Below A Inviting Basement With Industrial Edge
When a young family needed more room in their 1920s bungalow, they believed about renovating the cellar, but the ceilings, leaky stone base, dangling wires and also hodgepodge of structural sticks emptied their own hopes. Then architect Ryan Duebber came up with a strategy. He helped turn their once-cramped area to an open living room and bar, and incorporated secondary areas including a laundry room, storage closet and dream steam shower room.
Rather than combating the challenging elements, Duebber used them as elements of industrial design for a modern area that satisfied the customers’ tastes. The result is a sleek and open area that mixes old and new elements and highlights the areas where they fulfill.
Ryan Duebber Architect, LLC
“My customers wanted something trendy and not typical of suburban basement renovations,” Duebber states. This worked to their advantage, as drywall ceilings and walls could have closed in the area and made it seem smaller. Additionally, drywalling in front of base walls could have trapped moisture.
Black painted rafters, ductwork and beams produce the illusion of higher ceilings. “Painting the ceiling dark leaves a huge difference mentally,” he states. “A coat of paint goes a very long way.”
Ryan Duebber Architect, LLC
The space introduced a great deal of challenges. The ceilings were low (6 feet 7 inches to 7 feet 4 inches), and 90 years’ worth of electric wires hung between the rafters. Structural columns littered the space, and a big plumbing pile at eye level stood in the way of using the space for over storage. Duebber managed to move the troublesome columns and plumbing while maintaining their significant functions intact.
Before Photo
Ryan Duebber Architect, LLC
The initial basement and its own storage purpose hadn’t changed much since it was built in 1923.
“A stone foundation leaks like a sieve,” Duebber states. “We sandblasted it and power washed it so the sealing item could get into each pore of the walls.”
Ryan Duebber Architect, LLC
After having the wall closed, Duebber had it painted white. The painted concrete flooring can stand up to moisture, but Duebber left drains for all those just-in-case minutes.
He widened the staircase and cut some of the framing overhead so no one would need to duck while going down. The treads and risers are covered in an industrial rubber product by Roppe.
The moldings are sharp and modern, navigating the spaces between the walls and the painted concrete flooring as well as the dark ceiling. This makes crisp edges that stand out within the plan. “I paid special attention to areas where distinct elements butt up against each other; it is a opportunity to mark it and play off it,” he states.
Laundry room closets: Ikea
Ryan Duebber Architect, LLC
Duebber gave the small windows a larger presence by adding wood aprons underneath them. “Adding this wood heated up the walls, balanced out the materials and gave my customers extra spots to exhibit items,” he explains.
A typical can light went in following the ceiling paint project. Then a bit of painted 3/4-inch plywood was cut to fit between the joists to make a square with a hole cut out for could light housing. The can light has a wall-wash trim ring to reflect light onto adjacent concrete walls.
Ryan Duebber Architect, LLC
A corrugated galvanized metal wall separates the living area from the utility space, hiding the furnace and gas meter. “The alloy brings from the industrial modern feel and reflects the pragmatic construction behind it,” Duebber states. “I curved this wall to eliminate sharp corners, so the spaces flow together better.”
Relocated structural columns today make more sense within the area and also help with flow. These two mark the region between the family room and the bar area. The one on the right is that the principal plumbing pile, which had been a significant hinderance before it was transferred.
Ryan Duebber Architect, LLC
Drywall walls and pocket doors separate a storage closet, laundry room and full bath.
Custom short upper cabinets with glass doors keep the illusion of height and tie in with the ceiling.
Ryan Duebber Architect, LLC
Duebber left area between the walls and countertops to continue highlighting edges and transitions. Lighting highlights the feel on the stone walls.
Countertops: Corian
Ryan Duebber Architect, LLC
This simple and utilitarian electrical outlet above the bar adds yet another industrial detail.
Ryan Duebber Architect, LLC
“My client had great taste and helped with a lot of those selections,” Duebber states. She was taking an art course during the renovations and enjoyed her teacher, Merle Rosen, to help make this bar top, which can be mixed media over plywood, sealed with clear coat. “I kept the bar open underneath and used a steel pillar to encourage it, which ties it with all the other columns,” he states. Track lights increase the industrial appearance.
The ceiling and bar are cut around the pillar — yet another example of the way Duebber draws attention to areas where design elements meet.
Ryan Duebber Architect, LLC
The steam shower is easily the most luxurious element of the plan. “The customers were quite active and desired a steam shower down here to use after runs and bicycle rides,” Duebber states.
Ryan Duebber Architect, LLC
By extending the glass tile around the 8, the bathroom is tied together.
Sink and taps: Kohler; Countertop: Corian
Ryan Duebber Architect, LLC
Here is the overall plan of the cellar. Duebber situated the main area in the center, and pushed the secondary elements such as the bathroom, laundry room and mechanical rooms toward the corners. This maximized the open atmosphere from the main living room and bar space, giving the customers a completely new flooring where they could gather, relax and entertain.
More: An Contractor’s Tips for How to Finish a Basement