Gone are the days of rarely-traversed basements, used solely as a storage space and visited seasonally to obtain holiday decorations. Basements are now viewed more commonly as a first floor, with an open-concept style akin to a blank canvas. When considering a dream home, one might envision a home theater, a customized arcade with a personal bar, a sports-themed hangout for game day, an extensive library filled wall-to-wall with books, a fitness room, a collector’s haven—a combination, or something else entirely. 

“Most people don’t just say, ‘We have this space, we ought to finish it.’ They’re probably thinking: it’s space for the kids to play, it’s a game room for adults, it’s an exercise area, it’s a home theater, it’s another family room. If they think through it in that way, that’s a big help for us,” says Dennis Gehman, president of Gehman Design Remodeling.

These ideas and more are possible with the vision, commitment and professional resources. The extent of one’s imagination can be replicated with a transformation that is uniquely theirs, and that fits the character of the home and its members.  

Joe Magolon, owner of Stonebridge Renovations, points out that basement entertainment areas have increasingly become a space for the entire family to create memories while enjoying their individualized attributes. One of the many creative ideas he’s seen lately are chalkboard walls for the family to customize and to play with. 

“I feel like the whole family’s getting involved downstairs; there isn’t just a kid area or an adult area anymore,” he explains. “We’ve recently just done [a project] that had a home gym with a big, glass door and panels, so it still feels open with a lot of natural light. It had a kitchenette, plenty of space for entertaining and counter space. It hit on everything: It had that family living space to hang out, it had the pool table area, it had an area for the kids and their games.”

Refurbishing a full-sized arcade machine with new buttons and controllers, which come in several colors and styles, is a great idea for a passionate collector—and can be a show-stopping focal point for a game room. However, if quantity is the goal, there is a large range of smaller, portable arcade machines that can transform a basement into a game-lined retro arcade. Of course, this would not be complete without one or more table games to provide that classic warmth. 

“Eighty percent of what we sell is extremely customizable; you can completely do whatever. You could really change the look, you could change the wood … and there are multiple finishes available,” says Audra DelConte, owner of Royal Billiard & Recreation. “The bar that is often down in that lower-level space will also be coordinated with the game tables … but our specialty is doing a whole package for people to complete their room. All of our products—whether bar, card table, pool table—can be coordinated.” 

Basement bars can be found in trendy lower-level areas in households both with and without children. In entertainment spaces designated for all ages, liquor can be concealed and stored in safe, locked cabinets. And for homes with adults only, it can be displayed in a variety of inventive ways. DelConte comments that a lot of people are embracing a speakeasy aesthetic lately—with dark, moody colors, classic and cozy designs and hidden features. Popularly utilized smart home automation harmonizes modern and vintage by allowing convenience and easily-altered atmospheric conditions like colored lights, music and more.

“People are doing some really cool, hidden built-in storage for [table game accessories]. A lot of the pool tables we sell have a hidden storage door built into them. So, that kind of goes along the lines of that [speakeasy] theme. Reclaimed wood products are still going strong—we see a lot of that and the rustic look, but we are seeing more of the traditional Queen Anne style,” DelConte says.

Fitting into this trend perfectly are Murphy doors, which are designed to open to hidden spaces. This incorporates a feeling of magic as well as provides extra security for valuables. They also function as an easy way to divide the space into different designated areas. Ultimately, there is still a major storage element to consider in the basement though it is no longer the main purpose.

“We like to get creative with storage areas … like little nooks under the stairs, we’ve done drink rails in the entertainment area. A lot of people lately have been loving the Murphy doors,” says Magolon. “It looks like a bookshelf, and it brings you back to, like, a wine cellar or different areas like that. The Murphy doors have definitely been up and coming, [as are] custom built-ins for more storage.”

Finishing a basement is not only fun and games—even though the finished product will be. A consideration of utilities is key to obtaining a successful final result. A professional can help place appliances and demonstrate ways to conceal or blend in unsightly elements like electrical panels. Keeping this in mind extends beyond appearances, as it also may affect comfort within and enjoyability of the area.

“One of the things that people are often surprised about is, when they want to finish the basement, typically it’s going to involve HVAC, because they want that space to be comfortable. Most of the time, the existing heating and air conditioning systems in the home are not large enough for that additional square footage,” explains Gehman. 

He adds that planning for this in advance helps people budget properly, and that he is required to insulate basement walls—which helps conserve energy. A good contractor can assist clients in considering all of these necessary factors with time estimates and what local regulations may be relevant to each home. Then, one can focus on the most important part: allowing imagination, personalization and artistry to take flight. 

Resources
Gehman Design Remodeling 
Harleysville, Pa.
(215) 513-0300
GehmanRemodeling.com

Royal Billiard & Recreation
Colmar, Pa.
(215) 997-7777
RoyalBilliard.com

Stonebridge Renovations
Malvern, Pa.
(484) 459-4920
Sb-Renovations.com

Published (and copyrighted) in House & Home, Volume 24, Issue 12 (November/December 2024)
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