Here we are at week two of the One Room Challenge. We are in full project mode and first up is all the design decisions. But before we jump into it I want to make sure you check out week 1 as we give you all the awful before images so you can really get an idea of what we are working with. Design is ALWAYS our first step in any project we touch! We want to deliver a design that truly drives the overall project and construction to leverage the most function and purpose of each space we work with. We like to break the design process down into space planning and rendering, moodboards and final material selection. So let’s do just that with our basement.

Space Planning

First up, figuring out how we can actually use these spaces to create some function in our lives. I want to break the space into four parts: family movie area, yoga and meditation space, reading nook, laundry and storage space! I know I am asking a lot for a basement but you guys it’s like 1,000 sqft. I think we can make this happen!

I love how the space plan allows for you to see how the space is going to work. The rendering and moodboards really bring the space to life! 

The first challenge was to design around the support posts that hold our house up. While I recognize these posts serve a great purpose to our home, they are just so dang ugly and we needed to find a way to make them disappear. Without actually making them disappear…you’re following me right?!?

Fireplace

Ok, so here’s what we did. We are going to build a wall around the support posts to create a two-sided see-through fireplace while dividing the yoga and meditation area to one side, and the family movie area to the other side! Both posts will be hidden inside the wall.

Yoga + Meditation Space 

The yoga and meditation area is going to be a very calming and relaxing space. I want to be able to come down here and retreat from our everyday craziness and spend some quality time with ourselves. Plus, we have been working on adding more mindful moments into our children’s lives and we want them to be able to see us practice with the hopes that they too will join in.

We are also building a dog kennel for Niko! It is going to live right underneath the staircase, leaving no space untouched. I have this feeling I am going to find my children hanging out in this cool little nook too! 

Laundry Room

From the meditation, yoga area we are going to head right into the Laundry Room! I am so excited to say I am actually going to have a real life Laundry Room! We’ve built out so many incredible client laundry rooms like this one and this one and this one that I am so geeked to have one of my own! 

Storage

We want the basement to become a space our kids want to hang out in and will grow with them. That means we need storage. Feeling so fortunate that I have a husband who can custom build all of our built-ins along this wall! It’s going to be incredible!

Family Movie Area

I think everyone in our house is excited about this area! We have been wanting an area that we can all gather together. To make it feel like an actual movie theater we are going to paint two of the walls Iron Ore by Sherwin Williams. 

I am really looking forward to seeing how each space has its own unique characteristics while still working together!

Make sure to check out all the other ORC guest posts this week! And join us back next week as Michael jumps in here to teach you how to lay Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring! 

Much love-

Danielle