Happy New Year! Let’s kick off the year with a fun home bar like you’ve never seen!

What does a client with great taste plus a fun concept equal? A FUN, BEAUTIFUL SPACE!

When we first met with our client, she said she wanted a lower level entertaining space with a swanky bar that felt like it was straight out of Chicago. We were excited to take on this challenge, but there were definitely some challenges in accomplishing this look with the raw space shown below. The first was the 5’ high foundation wall bump outs that screamed ‘basement’, and the second was the classic grade-level basement windows…

To better achieve the look of a glitzy Chicago bar, we decided to frame up the foundation walls, so the entire wall surface was flush rather than bumped out. We also framed out a more proper cased opening into the bar, so it felt like a designated space from the rest of the lower level.

Since our client is an avid college sports fan, we wanted her to have the largest tv possible, so we also moved utilities in the mechanical closet to allow a larger wall for a big screen tv (seen above) and framed a half wall for a designated treadmill corner for her marathon training (seen below).

We decided to cover the grade-level basement windows with wall-to-wall antique velvet drapes to give a sense of verticality and disguise the evidence of being in a lower level.

With the windows above the sectional being directly across the large television screen, we had motorized shades installed in blackout tracks to ensure that sunlight would not disrupt watching a sports game during the day, and surround sound speakers installed in the ceiling. All of the television’s components are in the mechanical closet behind the tv which keeps it nice and clean looking within the entertaining space.

I love looking at the design renderings side-by-side with the final photos. See more below!

This project wrapped up just before COVID hit, so the client has been able to get A LOT of use out of her new lower level while spending more time than ever at home. I’m so thankful to have wonderful, trusting clients who allow us to design these beautiful spaces. Cheers to many more to come!

Photography: M-Buck Studio