Room of the Day: Cabin-Inspired Basement Makes a Stylish Retreat
This rustic-chic getaway includes a movie screen, wet bar and dining space
In lieu of a weekend cabin in the woods, this young family included a finished basement when designing their new home. The decor is rustic yet refined in this warm, airy multipurpose room for entertaining and family movie nights. While a weekend cabin might still be in the future, for now all these family members have to do is walk down a flight of stairs to enjoy their very own retreat.
The lower level doesn’t have any windows (except in the bedroom), so designer Kristi Patterson used an earthy palette to evoke a cabin-like setting while keeping the space cozy, light and airy. Benjamin Moore’s Revere Pewter wall paint and the carpet in a similar hue “keep the space light and monochromatic,” Patterson says. The large flat-screen TV is hung on a bold accent wall clad in Tavern oak from Artistry Hardwood Flooring’s Heritage collection, which was left over from the new floors added upstairs. Sconces on either side of the TV provide ambience.
Most of the artwork and decor came from Patterson’s store, Grace Hill. Prints of deer and fishing flies were selected to evoke the essence of a cabin in the woods. The sectional sofa is upholstered in a silvery-gray velvet-like material for maximum comfort.
Plaids and stripes add pattern, while a metal bird, leather lampshade and painted table add interest and texture. “We wanted to have a woodsy feel but not transform the lower level into a man cave,” Patterson says, “so the colors, patterns and materials keep things light.”
The bar and cabinets are alder wood stained a dark walnut. The countertop is leathered granite, to provide texture and reduce staining. The floating shelf of alder wood holds glassware. The decor, including the antlers and bark-inspired ice bucket, were purchased from Grace Hill Designs.
Patterson demarcated the spaces in the open area with carpet and tile flooring resembling distressed wood; she also used lighting (pendants over the bar, a chandelier over the table and table lamps near the sofa) to define different zones. Behind the sofa, two upholstered poufs are tucked under the travertine-topped console table, in case more seating is needed. “Our goal was to provide furnishings easily accessible for entertaining,” Patterson says, “and that give the room a bit of polish and sophistication.”
Builder: Gordon James Construction
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Builder: Gordon James Construction
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Basement at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with one child
Location: Wayzata, Minnesota
Size: 1,139 square feet (105.8 square meters)
Designer: Grace Hill Design
The home’s finished basement is a multipurpose space ideal for family game nights, movie nights and entertaining. In addition to a TV area, a table for dining or playing games, and a bar, the lower level includes a guest bedroom and bath.