Kehrswood Basement
Our clients' finished basement needed to be brought to life! A bar made out of glass block, lack of overhead lighting, dark finishes and an old drop ceiling made for a really uninviting space. Our clients now use this space all of the time and love having friends and family over to enjoy it with them!
Kehrswood Basement
Chesterfield, MO
August, 2018
DESIGNER:
Jennifer Chapman
PHOTOGRAPHER:
Karen Palmer Photography
Our clients' finished basement needed to be brought to life! A bar made out of glass block, lack of overhead lighting, dark finishes and an old drop ceiling made for a really uninviting space. Not only did the basement need to be updated, but they really wanted to make it a family entertaining space — somewhere they could hang out with the kids everyday and also somewhere they could easily entertain friends and family. This family is well-traveled and has collected many items from all over the world. They wanted to incorporate that global vibe and marry it with a nautical theme to remind them of their lakehouse in Michigan.
We started by drywalling the ceiling and adding a lot more light! We increased the number of recessed can ceiling lights and added vintage looking handmade sconces at the posts. We painted the walls and ceilings all of the same light gray color to make the ceilings seem taller and the room lighter. We removed the dark, outdated carpeting and replaced it with a neutral colored carpeting with a modern texture.
This basement has a soffit and post structure running down the center of the living space. It is a natural divider, but the space was not being utilized to its full potential. We added a bar height reclaimed wood countertop in between the large posts to create more seating for entertaining. The posts at each end created an "L" shape that did not seem to have any purpose. We added floating reclaimed shelves in this space to make it look purposeful and add an opportunity to display the items they have collected in their travels. The entertainment unit was all black and it made the space seem smaller and darker.
We painted the upper cabinets white and wrapped the TV shelf in wood to match the reclaimed wood at the bar seating and the wet bar. We reduced the footprint of the wet bar to add more space for kids to play and make the room feel bigger.
The clients really loved the idea of doing navy blue cabinets at the wet bar, which tied into the nautical theme of the space. We fell in love with the uniquely shaped white tile and used a medium gray grout to make the shape stand out even more. We used reclaimed wood countertops and a floating shelf above to display bottles or glassware. The brushed nickel pulls with exposed screws look like jewelry against the pretty navy cabinets! Our clients now use this space all of the time and love having friends and family over to enjoy it with them!
Before and After
Eclectic Kitchen and Living Space
This 120 year old home has beautiful exposed brick walls that we felt necessary to leave as a design element in the space. The homeowners wanted a relaxed, eclectic design that didn't feel too formal or too trendy.
Eclectic Kitchen and Living Space
St. Louis Missouri, 2018
DESIGNER:
Jennifer Chapman
PHOTOGRAPHER:
Karen Palmer Photography
Our clients wanted their outdated kitchen gone! It did not function well at all for their family of four — there was limited counter space, a tiny dishwasher, small sink, and the design was a mix of hodge podge of materials that did not really go well together. We worked together to create a plan that was well thought-out and provided them with a place where family and friends could gather. We started by creating a large island that provided seating for six and allowed for a better connection between the living room and the kitchen. We closed up the doorway to their back hallway in order to add even more storage and counter space. The quartz countertops will will be durable enough to withstand their kids' homework and art projects and are easily cleaned after family meals.
This 120 year old home has beautiful exposed brick walls that we felt necessary to leave as a design element in the space. The homeowners wanted a relaxed, eclectic design that didn't feel too formal or too trendy. They wanted the island to be different than the rest of the cabinetry and our homeowner fell in love with deep teal for the island. We used a traditional cup pull on the drawers, but we selected a brushed brass finish to make it a bit more modern and warm up the cool gray and teal. Our clients were determined to uncover the old fireplace that had been plastered over so they did exploratory work to discover it was, in fact, still there. We removed all of the plaster, did a bit of repair work on the brick, and added a marble hearth and a reclaimed wood mantel. The brick and the reclaimed wood help connect the living room and kitchen. We used matching reclaimed wood floating shelves on the range wall as well. Overall, the space feels relaxed and comfortable and is now a great place for entertaining.
Rustic Entertaining Space
We added more storage by adding two new closets, one of which we closed off with a set of custom wood barn doors. The white built-in cabinetry was replaced with dark wood cabinets , floating shelves, and a quartz top. We added a beverage cooler beneath the countertops - ideal for entertaining! The homeowners can now enjoy the space as a family or when spending time with friends!
Rustic Entertaining Space
Missouri, 2018
DESIGNER:
Jennifer Chapman
PHOTOGRAPHER:
Karen Palmer Photography
Our clients were ready for a complete transformation of their 1980's basement. Not only were they ready for an updated look to match the rest of their home, but also a change in the way the space functioned. It was time to get rid of kids' toys and make way for a more inviting space to entertain friends and family of all ages. We replaced the existing dated berber carpet with a beautiful, rustic wood-look Luxury Vinyl Tile. One of our carpenters fabricated all of the custom wood pieces in the space, including a long bar top for people to perch, set a drink and either watch tv or enjoy a game of pool. We gave the fireplace a facelift by changing out the shiny brass fireplace doors with a modern rustic set of doors in oil rubbed bronze. We replaced the traditional, white mantel with a wood beam and added rustic wood wall cladding above as a design feature. We added more storage by adding two new closets, one of which we closed off with a set of custom wood barn doors. The white built-in cabinetry was replaced with dark wood cabinets, floating shelves, and a quartz top. We added a beverage cooler beneath the countertops - ideal for entertaining! The homeowners can now enjoy the space as a family or when spending time with friends!
