A Fun and Sophisticated Basement Teen Zone
A basement becomes a comfy oasis for California teenagers, with bedrooms, a bathroom, a library and a game room
When a couple in the Sacramento, California, area found interior designer Kristen Fiore on Houzz and enlisted her to overhaul their basement, the idea was to create an inviting space that would accommodate their two teenage children and their friends for years to come.
“The clients had the raw space in a floor plan already finished, but everything needed to be specified,” says Fiore, founder and principal designer at Kristen Elizabeth Design. “They were really looking for somebody to pull it all together, and make it a little bit fun and sophisticated at the same time — something they would grow into, not grow out of.”
“The clients had the raw space in a floor plan already finished, but everything needed to be specified,” says Fiore, founder and principal designer at Kristen Elizabeth Design. “They were really looking for somebody to pull it all together, and make it a little bit fun and sophisticated at the same time — something they would grow into, not grow out of.”
Anchored by the teens’ respective bedrooms on either end of the basement, the shared space Fiore was tasked with reimagining became a bathroom, library and entertainment area, tied together with bohemian eclectic details. The overall look, Fiore says, came from inspiration that she and her clients found while collaborating on Houzz ideabooks.
The light-flooded library is meant to be a quiet spot that doesn’t feel enclosed, for reading or doing homework. Fiore and her team custom-built metal-and-glass sliding barn doors to set the study nook apart. The timeless detail is Fiore’s favorite: “No matter where the space goes in the future, it will always be this classic, beautiful element,” she says.
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The light-flooded library is meant to be a quiet spot that doesn’t feel enclosed, for reading or doing homework. Fiore and her team custom-built metal-and-glass sliding barn doors to set the study nook apart. The timeless detail is Fiore’s favorite: “No matter where the space goes in the future, it will always be this classic, beautiful element,” she says.
Find an interior designer near you on Houzz
Inside the library, a custom built-in cabinetry unit houses books and mementos. “It’s not a traditional built-in. It’s got fun, odd shapes and sizes, but it’s practical at the same time with storage,” Fiore says. A custom cushioned bench along the wall provides seating with a view of the pool outside, while a small acrylic table can be pulled up and stacked with books or laptops as a homework workspace.
The teens’ bathroom, which first greets visitors as they enter the basement, sets the sophisticated but fun tone for the rest of the space. Traditional features like subway tile and a white vanity are elevated with unexpected twists. The large-format wall tiles make a subtle statement, while the vanity’s apothecary-style drawers and hardware add character. Overhead, retro-looking milk glass pendants mix old and new.
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On the floor, Moroccan-inspired cement tile keeps things feeling youthful and interesting.
Pro tip: Designing for teens can take a special touch, Fiore says, particularly when it comes to balancing what the parents are looking for and what will suit the younger generation of residents.
“It really is important to get the input from the kids and what’s important for them as users and livers in the space,” she says. “Involving them and allowing their opinions and voices to be heard through that process was actually really important, and it turned out to be a really nice overall concept and design that they get to live in.”
Pro tip: Designing for teens can take a special touch, Fiore says, particularly when it comes to balancing what the parents are looking for and what will suit the younger generation of residents.
“It really is important to get the input from the kids and what’s important for them as users and livers in the space,” she says. “Involving them and allowing their opinions and voices to be heard through that process was actually really important, and it turned out to be a really nice overall concept and design that they get to live in.”
Fitting everything they wanted in the tightish entertainment space was tricky, Fiore says, but the team made it work.
“Finding furnishings that didn’t crowd and cut off that space was our biggest challenge,” she says. “We actually had to create a custom little sofa bench where everybody could hang out, and source smaller-scale furnishings for the kids to sit on.”
For flooring, Fiore chose durable wood-plank tile that could handle water dripping from anyone coming in from the adjacent pool. The young clients particularly love the bold art pieces on the walls.
Fiore’s choices left room for playing video games, having piano jam sessions and relaxing with friends. The space is “where everybody comes to hang out,” she says.
Tell us: How did you design a space for teens? Share your stories and photos in the Comments.
More on Houzz
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See more basement inspiration photos
Shop for furnishings and accessories
“Finding furnishings that didn’t crowd and cut off that space was our biggest challenge,” she says. “We actually had to create a custom little sofa bench where everybody could hang out, and source smaller-scale furnishings for the kids to sit on.”
For flooring, Fiore chose durable wood-plank tile that could handle water dripping from anyone coming in from the adjacent pool. The young clients particularly love the bold art pieces on the walls.
Fiore’s choices left room for playing video games, having piano jam sessions and relaxing with friends. The space is “where everybody comes to hang out,” she says.
Tell us: How did you design a space for teens? Share your stories and photos in the Comments.
More on Houzz
Read more basement design stories
See more basement inspiration photos
Shop for furnishings and accessories
Basement at a Glance
Who lives here: A teenage brother and sister (their parents’ main living space is upstairs)
Location: Folsom, California
Size: 1,100 square feet (102 square meters)
Designer: Kristen Fiore of Kristen Elizabeth Design