A Family Room Perks Up for Watching Football and Playing Games
New furnishings bring modern style to a Denver basement, while custom built-ins tackle storage
Before. The homeowners, one of whom is an NFL coach, thought the existing family room in the walk-out basement of their Denver home was dark, heavy and in need of perking up.
A dark, oversize leather sectional overwhelmed the space, and the lack of storage meant the kids’ toys spilled into the room.
A dark, oversize leather sectional overwhelmed the space, and the lack of storage meant the kids’ toys spilled into the room.
After. The owners worked with designer Kate Bendewald to transform the room into a bright, modern space for watching football games and other sports.
Bendewald replaced the existing sectional with one that was a better scale for the room. “Choosing the right scale furniture is always critical to making a space feel right,” she says.
She also flipped its layout to orient toward the TV and the view outside instead of the bar.
The area rug became the statement piece of the room and a jumping-off point for a modern, global style inspired by the homeowners’ world travels.
Built-ins were critical to the success of the design, offering open and closed storage for TV components as well as the games and Legos that the homeowners knew would eventually flood the space.
“We chose to float the built-ins for a more modern feel,” Bendewald says. “Designing them to go to the ceiling while floating the bottom visually elevated the space and made it feel more grand. The only tricky part was getting the scale just right with the TV.”
Lightweight wooden stools take the place of a coffee table for a versatile option to hold drinks or act as extra seating.
Alice sectional, AllModern; built-ins: California Closets; Crosier beige-and-red area rug: Bungalow Rose, AllModern; carved wooden stools and accent pillows: World Market
See more coffee table alternatives | Browse living room furniture and accessories
Bendewald replaced the existing sectional with one that was a better scale for the room. “Choosing the right scale furniture is always critical to making a space feel right,” she says.
She also flipped its layout to orient toward the TV and the view outside instead of the bar.
The area rug became the statement piece of the room and a jumping-off point for a modern, global style inspired by the homeowners’ world travels.
Built-ins were critical to the success of the design, offering open and closed storage for TV components as well as the games and Legos that the homeowners knew would eventually flood the space.
“We chose to float the built-ins for a more modern feel,” Bendewald says. “Designing them to go to the ceiling while floating the bottom visually elevated the space and made it feel more grand. The only tricky part was getting the scale just right with the TV.”
Lightweight wooden stools take the place of a coffee table for a versatile option to hold drinks or act as extra seating.
Alice sectional, AllModern; built-ins: California Closets; Crosier beige-and-red area rug: Bungalow Rose, AllModern; carved wooden stools and accent pillows: World Market
See more coffee table alternatives | Browse living room furniture and accessories
Bendewald kept the bar as is but gave it fresh styling with the clients’ barware, accessories and vintage collectibles.
The existing wall color worked with the new design scheme but, as Bendewald says, “We backed the TV area with a removable wallpaper so it didn’t feel like a big black floating box, as TVs often do.” The back of the shelves were painted black to help balance the weight of the TV.
Twisted Stripe wallpaper: Etsy; wallpaper installation: Jodi; drapery: Teigen from Ballard Designs; Ellis tripod floor lamp: Target
Twisted Stripe wallpaper: Etsy; wallpaper installation: Jodi; drapery: Teigen from Ballard Designs; Ellis tripod floor lamp: Target
Bendewald worked with California Closets to design a custom desk that is kid-height for the boys to do crafts and play with Legos.
Carlile chairs: Target; Basket: HomeGoods
Carlile chairs: Target; Basket: HomeGoods
The sectional, which was vital to the design, was on back order, so the homeowners had to wait for it. When it finally arrived, a huge chunk of the fabric on the back corner was damaged.
“Accidents happen like that a lot in this industry,” Bendewald says. “But we are used to it and know how to handle it. I assured my clients that we would get it resolved. They were able to keep the damaged sofa until a replacement could be delivered a few weeks later.”
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“Accidents happen like that a lot in this industry,” Bendewald says. “But we are used to it and know how to handle it. I assured my clients that we would get it resolved. They were able to keep the damaged sofa until a replacement could be delivered a few weeks later.”
More
Key Measurements for Designing the Perfect Living Room
Good Furniture Combos for Tight Living Rooms
Browse living room products
Family Room at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their two young boys
Location: Denver
Size: 210 square feet (19.5 square meters)
Designer: Kate Bendewald of Studio 7 Creative