Prohibition-Era Parties Inspire a Basement for Entertaining
The gutted Seattle space includes a full kitchen, a living room, space for games and play, a bedroom and a full bath
Part of the inspiration for this extensive basement renovation was the idea of rollicking speakeasy-esque parties. “The homeowners found out that their house was a big party house during Prohibition, and so we wanted to riff on that idea,” designer Colleen Knowles says.
The 1922 Seattle home is also zoned for an ADU (accessory dwelling unit). Though the homeowners are more likely to use the space for hosting guests from faraway places than for renters (he’s from the U.K. and she’s from Philadelphia), they wanted to keep that status alive for the sake of the home’s value, and they added a full kitchen, a bedroom and a bathroom. But the basement’s main purpose is fun — everything from a 2-year-old’s birthday party to adults hosting big groups of friends for some beer drinking, poker playing, game watching and dancing.
The 1922 Seattle home is also zoned for an ADU (accessory dwelling unit). Though the homeowners are more likely to use the space for hosting guests from faraway places than for renters (he’s from the U.K. and she’s from Philadelphia), they wanted to keep that status alive for the sake of the home’s value, and they added a full kitchen, a bedroom and a bathroom. But the basement’s main purpose is fun — everything from a 2-year-old’s birthday party to adults hosting big groups of friends for some beer drinking, poker playing, game watching and dancing.
BEFORE: The basement was finished, but “super creepy,” designer Colleen Knowles says. It was taken down not only to the studs but down into the dirt. “This couple does not do anything halfway,” Knowles says. “Because there were stepped-up areas that created low ceilings, we dug down to get those nice 8½-foot ceilings throughout the space.”
One element of the basement you won’t see in these photos is the pool table. A space designated for billiards and poker sits where the photographer was standing, though it was still a work in progress on photo shoot day. With pool players and big groups watching games on TV in mind, Knowles added a large sofa table for setting down drinks or pizza. The stools provide extra seating.
The designer painted the newel posts and stair railings black. “It rocks,” she says. “The staircase really protrudes into the space, and the black helps it recede.”
Paint on staircase: Black Magic, Sherwin-Williams
The designer painted the newel posts and stair railings black. “It rocks,” she says. “The staircase really protrudes into the space, and the black helps it recede.”
Paint on staircase: Black Magic, Sherwin-Williams
Knowles reframed the fireplace with a traditional mantel and not-so-traditional tiles. “They are ceramic, but they look like someone poured mercury over a black tile — they look like metal,” she says. Knowles also designed the built-ins. The couple “have a lot of stuff and don’t have a lot of space for their books upstairs,” she says.
Also worth noting are the metal grilles on the cabinets to the left of the fireplace. They provide ventilation for media equipment and work well with remotes.
Fireplace surround tile: Elements in New Mercury, Ann Sacks; sconces: Restoration Hardware
Also worth noting are the metal grilles on the cabinets to the left of the fireplace. They provide ventilation for media equipment and work well with remotes.
Fireplace surround tile: Elements in New Mercury, Ann Sacks; sconces: Restoration Hardware
In the corner to the right of the fireplace are plenty of cubbies and shelves outfitted with bins for the children’s toys and games. The room also serves as a playroom.
Because the team was installing a new structural slab after digging down, it was able to hand-trowel it to create a gorgeous concrete floor. Knowles used a two-color staining process and then had a wax coat applied, and the floor can stand up to a lot of abuse. Area rugs composed of carpet tiles add softer spots for the kids to play.
Carpet tiles: FLOR
Because the team was installing a new structural slab after digging down, it was able to hand-trowel it to create a gorgeous concrete floor. Knowles used a two-color staining process and then had a wax coat applied, and the floor can stand up to a lot of abuse. Area rugs composed of carpet tiles add softer spots for the kids to play.
Carpet tiles: FLOR
“The Union Jack Smeg refrigerator was a touchstone,” Knowles says. “At one point it didn’t seem like it was going to fit into the layout properly, but one of the homeowners said, ‘No way, we have to have it,’ and she was right, so we made it work.”
Knowing her clients wanted to be able to tear things up down here, Knowles decided that painted lower cabinets wouldn’t cut it. Instead she used stained alder wood, durable and able to hide a multitude of dings and marks amid its grain and knots.
