A Tricked-Out Basement for 2 College Basketball Super Fans
In this Houzz TV episode, a couple turn their Georgia basement into a museum dedicated to all things NC State
Mitchell Parker
April 5, 2019
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative trends, breaking news, industry analysis and humor.
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative... More
As the NCAA men’s basketball Final Four tournament ramps up this weekend (April 6-8), you might be considering yourself a committed sports fan. But chances are, you’ve got nothing on Tommy and Renee Owen. They’ve tricked out their 1,450-square-foot basement with all things dedicated to Tommy’s alma mater, North Carolina State University.
Countless pieces of memorabilia cover red walls (NC State red, of course), and the school’s block-S logo and its iconic wolflike mascot, Tuffy, show up on the carpet, rugs, pool table, bar stools, movie theater seats and more. “It basically looks like NC State exploded in my basement,” Tommy says. “But in a classy way.”
Countless pieces of memorabilia cover red walls (NC State red, of course), and the school’s block-S logo and its iconic wolflike mascot, Tuffy, show up on the carpet, rugs, pool table, bar stools, movie theater seats and more. “It basically looks like NC State exploded in my basement,” Tommy says. “But in a classy way.”
Basement at a Glance
Who lives here: Tommy Owen, who works in radio, and his wife, Renee, a minister
Location: Powder Springs, Georgia
Size: 1,450 square feet (135 square meters)
Before: The original finished walk-out basement was a big reason the Owens bought their home. But they felt that the space needed a little school spirit.
Watch now: See the ultimate NC State fan basement in the latest episode of Houzz TV
Who lives here: Tommy Owen, who works in radio, and his wife, Renee, a minister
Location: Powder Springs, Georgia
Size: 1,450 square feet (135 square meters)
Before: The original finished walk-out basement was a big reason the Owens bought their home. But they felt that the space needed a little school spirit.
Watch now: See the ultimate NC State fan basement in the latest episode of Houzz TV
After: The main room of the basement features a pool table, bar area and multiple TVs for watching sports. Almost everything in the basement has some sort of connection to NC State. Tommy found a lot of it on Houzz, including the bar stools and the block-S logo on the red felt pool table. “I’ve spent a ton of money over the years,” Tommy says.
He made sure to get the right red paint color for the walls too, which is NCSU Red by Glidden.
NC State pool table cloth and swivel bar stools: Holland Bar Stool Co.
Find a home design professional near you on Houzz
He made sure to get the right red paint color for the walls too, which is NCSU Red by Glidden.
NC State pool table cloth and swivel bar stools: Holland Bar Stool Co.
Find a home design professional near you on Houzz
A Wurlitzer jukebox in the corner also has NC State logos. “I love to entertain,” Renee says. “Have food, watch games together, play pool, play pingpong, watch a movie together — and we have the perfect space in the basement to do that.”
Tommy and Renee both grew up in Oxford, North Carolina. He graduated from NC State, and she from Duke University, an NC State rival. Renee’s office on the second floor of the home contains a lot of Duke memorabilia that Tommy has bought for her over the years. “All things blue go upstairs,” Renee says.
Shop for home products on Houzz
Tommy and Renee both grew up in Oxford, North Carolina. He graduated from NC State, and she from Duke University, an NC State rival. Renee’s office on the second floor of the home contains a lot of Duke memorabilia that Tommy has bought for her over the years. “All things blue go upstairs,” Renee says.
Shop for home products on Houzz
Before: The brown-and-beige palette in an adjoining movie theater wasn’t going to work for members of the Wolfpack, as NC State sports fans are known.
After: Red and black keep light pollution down during game viewings. Tommy and Renee watch all NC State games here, including basketball, football and baseball.
Watch now: See more of this amazing basement makeover
Watch now: See more of this amazing basement makeover
Sports memorabilia covers the red walls in a basement gym. “Tommy is very passionate about collecting things that are related to NC State, but it’s always related to either something he was intimately involved in or that he attended or something that he remembers,” Renee says.
Tommy’s most prized possession is a framed piece of flooring from Reynolds Coliseum, where the basketball team played when Tommy was in school there. The piece also includes a photo collage and an autograph by one of Tommy’s favorite players, David Thompson. Renee gave the piece to Tommy for Christmas one year. “I think I cried when I opened it,” he says.
“I absolutely love our basement,” Renee says. “We go into a space that we’ve created together, and it’s a space that is truly filled with a lot of memories.”
Watch now: Go inside this NC State fan’s basement in the latest episode of Houzz TV
Get the look: Shop for products from and inspired by this makeover
Your turn: Find a professional and get started on your own project
“I absolutely love our basement,” Renee says. “We go into a space that we’ve created together, and it’s a space that is truly filled with a lot of memories.”
Watch now: Go inside this NC State fan’s basement in the latest episode of Houzz TV
Get the look: Shop for products from and inspired by this makeover
Your turn: Find a professional and get started on your own project
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This is awesome! I went to N.C State in 94-98... #7 Go Pack!!
Very cool!