10 Basements For The Whole Family

Transform your dreary, unfinished basement into a space everyone can enjoy with these 10 inspiring basement ideas.
 

Pretty and Playful

Transform your unfinished basement into a dream playroom for little girls. Soft blues and pinks are the perfect palette for this innocent and feminine child’s space. A built-in shelving unit with small wicker baskets helps to keep toys organized and neatly stored, while still making them easy to reach for little ones.

Adults Only

This chic, industrial basement quickly became an at-home getaway. The unfinished space was spiced up with warm chocolate hues and urban appeal, while providing all the warmth and coziness of an upstairs room. With a casual lounge area, wet bar and work studio, this is definitely a mature, toy-free zone.

A Family Affair

Turn an unfinished basement into an all-encompassing media room, playroom, mudroom, guest bedroom, bathroom and pantry. The child’s playroom offers plenty of space to play on the rainbow-colored rug or at pint-size tables. A wall-to-wall shelving unit displays favorite toys, while keeping art supplies hidden in the cabinets.

Ready for Company

Turn your basement into a place for both entertaining and relaxing. By blending traditional materials and furnishings with modern accessories, the space delivers a cozy, at-home feel with a party-ready vibe.

A Place for Him

A wood plank ceiling, hardwood floors and natural stonework set a rustic, outdoors tone for this basement-turned-ski lodge. A fully stocked bar and lounge area makes this the perfect place to relax after hitting the slopes or for watching sports on the weekends.

Pool Time

Nothing says ‘man cave’ quite like an extra-large projector screen, fully stocked bar and billiards table. Traditional, masculine hues — like copper, chocolate brown, sage and tan — offer a warm color scheme without making the space feel dark and enclosed.

Chic and Sophisticated

This modern basement features all the amenities for a fun family gathering. This is a sophisticated, multifunctional room where guests and family can enjoy drinks, dine, relax, watch television and play pool. The grass-cloth wall covering, concrete countertops and warm brown hues set a soothing and relaxing tone in a formerly concrete-covered basement.

Brand-New Space

Originally a two-car garage, this space was transformed into a living area with a media room, bathroom, home office, laundry room and utility room. With crisp, white walls, modern furnishings and fresh, hardwood floors, it’s hard to believe this room was once covered in cement.

Masculine Theme, Feminine Appeal

Who says sleek, contemporary decor and sports memorabilia can’t go together? Create an elegant, sports-themed basement the entire family could enjoy. By adding plenty of plush seating, a soft area rug and a stylish, kid-friendly mini bar, this space proves to be a place for both guys and girls.

Boy Zone

Foosball, air hockey and a video gaming station are just a few of the amenities in this teen man cave. Add an extra-large, cozy sectional and kept the decor simple and sleek to create the perfect space for him and all his friends.

6 Trends From The Most Popular Sunrooms

It’s a nice time of year to enjoy your sunroom. And if you don’t have one, now is a good time to start making plans for one, as these window-lined rooms are a real treat to spend time in when warm summer days seem like a distant memory. Called “Florida rooms” by many, they are filled with sunlight and bring a piece of sunny vacationlands to our homes during the colder months. Here are 10 of the most popular sunroom photos this quarter.
1. Quintessential Florida room style. It’s hard to resist this classic sunroom look. Tropical prints, extensive windows, rattan and bamboo furniture, and the pale blue ceiling bring sunny Florida up to Illinois year-round at this house.
2. Brick flooring. The brick flooring adds an outdoor element to this New Jersey room. It has many elements in common with the previous popular photo: the light blue ceiling, classical arches and transoms, and light British Colonial-style furniture you’d find in the Caribbean.

3. Interesting ceiling shapes. This space is a conservatory addition to a classic Tudor-style home in Wisconsin. The architecture of the sloped ceilings and cupola outfitted with transoms give the room a light and relaxed feel.

This Michigan conservatory has a similar relationship to the house (check out more of it) and is similar in size to the one in previous photo. It also has a soaring ceiling. The slate flooring and the patina on those doors and transoms make a stunning combination. This room also has a dedicated space for dining surrounded by the view.
4. Layers of texture. Limestone flooring, a natural-fiber rug, a brick arch and a wood ceiling create a warm, comfortable retreat in this Michigan sunroom. Also note the arched French doors that allow for views through to the rest of the home and vice versa.
This modern sunporch has warmth layered in via teak and leather. Details like the Moroccan lanterns, subtle Greek key pattern on the chairs and variety of throw pillows give it eclectic flair.

Layers can also lend relaxed boho style. Layered rugs, a hanging daybed, a leather Moroccan pouf, a Moroccan rug and a wide mix of textiles add up to laid-back bohemian style here.

5. Contemporary lines. If a traditional sunroom can be called a Florida room, is the more modern or contemporary version a California room? I don’t know. But the rectilinear black windows and doors of the architecture set the tone for this contemporary room’s style. Low-slung deep sofas make this the most inviting spot on the property for a nap.
Clean lines also bring the modern to “modern farmhouse.” Board-and-batten siding, a brick-colored floor, oversized gingham upholstery and bold black graphic touches bring the farmhouse part of the style.
6. Fire. Style aside, there’s one more big thing to consider for your sunporch — a fireplace or wood stove. Yes, sunrooms are a lovely place to pretend the weather is warmer, but if all of those windows and doors are not energy-efficient, these rooms can be challenging to heat. We’ve seen an uptick in fireplaces and wood stoves in sunrooms lately. They make them a cozy spot for snuggling up with a hot toddy in the winter.

Do Your Future Plans Include A Move? What’s Stopping You From Listing Now?

Are you an empty-nester? Do you want to retire where you are, or does a vacation destination sound more your style? Are you close to retirement and not ready to move yet, but living in a home that is too big in size and maintenance needs?

How can you line up your current needs with your goals and dreams for the future? The answer for many might be the equity you have in your house.

According to the latest Equity Report from CoreLogic, the average homeowner in the United States gained $14,000 in equity over the course of the last year. On the West Coast, homeowners gained twice that amount, with homeowners in Washington gaining an average of $38,000!

Do you know how much your home has appreciated over the last year?

Many homeowners would be able to easily sell their current house and use the profits from that sale to purchase a condo nearby in order to continue working while eliminating some of the daily maintenance of owning a house (ex. lawn care, snow removal).

With the additional cash gained from the sale of the home, you could put down a sizeable down payment on a vacation/retirement home in the location that you would like to eventually retire to. While you will not yet be able to live there full-time, you can rent out your property during peak vacation times and pay off your mortgage faster.

Purchasing your retirement home now will allow you to take full advantage of today’s seller’s market, allow you to cash in on the equity you have already built, and take comfort in knowing that a plan is in place for a smooth transition into retirement.

Bottom Line

There are many reasons to relocate in retirement, including a change in climate, proximity to family and grandchildren, and so much more. What are the reasons you want to move? Are the reasons to stay more important? Contact me, your local real estate professional who can perform an equity evaluation to determine your options, today!