two recliners. I would put a round table in the corner by the slider. Or you could float a rectangular table between the bar and the slider.

If you really want to treat your husband, get an Eames chair.

Huge splurge, though

I'm not a huge fan of recliners, but when I saw the look on DH's face as he sat in this one, I couldn't say no.
{{gwi:2138028}}

I think a sectional is a great idea as well as a recliner. I didn't see a bathroom in the layout, is there one there or are you planning one? Just thinking about the sleepovers.

Beautiful space...love the wall color!
I could definitely see a L shaped sectional here and then perhaps a recliner for your DH. ( love the Eames chair, but ka-ching!)

You could have an area too with a round table and chairs for family game nights. ( think Sarah Richardson or Candace Olsen style)
Lots of Great Wall space too for doing a picture galley... Maybe collection of B&W family photos?

Even better, get two, or even three, full-size sofas to create a sectional. The problem with actual sectionals is the joint. Uncomfortable because there's nothing to lean against, i.e.: a sofa arm.

With bench cushions so they can be slept on, and tight backs so they keep their shape.

Example of TV wall with family photo gallery ......

Here is a link that might be useful: PB -- Example of media wall and family gallery

A vote for a sectional and additional recliner -- add a large solid ottoman (with lift-up-lid for storage)

Here is a link that might be useful: PB -- sectional

I love sitting in the corner piece in a sectional.

Sorry for the delay in responding.

Tribbix - Thanks. The color is BM Beach Glass. When I first painted I panicked that it was too grey and dreary. I ALMOST repainted but decided to wait until the ceiling was in so I could gauge the color more accurately. I’m glad I waited. I’m very happy with the color. Yes, they are my boys. We already have a hoop hanging over the front door in the foyer! Don’t worry, I usually remove it when company is coming over. DH would never go for the Eames chair (style or price!)

Beverly - yes, lots of cans. They are on a dimmer already. I hadn’t considered the sofa right in front of the TV. It could work if the sofa has a built-in recliner. The more we use the space (with the old furniture) I am realizing that the prime seats are directly in front of the TV. I was thinking about sofas/loveseats perpendicular to the TV, with two narrow recliners in front of it. Not sure if that would be too tight to maneuver though.

Joanie - we currently have a sectional in the basement. It’s on the wall opposite the widow then extends in front of the TV. Opposite of your suggestion. I should have mentioned that DH doesn’t want heavy furniture blocking the heat vents on the window wall. So, if we go with a sectional it will have to be on the opposite wall. I will say that I’ve enjoyed to space on the sectional with the three kids. It’ll be about choosing the right pieces if we go that route.

Suero - that recliner isn’t my style, but I love that it looks like a chair and not a marshmallow!

Zorro - bathroom is just past the bar area. There is also a small bedroom (on the other side of the bookshelf wall). The bedroom is really just a playroom for the next few years!

Lisa_mocha and teacats - I have a large photo gallery upstairs already (inspired by TheFoxesPad (thanks!!)). I have a series of pictures of our boys blown up on metal (from mpix.com “Modern Metal prints are printed on a 1/16" aluminum sheet and float-mounted”). My plan is to hang them once we have furniture placed.

Robo - I’m with you!

I've decided I'd also like a narrow desk in the basement. Perhaps floating behind the sofa/chairs that face the TV. Dual purpose: It will give me a place to work on my computer (pay bills, browse GW) and it will keep the kids from hurdling the furniture. I remember doing it as a kid!

TOTALLY impressed with your DH's work----- what a fabulous space! Love the wall color and looking forward to seeing it furnished, although your boys might like it better with just carpet :-). Great job on the finishes!

how interesting that it's Beach Glass! I tried Beach Glass in my MB and I rejected it because, like you, I thought it looked muddy and dreary. My MB, though, has no down-lighiting, so…

It looks really incredible on your walls.

basement looks great!! I think the # of cans is great with a lot of kids down there--- no need for many(any??:) lamps to get knocked over!!!
we had a finished basement (3boys!) and it ended up primarily a kid zone... we would go down there to play pingpong or shoot pool with them, or for larger parties with kids-- but for family movie nights, games, etc we used our family room, so our experience might be different...
the kids kept all of their video games down there-- we didn't play those with them. we had a comfy couch and at one time, 3 recliners-- cozy ones! when the sleep over groups were small and the kids were younger, somebody always slept in the recliners! they would all have their favorite! someone would always take the couch(2 feet to feet when they were small!). for big groups, we just had a closet full of sleeping bags, blankets and pillows and they usually would all sleep on the floor, sometimes patterned like a sun with their heads together and their legs being the rays! clean up was easy-- we just threw everything back in the closet the next day (it was under the stairs- deep, no shelves!) I had a couple of twin mattresses on bunkbeds in the storage area and always offered to pull out mattresses for kids, but they never wanted them!
we had a good sized poker/game table in our basement-- it was used often! we had a wood piece that you could put on top if you wanted to use it for eating- that stayed in storage almost all the time--only used for a couple of big parties. board games with friends (risk!) were usually played on the coffee table.
we had a dedicated game closet...
the microwave will be used often and you'll probably be wishing you put a full sized frig in the kitchette in a couple of years! (we had a full sized frig and I couldn't imagine it being smaller!) we had 3 bar stools at our kitchette counter and they actually were used very little thru the years-- and probably mostly by girls! I had thought they would be used all the time! our boys didn't sit too much and linger talking I guess! they would eat at the coffee table if they had snacks...