Featured Finish: The Warmth of Wood

If the thought of including stained trim and doors in a finished basement makes you think of a darkly-paneled 1970’s rumpus room or perhaps a dimly-lit speak-easy, think again. Our clients chose to use stained knotty alder trim and doors throughout their basement, but when paired with pale grey walls, a bright white ceiling, and an abundance of recessed can lighting, the basement comes alive with cheerful warmth and charm.

The open handrail with metal balusters and stained newel post creates a seamless transition from the home’s upper floor. Including an open handrail in the plan allows more light into the space, adding to the spacious feel.

Stained beams add character, and will help define the space once furnishings are in place. The rich tones of the stained woodwork are echoed in the variegated hues of the luxe LVP flooring (an excellent choice for basement application, due to its moisture-resistant properties). A powder bath off of the main rec room area will prove convenient when entertaining guests.

Our clients plan to install a wet bar at a later date, so they opted for rough-plumbing only at the future wet bar location—a great option if you wish to spread out the cost of a basement finish. With rough plumbing lines already in place, installing cabinetry and hooking up a sink and other appliances will not be a difficult job when time and finances permit.

With just under 1,000 sq. ft. to work with, our clients wanted to include both a music room and an exercise studio in their finish. Ceiling insulation was an added upgrade throughout the basement to help with sound attenuation between floors. Another upgrade added—both beautiful and functional—are the solid-core doors, which not only stain exquisitely but also provide a superior sound barrier than the less-expensive hollow-core doors.

Providing an attractive contrast to the traditional stained doors and trim, clear glass barn doors installed at the entrance to the exercise room contribute a modern vibe to the space.

We love this basement for so many reasons, but in large measure because it demonstrates that not every basement needs to be finished into the standard bed/bath/rec room. Decide what works best for you and go from there!