Georgia Basement With New Orleans-Inspired Style
A designer mixes velvet, a zebra print, copper, brick, glass, racy artwork and even a T. rex skull to get the right vibe
This family moves around the country a lot, and its favorite home city is New Orleans. So when it moved to Alpharetta, Georgia, it wanted to bring some Crescent City flavor into its home. “This basement was definitely not a typical design for me. It’s super funky and fun,” interior designer Susie Prince says. “We wanted it to feel like a New Orleans bar-lounge, and it grew into something a little wild and crazy.”
This view from the bottom of the basement stairs welcomes guests and sets the tone for the space. “My clients know their style well, and they are drawn to somewhat spooky things like skulls and Day of the Dead kind of stuff,” Prince says. “And we simply could not have people coming down the stairs and being greeted by a plain brick wall.”
She animated the wall with a colorful painting, a hand-rubbed black metal console table and a few choice accessories. “For the console, I didn’t want to go with something with super-straight lines — this gives off more sensual vibes,” she says. “We wanted to set a crazy sexy cool tone.” She topped it with a T. rex skull, some curvaceous vases and artwork that’s a bit racy. A fanciful silver wall sconce adds a glamorous touch.
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She animated the wall with a colorful painting, a hand-rubbed black metal console table and a few choice accessories. “For the console, I didn’t want to go with something with super-straight lines — this gives off more sensual vibes,” she says. “We wanted to set a crazy sexy cool tone.” She topped it with a T. rex skull, some curvaceous vases and artwork that’s a bit racy. A fanciful silver wall sconce adds a glamorous touch.
Browse console tables in the Houzz Shop
The wildest element in the space anchors it: a large ottoman with faux zebra hide upholstery. “This was a go-big-or-go-home moment,” Prince says.
This side of the basement is not subterranean and enjoys large windows that look out to the patio and pool. A large TV is located on the right.
The built-ins and elaborate millwork were existing. Prince dressed up the shelves with a range of objects that have interesting textures and geometric shapes. Metallic and black finishes tie them together.
The built-ins and elaborate millwork were existing. Prince dressed up the shelves with a range of objects that have interesting textures and geometric shapes. Metallic and black finishes tie them together.
The designer repeated the sofa’s purple velvet fabric on the window seat. She accentuated it with throw pillows in a silvery textured fabric and a patchwork-like velvet pattern.
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The ceiling played a big role in the design. Prince added the look of copper to accentuate the glamour of the basement and to give it a sense of age. The main ceiling has a hand-painted finish that looks like slightly patinaed copper.
Lighting also played an important role in making the space more glamorous. This new chandelier is composed of hand-blown glass globes hanging from tiny hooks.
Chandelier: Circa Lighting
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Lighting also played an important role in making the space more glamorous. This new chandelier is composed of hand-blown glass globes hanging from tiny hooks.
Chandelier: Circa Lighting
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The existing bar area had a walk-in wine cellar with a beautiful door of wood, wrought iron and glass. The structure of the bar, including the elaborate corbels and curved wood counter, were also existing. And her clients already had the bar stools. Prince knew the stools’ carved wood details, dark leather upholstery and curves worked well with everything else that was going on in the room.
The designer dressed up the bar with pressed-tin ceiling tiles that she had painted to look like copper. She also had the decorative painter add some patinaed copper-colored details to the soffit, bar and millwork. She completed the scene with a trio of sparkling pendant lights.
The designer dressed up the bar with pressed-tin ceiling tiles that she had painted to look like copper. She also had the decorative painter add some patinaed copper-colored details to the soffit, bar and millwork. She completed the scene with a trio of sparkling pendant lights.
The glamorous pendants are globes composed of crystals. They play off the glass chandelier beautifully.
Pendant lights: Currey & Co.
Pendant lights: Currey & Co.
Another vignette in the corner picks up on the same elements — velvet upholstery on the corner chair, a pillow with a geometric pattern, a slightly racy painting, a zebra vase and an elegant wall sconce composed of hammered metal leaves.
The painting is by Atlanta artist Laura Shull. “I love this painting because it has Marie Antoinette style,” Prince says. As the basement was inspired by a city known as the Paris of the South, it’s a fitting tribute.
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The painting is by Atlanta artist Laura Shull. “I love this painting because it has Marie Antoinette style,” Prince says. As the basement was inspired by a city known as the Paris of the South, it’s a fitting tribute.
More on Houzz
Tour more basements
Browse photos of basements
Hire a local design pro
Shop for your home
Basement at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their 13-year-old son
Location: Alpharetta, Georgia
Size: 800 square feet (74 square meters)
Designer: Susie Prince of Susie Mae Design
The couple were drawn to this suburban neighborhood because its design emulates the style of an old Southern city. “This neighborhood feels like River Street in New Orleans. The houses are close together and the architecture is similar,” Prince says. The home’s finished basement already had exposed brick walls, hand-scraped bamboo floors, a glamorous bar and elaborate millwork. Prince accentuated the space with eclectic New Orleans flair through finishes, furniture, lighting and accessories. “They already had things that worked — it was great. I just dressed it all up a bit,” she says.
Knowing her clients loved camelback sofas and the color purple, Prince scoured some favorite antiques sources in nearby Chamblee. She found just the right antique camelback sofa and reupholstered it in purple velvet. “This particular velvet looks like it has some age to it and isn’t too plush,” she says.
“I wanted the rug to be more muted because everything else was so wild, but I still wanted it to be glam and sumptuous,” the designer says. The rug is a wool blend in silvery grays with a lustrous sheen.
A pair of barrel swivel chairs add another sumptuous touch to the space. The upholstery is velvet while the backs are pressed metal with a sculptural floral design.
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