Knowing her clients wanted to be able to tear things up down here, Knowles decided that painted lower cabinets wouldn’t cut it. Instead she used stained alder wood, durable and able to hide a multitude of dings and marks amid its grain and knots.
One side of the basement is above ground, with windows and French doors that let in the light. Knowles added white drapes for softness.
She used two of her “go-to” white paints for Seattle: Bone White by Benjamin Moore on the walls and Dover White by Sherwin-Williams on the trim.
She used two of her “go-to” white paints for Seattle: Bone White by Benjamin Moore on the walls and Dover White by Sherwin-Williams on the trim.
“I always use enamel steel blackboards rather than chalkboard paint, because it is more durable — chalkboard paint tends to ghost much faster,” the designer says. The wine bar includes a wine refrigerator and an ice maker. The sconces have a vintage look.
Lights: Schoolhouse Electric; chalkboard sheet: PBS Supply Co.
Lights: Schoolhouse Electric; chalkboard sheet: PBS Supply Co.
Because the kitchen had no windows, Knowles went light on top, where the cabinets wouldn’t take as much abuse as the lowers. She selected a Caesarstone counter and light-colored backsplash tiles to add light and take advantage of their reflective qualities.
She chose a subway tile with a couple of twists: It’s 4 inches by 8 inches, not the typical 3 by 6, and it has a beautiful glaze that ends before the edges. “The tiles have an interesting outline in gray-blue and a more dramatic edge,” she says. She played off the edges by using a slightly gray grout.
Tile: Savoy in Cottonwood, Ann Sacks; grout: DeLorean Gray; counters: Organic White, Caesarstone; faucet: Parc, Kohler
She chose a subway tile with a couple of twists: It’s 4 inches by 8 inches, not the typical 3 by 6, and it has a beautiful glaze that ends before the edges. “The tiles have an interesting outline in gray-blue and a more dramatic edge,” she says. She played off the edges by using a slightly gray grout.
Tile: Savoy in Cottonwood, Ann Sacks; grout: DeLorean Gray; counters: Organic White, Caesarstone; faucet: Parc, Kohler
“There’s a lot of trust with these clients and sometimes she’ll just give me direction such as ‘I want a coral pattern in the bedroom’ and I go from there,” the designer says. “Also, living upstairs, they were checking out the progress along the way, and one day they noticed that the thick footing on the structural wall behind the headboard was an opportunity. They suggested that we take advantage of the thick wall over the footing and create recessed shelves.”
Wall color: Mild Blue, Sherwin-Williams
Wall color: Mild Blue, Sherwin-Williams
The bathroom has two doors, one for access from the hallway and one from the bedroom. More white Caesarstone and tiles brighten the room.
In the shower, Knowles used the same subway tile as in the kitchen, but added a glass mosaic accent that picks up on the colors of the coral motif on the duvet in the bedroom. The couple didn’t have a steam shower in the house, so they installed one down here. It’s a real treat for guests, and the homeowners also come down here to use it.
Tile: Savoy in Cottonwood, Ann Sacks; glass mosaic tile: Elemental Glass in Conch Shell, Daltile; faucets and shower head: Hansgrohe
Tile: Savoy in Cottonwood, Ann Sacks; glass mosaic tile: Elemental Glass in Conch Shell, Daltile; faucets and shower head: Hansgrohe
It’s hard to believe this is what the basement looked like at one stage of the project.
Construction: Prestige Residential Construction
More: 10 Tips for Renovating Your Basement
Construction: Prestige Residential Construction
More: 10 Tips for Renovating Your Basement
What happens here: Playing with toys, toddler birthday parties, rocking adult parties, billiards, poker, overnight stays, wine tasting
Location: Seattle
Size: 1,481 square feet (138 square meters); one bedroom, one bathroom
Designers: Colleen Knowles Interior Design and architect Andy Salkin
Though the homeowners’ hope of finding a bit of Prohibition-era history buried in a wall didn’t come to fruition, the designers wanted to riff off the fact that this was a party house during the period. Reclaimed barn wood is used around the island and to enhance the look of a structural column, and the light fixtures are vintage style.
Reclaimed barn wood: Pioneer Millworks