In a beautiful home built five years ago, the basement was finished to only basic specs. But the family envisioned a welcoming space for entertaining—to compliment the fine interiors in the rest of this elegant home, located in Pittsburgh’s fastest growing and wealthiest suburb.
Quick overview of this basement remodel
This basement transformation features a new big screen home theater, plus a wet bar, wine cellar, stone fireplace and sitting area. Design features include reclaimed wood beams, wood grain porcelain tile, and charcoal colored cabinetry and wainscoting. Take a look at some Before and After photos to appreciate the metamorphosis that happened here.
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“We have received lots of wonderful compliments on how amazing the lower level looks and how it was transformed!”—Jen H, Cranberry on Houzz
It all starts with design & planning
In a close and warm collaboration with the family, we began developing the plan according to our design & build model of remodeling. Good ideas and solutions came from both the family and our own architectural designer. Far along in the process, our 3D Chief Architect design software created a life-like rendition of the full basement remodel, viewable from any angle. It’s a feature that customers really like, versus blueprints alone.
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Challenges & vision for this basement remodel
The new design had to work with the existing ductwork, bulkheads and a large support column smack the middle of the space.
New architectural bulkheads helped to define the theater, the bar and the seating areas. A floor riser improved the viewing. Plush leather recliner seating improved the comfort.
Extra seating at counters behind the theater meant that more viewers could enjoy the big screen, which is also visible from the bar. Note the Eldorado Stacked Stone fireplace adding cozy warmth to the space.
Another consideration was that the French doors from this room lead to a lovely outdoor pool.
Wet-feet activity would have to be taken into consideration, plus possible spills in the bar area. That’s where the wood-grain porcelain floor tile offered a solution more practical than actual wood, but with the same aesthetic.
In the bar area, we carried the fireplace’s Eldorado Stone motief into the two backsplashes. The upper countertops are Honed Jet Mist Granite, the lower White Soapstone.
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Other features of this project
Recycled, dark stained barn beams add interest to the ceiling and coordinate with the dark stained wainscoting, the custom cabinetry and the paneled wall around the theater.
Finally, there’s a temperature controlled mini wine cellar in the bar area (pictured here).
Enjoy, our Cranberry friends. It was a pleasure working with you!
