Before/After :: Urban Basement Brightens Up


Our client just completed the construction phase of her basement renovation.  The goal was simple :: to create a cozy environment that would be an extension of living space for her family.  It's a small space with a larger room to be used as both television viewing and convertible guest space, along with a smaller room for a joint office.



We picked Baltic Sea by Benjamin Moore for the main living space.  It's a gorgeous saturated deep sea color.  It's colorful without being too dark.  The room has two windows that help to get some natural light.  The other main change in the room is the addition of recessed lighting.  Big impact!

We picked a slightly lighter color for the office space.  Part of the office has a tricky lower ceiling height, but the space is cohesive with the paint and an integral bookshelf that capably fills up an odd nook.  The below pics show the office with the first coat of paint, but without the charcoal grey carpet that went in at the end of the project.









In the picture below, you can see the first coat of color going into the larger room, as it wraps around the window on the right.  So lovely against the crisp white trim of the windows and a completely transformed ceiling.


The client elected to use a stock Ikea Besta television unit, but mounted on the wall and with one part cutout to work with the existing bumpout in the wall.





Here's another view of the wall unit, from the other side.


And now, with carpet!



The office got a pair of custom desks from Golden Rute NYC -- they are gorgeous solid wood desk tops, with hairpin legs, both made specifically for the spaces in this office.  We created pin boards to help organize ideas for this busy couple.






We will be adding desk lamps and other art, but it's a good foundation for two distinct work spaces in a quiet area of the house.

Meanwhile, back out in the main room, here are a few pictures taken before the furniture was moved back in to the space.








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