OUR WORK
Basement Remodel in Devonshire, Ann Arbor
A basement built for storage became a lower level built for hosting.
THE STORY
What the homeowners wanted, and what we found.
WHAT THEY WANTED
These Devonshire homeowners wanted a basement they could entertain in, one that blended with the modern contemporary style upstairs. They wanted a guest suite that felt more like a resort than a basement, and a fresh look for two first-floor guest baths. Their basement held storage instead of people.
WHAT WE FOUND
The basement was used for storage and didn't match the home's modern style. There was no place for overnight guests to feel at home. Structural columns stood in the main space and had to be worked into the design.
HOW WE DESIGNED IT
We laid out the basement so the stairs lead straight to the wet bar and curved walls draw guests into the main room.
THE INSPIRATION
Downstairs should feel as good as upstairs. The homeowners wanted their basement to match the modern contemporary style above, with an industrial flair. Walnut and a custom plank barn door, echoed in a curved soffit and game niches, carry the look.
THE PLAN
The stairs bring you right to the wet bar. Curved walls then lead into the main recreation area. The lower level also holds a guest suite and a powder room, so visitors don't have to walk through the guest bedroom to reach a bathroom. Upstairs, two guest baths got a fresh look.
THE OUTCOME
How it turned out
The homeowners host downstairs as easily as anywhere in the house. Friends gather at the wet bar, play darts or pool and settle by the fireplace. Overnight guests stay in a suite that feels like a getaway.
FINAL PHOTOS
The finished space.
AT A GLANCE
A Finished Basement Built for Hosting
A basement remodel plus two first-floor baths.
Devonshire, Ann Arbor.
Wet bar, curved walls, dimensional fireplace with window seat, walnut drink ledge, resort-style guest suite.
THE FLOOR PLANS
What changed, and why.
We laid out the basement so the stairs lead straight to the wet bar and curved walls draw guests into the main room.
BEFORE
AFTER
WHAT MAKES IT WORK
Three details that carry the design.
FEATURE 01
Every part of the floor plan pulls you down the stairs to the wet bar. Curved walls then invite you further into the main recreation area, so the space feels like it unfolds.
FEATURE 02
The main room has a built-in window seat, a modern fireplace with shiplap and a large timber hearth, and a walnut drink ledge that wraps the structural columns. A separate powder room means guests don't walk through the guest bedroom to use the bathroom.
FEATURE 03
Two first-floor guest baths got a fresh look to match the new lower level. Large-format tile, a floating vanity and a glass shower keep them light and modern, so guests get the same experience upstairs and down.
THE PROJECT
A Finished Basement Built for Hosting
AT A GLANCE
A basement remodel plus two first-floor baths.
Devonshire, Ann Arbor.
Wet bar, curved walls, dimensional fireplace with window seat, walnut drink ledge, resort-style guest suite.
THE STORY
These Devonshire homeowners wanted a basement they could entertain in, one that blended with the modern contemporary style upstairs. They wanted a guest suite that felt more like a resort than a basement, and a fresh look for two first-floor guest baths. Their basement held storage instead of people.
HOW WE DESIGNED IT
The stairs bring you right to the wet bar. Curved walls then lead into the main recreation area. The lower level also holds a guest suite and a powder room, so visitors don't have to walk through the guest bedroom to reach a bathroom. Upstairs, two guest baths got a fresh look.
