Bucktown Basement

A basement is always a hard space because oftentimes it is one big box with very little light to work with. This client called us to come in after another designer was unable to finish their family's project. While this is not the most ideal situation for anyone, we were able to work with what few pieces the other designer had chosen and installed. The client put full faith in us that we were going to be able to do something fun, bold, and original with their space. Her only stipulation was that she didn't want it to be "suburban basic" as she called it. So we immediately nixed the giant "live, laugh, love" sign and opted for some unique, fun art, accessories, and a bold pop of color! We started to create this unique space by installing a custom mural along the back wall as a focal point when you first enter this room. The arches bring curves to what was a very rigid space before. From here we chose a rug that mimicked those curves.

This family has two young kids, so we needed to ensure everything was as durable as possible. So the rug is washable, the tables are metal, and even the artwork is nearly indestructible! We pulled colors from the rug to commission the yarn artwork on the wall, and we pulled colors from the same rug to have the piano custom painted to bring it back to life. The family also loves to travel and the kids love animals, so a nod to a safari theme was a surefire win when it comes to the remaining artwork pieces and accessories. The pop of green from the piano is brought over to the workspace created with felt panels to create not only visual interest, but also functionality as a pin board for notes and reminders! We divided this large space using the couch, metal console tables, and wood slats as a vertical break. This ensures your eyes view this as two distinct spaces within the larger space. This helps take what was a large empty room and make it into a warm, cozy multi functional environment where the adults can work during the day, kids can play in the evening, and the family can all watch movies together at night!