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ideas for basement?

Michael Oslosky

9 years ago

Hoping some of you more creative people can help me out here. I have been mulling this over for about 7 years since I moved in, but finally am ready to start. The entire basement is blank canvas except the bathroom, furnace/water heater, the closet to the left(could knock down easily though), and the bedroom (i will probably put walk-in closet for it).

Only thing I really need is a gas fireplace somewhere, and a space to watch tv, and a bar area enough to sit 4-5 people.

Things I'm not interested in are theater room, gym, workshop

I have a couple couches and a tv in unfinished basement now on the bottom left of the bathroom. Its too much space for it but I have nothing else to put there at the moment.

Trying to design myself I have so much space just wasted and don't know what to do there, the entryway from patio all the way over to service room is a total waste on most of my ideas.

Any basic ideas for the space would help, and the best way to incorporate an awesome bar while still having a good spot for the kids to sit and watch tv.

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Comment (1)

fnmroberts
9 years ago
http://s1277.photobucket.com/user/treeshouse/library/Basement?sort=6&page=1

Begin with a plan, to scale using graph paper and pencil. Looks like you have a start. When designing ours, I placed masking tape on the floor to depict everything - like walls, cabinet placement and fixtures. Then did the same to locate light placements. This allowed us to "live" the space and re-position as needed. You'll need to shop and measure things to custom fit - I give high marks to architects' knowledge having done this myself

Provide plenty of electrical and lighting options. Consider switches to control key outlets and dimmers for lighting, especially can lights.

Placement location (near a floor drain) and circuit for a dehumidifier.

Install a back-up sump pump to protect your investment.

Cold air return to recirculate and better climate control the space as a basement will be cooler and more humid that upper levels.

You may want to consider an electric fireplace rather than gas. Those I know with gas units find they put out excessive heat when operating and therefore aren't used. Our electric one can provide heat as necessary but the ambiance of a flame with or without heat.

Ours was completed about 10 years ago. Here is the plan from which it was built.

<a href="http://s1277.photobucket.com/user/treeshouse/media/Floor%20Plans/BasementPlan_zpsb25fbb10.jpg.html"; target="_blank"><img src="http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y496/treeshouse/Floor%20Plans/BasementPlan_zpsb25fbb10.jpg"; border="0" alt="Basement Plan photo BasementPlan_zpsb25fbb10.jpg"/></a>

First posting with photos since the site changed so hope this works. Good luck finishing your space.
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Ok, so I'm going to be the "other" opinion. It is a dark basement, and I am assuming this is a space that you hang out with your family? I'd go for a lot more "fun". Greys, beiges and what not are for sophisticated spaces that you want to look "finished". This is your family hang out area. I'd be looking at painting walls different colors to accent their use. Keep one wall the green you have, add a nice blue to another wall, play up that lovely burnt orange, maybe in the back of the bookcase, choose a dark color, maybe plum, for one wall. Make it fun. These calm colors are way too boring for a family room basement. Ok, so, I did say I would be the "other" opinion. :)
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I like that space! We recently painted the bar area in the lower level of our house. It's basically a run of cabinets on one wall, with a sink in the middle and no appliances. We went with white, and now I wish we had done something else - the white feels too much like a regular kitchen vs a fun bar area - although it's technically not a bar and we don't use it as a bar. Here is a blue basement bar on a blog I read occasionally: https://www.thelilypadcottage.com/2018/03/basement-wet-bar.html
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I'd get shelves you can paint to match the color of your wall. That will allow the shelves to disappear and your burbon to be the real focus of the wall. I'd go for grey counters too. I noticed your fridge looks like a free standing mini-beverage fridge, rather than an expensive built-in, under the counter beverage fridge. Am I correct? If so, a mini-fridge - like the kind you get for a dorm or office has required clearances for air circulation on the back and sides. Check out the installation guide for your appliance. It is often 4-5" on each side and the back. Take this seriously. I just did the same thing earlier this year and the fridge died within two months. You cannot treat these units like built-ins. Built-ins are so expensive because they have special venting that comes out the front to cool the unit. I'd consider putting your two cabinets side by side with a counter that stretches across to the right. Place your fridge on the counter on the right side with the requisite number of inches between it and the last cabinet and don't place anything against the right side of the fridge.
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