Turning a Basement into a Place for Family Connection

When my wife and I discovered she was expecting our second child, we realized we were nine months away from outgrowing our current home. Since we own a 3-bedroom home, and the newborn would be taking over the third bedroom, that meant we had one of two choices. We could either sell the house and find a larger one, or we could maximize the space we have and finish the unfinished basement of our house. While the first option may have been easier and more logical, we choose the latter. We soon met with a friend who is a local contractor to conjure up ideas about what we wanted. Blueprints did not exist, and neither my wife nor I had ever tackled such a project.

But, with the help of a patient contractor and very understanding carpenters, construction began the day after Christmas, not quite 3 weeks after the birth of our daughter. For the next 4 months or so, we (mostly my wife because she was home with the baby) endured the sounds of hammering, saws, jackhammers, etc…….  Plumbers, electricians, you name it… came and went with a flurry. Decisions about everything from where the cable outlets should be located, to paint colors, to doors, wood trim, lighting and bathroom fixtures and everything in between had to be made, all while attempting to maintain our sanity and live a normal day to day life. In the end, it was all worth it. Here is what I learned:

• Find a contractor you are comfortable with, and maintain an open line of communication with everyone from the top down to the skilled laborers who are creating your dream haven.
• If you are dealing with a set amount of space, put some thought into the project and maximize every square inch of the space. As a result of taking this approach, we were able to add a home office, a playroom for the children, a home theater room for us, a new guest bedroom and bathroom, along with additional closets and storage space for seasonal clothing and home decorations.
• Since we now had the opportunity to start fresh with our decorating ideas, we took some liberties and branched out a little, with less matching and predictable furniture. We created a more eclectic look but tied it all together with common wood tones, fabrics, and colors.
• Finally, it doesn’t have to all be done at once. Take a little time, find the furnishings and accessories you are looking for, and create the look you desire. What we now have is a very comfortable home in which we can raise our kids and live in the rest of our lives.

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