Basement of the Week: A Place Where Practicality and Style Meet
The rustic-modern space has areas for shooting pool, watching TV, playing, eating and washing clothes
She loves a modern look; he loves rustic-industrial style. With the help of their interior designer, Mitzi Maynard, this couple were able to get the basement design that makes them both happy. Designated areas for reading, playing games, watching TV, drawing, eating, shooting pool, doing laundry and entering the house from the garage make it everyone’s new favorite spot in the house.
Maynard used millwork, including on the ceiling, to add architectural interest. “The millwork elevates this from a typical basement look to a sophisticated space,” she says. Large elements in this area play off the scale of the existing fireplace.
Because the home is in a flood plain and had water-damage issues in the past, the designer chose a vinyl flooring that looks like hardwood. “It may be vinyl, but it looks amazing and warm,” she says.
Large tacks embellish the stair runner — another rustic touch, which plays off the billiard light. The artwork incorporates the rustic look and bright blue. It is by local Nashville artist Amber Wallace.
Because the home is in a flood plain and had water-damage issues in the past, the designer chose a vinyl flooring that looks like hardwood. “It may be vinyl, but it looks amazing and warm,” she says.
Large tacks embellish the stair runner — another rustic touch, which plays off the billiard light. The artwork incorporates the rustic look and bright blue. It is by local Nashville artist Amber Wallace.
Modern elegance came in via this oversize banquette, which is tufted in a velvet Maynard describes as having “a rock-star sheen.” Meanwhile, she worked in his style with the industrial table and rustic chairs. A Moravian star pendant light adds an eclectic touch.
Another aspect to the design was scale. Although the ceilings are not high, using tall elements like the banquette helped emphasize height and fool the eye. The scale of the banquette is balanced around the space by the fireplace and the gridded wall of shelves in the kids’ play area.
Another aspect to the design was scale. Although the ceilings are not high, using tall elements like the banquette helped emphasize height and fool the eye. The scale of the banquette is balanced around the space by the fireplace and the gridded wall of shelves in the kids’ play area.
One of the homeowner’s favorite color combinations is turquoise and orange. Maynard brought it in with accessories and paint, toning it down a bit with the earth tones he likes.
A comfy sectional is the center of everything and faces a TV on the wall, just out of sight. The fabric is a poly blend that’s durable enough to stand up to the couple’s two toddlers.
Maynard tucked the ductwork into the dropped portions of the ceiling. The overall ceiling design also helps define different areas. The colorful gridded shelves and the chalkboard in the play area hold their own against the large banquette and the fireplace.
Maynard tucked the ductwork into the dropped portions of the ceiling. The overall ceiling design also helps define different areas. The colorful gridded shelves and the chalkboard in the play area hold their own against the large banquette and the fireplace.
To balance the color of the large upholstered banquette across the room, Maynard flanked the TV with damask fabric panels. The gridded millwork on the wall plays off the grid of the shelves, while a woven metal table adds another rustic touch. The rug is wool that looks like jute. It can take a lot of abuse and is soft for when the kids want to play on it.
“She also has an artsy, whimsical side and wanted the kids’ space to be super fun,” the designer says. In the play area, Maynard designed the modern grid to have bright orange mixed with more muted colors. She also found a vintage set of chairs and painted an industrial-style pendant light bright orange. A round rug picks up on the color scheme in a whimsical pattern.
Another playful space is the polka-dotted alcove under the staircase. It’s just the right size for a little reading fort.
Wallpaper: York
Wallpaper: York
A wet bar includes storage for food and glassware. “We kept this pretty simple — easy for snack and drink prep,” Maynard says. The countertop is soapstone, the backsplash adds another earth tone, and vases and bowls accentuate with bright color.
Tip: When you don’t need a big expanse of stone, look for remnants. Maynard was able to save money by finding this soapstone remnant, plus marble remnants for the laundry room.
Tip: When you don’t need a big expanse of stone, look for remnants. Maynard was able to save money by finding this soapstone remnant, plus marble remnants for the laundry room.
The laundry room also received a much-needed makeover during the renovations. A large utility sink comes in handy. Maynard brought in her client’s favorite turquoise via paint on the vanity, the coat rack millwork (shown in the last photo) and on the Roman shade.
Wall paint: White Dove, Benjamin Moore
Wall paint: White Dove, Benjamin Moore
Tip: When you can’t find a fabric in the color palette you want, get crafty. Here, Maynard had the orange-and-white trim added to the Roman shade fabric.
The basement provides access into the house through the garage. This new coat area gives the family space to stash their shoes, coats, hats and bags. “My clients are very tidy, and this provided a good stopping place for the kids,” Maynard says. “When you have a space for everything, it promotes staying neat and organized.”
Browse more stories about basements
Browse more stories about basements
Basement at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two little girls
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Size: 1,775 square feet (165 square meters)
Designer: Mitzi Maynard of Redo Home and Design
Before the redo, the basement looked like a dark-paneled rec room straight out of That ’70s Show. The washer and dryer were nowhere near each other, and the hot water heater took up a prominent space in the room.
“Basically, the clients gave me a blank slate,” Maynard says. “She wanted a modern, elegant aspect to it, while he was into the rustic look. She likes bright colors, and he likes earth tones. My job was to marry their styles together.”
In the redecorated basement, the pool area has the most rustic style, with its vintage-looking light, whitewashed fireplace surround, wood mantel and dark door, shown above.