Last week, I left you with a bunch of really unattractive “before” photos, so this week I want to give you a glimpse of where all this madness is going. As you probably recall from last week, our basement guest suite is an open concept space with one sleeping area and one seating area.
So, I already showed you how we ripped everything down to the studs and simplified the floor plan. Now, I want to fill you in on the significant progress we’ve made and talk about some tricky decisions I had to make about the floors and ceiling, and explain how I’m using rugs and chairs to divide up the open floor space.
The Layout
Here’s what I’m up against. Because of a pending main floor bathroom remodel (read: gut job), we have to hold off on finishing the back half of the basement for a few months while we get that in order. The light gray area on the right side of the floor plan is the unfinished space.
The back third of the basement is also where the kitchen for this suite will eventually go. That means that I need to figure out a way to provide guests with some amenities without putting in a whole kitchen. I’m thinking this adorable mini fridge and an electric espresso maker tucked under the stairs could do the trick for now. It’s New York, after all — the takeout options are pretty much endless!
As far as the furniture plan goes, I’m using two large rugs to define the seating aria and the sleeping space. In the seating area, I opted for two oversized blue club chairs rather than a sofa. The space is long and narrow, so I thought a sofa would only accentuate the odd shape. These chairs are super comfortable and can be placed in a more harmonious arrangement, so I don’t feel like skipping a sofa was a compromise at all. Another consideration was that the doors to the basement are kinda small, so finding pieces that actually fit through the door was key!
The Ceiling
I always think that embracing the challenges of a space can turn a hurdle into a major asset. In this case, I had to figure out how to turn the low ceilings into a “pro.” The basement ceiling is only a mere 7-feet-tall, so I knew that I needed to find more space. To add a little extra headroom, we removed a drop ceiling and an original plaster ceiling, and gained about 5 inches more height. In the process, we exposed the original wood floor joists and luckily, they were beautiful, so I decided to make them a feature of the space. We hung the drywall between the joists (about halfway down the joist), leaving a little space to accommodate for insulation and some new electrical. I think the exposed beams give the room a feeling of history and turn the ceiling into a feature.
The Floor
Another challenge I’m facing with this basement reno is the floor. It was covered with cracking linoleum tiles that we painstakingly pried off. Under the tile was a typical concrete basement floor. Eventually, we plan on installing a high-end laminate flooring, but that will have to wait until we are ready to tackle the back of the space. For now, the plan is to paint the floor and cover ninety percent of it with two big rugs. I’m using two 10-by-12-foot Karastan Smart Stand rugs. This particular carpet has built-in stain and soil resistance that will never wear off, so I figured it was a natural choice for a basement Airbnb rental. I can’t wait for the rugs to go down. I think they will really warm up the space! I chose a pretty natural color (Soft Natural) because I plan on layering smaller patterned rugs on top of the Karastan foundation for added warmth and texture.
After we removed the tile we realized that the floor around the stairs and the front door was pitted and uneven and totally not ready for paint. To smooth things out, I add a layer of self-leveling concrete.
Applying the floor-leveling-cement was actually pretty simple. You clean the floor, brush on the primer, mix the compound with water and pour it on the floor. The hardest part was figuring out how to keep it from flowing into a recessed area in our floor where some really important plumbing is located. See that box on the floor in the bottom left picture? That’s my attempt at blocking the compound… it mostly worked.
Week Two Updates
The drywall is up and ready for paint! I know this still looks crazy, but once the paint is on the wall things are gonna get good.
The bathroom went from a shell to looking like a real bathroom. In case you are wondering, the sink is vintage and I used this subway tile.
Next week, I hope to have the fireplace built, paint on the walls and floor, and some exciting molding details. Fingers crossed, guys. They don’t call this the “One Room Challenge” for nothing!
In case you missed Week One, you can find it here.
Want to keep up with my project on Pinterest? You can follow my One Room Challenge Board here.
Be sure to check out the other ORC updates, and thanks so much to Linda for including me!
Jana Bek | Chris Loves Julia | Shannon Claire | Coco.Kelly | The Curated House
Driven by Décor | The English Room | From the Right Bank | Sherry Heart
Hi Sugarplum | House of Jade | Hunted Interior | The Makerista | Making it Lovely
Marcus Design | Pencil & Paper Co. | Megan Pflug | Place of My Taste | Suburban B’s
Waiting on Martha Media Partner House Beautiful | TM by CIH
I love how this is coming together! So awesome that you’re taking on such a big space!
Sara, It is kinda a big space but I have been planning it (in my mind) for a long time so It’s actually helpful to have a deadline. Thanks for checking in!
Your DIY skills never cease to amaze me! This is going to be incredible.
Thanks Katie!
I am already planning my visit. Will you give a fan discount?! So awesome!
LOL Carrie, totally! Should be up and running early November. Fingers crossed!
Looking good! And I like the idea of adding a cute mini fridge and espresso maker. Maybe a microwave too? or at least a toaster oven?
Ariel, I think you are right about the microwave… I’ve heard of toaster oven microwave combos but I’ve never used one.
I am in absolute awe of what you are taking on! I definitely plan on staying in your AirBnB one day! And you are a wise woman going for the two chairs – I bought a couch once that sat on it’s side in my living room for 6 weeks while we tried various options on getting it down to the basement. That sucker is staying with the house if we ever move! Here’s to a productive week 3!
Tricia @ Suburban Bees
All so good. This will be fantastic, but wow a HUGE job. Hang in there.
Thanks super excited for this weeks update!
Gosh, those beams are SO PRETTY! It’s going to be amazing and you’re so right, what guests come to New York and want to cook? Not too many. 😉
LOL, thanks for checking in!
Where are the scones from?
Hi Andrea, They are cool right? They are from Lamps Plus.
http://www.lampsplus.com/products/cartwright-warm-antique-brass-plug-in-wall-lamp__9f152.html
WOW! Lots of work! Amazing progress! Love seeing all the progress photos. So creative with the ceiling and the floors!
HI Rosanna,
Thanks for checking in! I’m excited to share more progress next tomorrow…
Thanks Rosanna!
Okay, so I am crazy-in-love with your rough-hewn exposed floor joists! If I had exposed my floor joists it would NOT have become a decorative element (to say the least!). But that move is going to MAKE your space! Not to mention those sconces, the Kelly Wearstler Channels (which I’m also using), the hide rug, the pouf…Girl, this is going to be fabulous! Can’t wait to see it all come together!
Sarah xx
Thanks so much! 👯