Kate’s Design Dilemma
Kate’s ready to totally transform her blank slate of a basement. Here’s her letter:
I’m a long time reader of your site and I’m so excited that you’re working on our space. We (me, my husband, our 9 month old daughter Annabelle and our pooch Speedy) need help with our basement tv/rec room! It’s basically an unfinished white drywall box and we’re having trouble coming up with any inspiration. Our goal is to create a room where we watch tv and and also a playroom for Annabelle that has some flexibility to grow with her. We haven’t ever had water problems in the basement, but we don’t want to tempt fate with anything too precious or unremovable at floor level, so area rugs for floor coverings work best. Most of our house is furnished through Craigslist, eBay, and antique finds- it’s an eclectic mix of mid-century, art deco and whatever else plays nicely together. The only item that has to stay is the navy blue sectional. Everything else can go. The TV & stand aren’t sturdy enough for a toddler so we’re planning on a wall mounted tv (we’ll put the components in the adjoining storage space with a radio controlled remote- so we won’t need a tv stand). The ceiling light fixtures also have to go, so we’d love your suggestions. We’re definitely looking for a wall color too (and one for the adjoining bathroom if you could). We’re not scared of prints so if you wanted to suggest a stencil or wallpaper for the bathroom or the main room, we’d be game. Can’t wait to see what you do!- Kate
Here’s the plan:
And here’s the new layout suggestion:
Now for the mood board breakdown.
1. When it comes to the color palette, we’d love to see the existing navy sectional paired with lots of warm wheaty neutrals along with some more vibrant tones like a soft aqua and light turquoise- just to keep it cheerful and happy down in their windowless space. And as for the walls, a warm and subtle wheat colored tan will add a nice cozy atmosphere to this future basement family room (Benjamin Moore’s Sandy Brown 1046). Painting those uneven ceilings a lighter shade of tan instead of bright white will de-emphasize them for a more seamless and enveloping vibe (Benjamin Moore’s Lighthouse Landing 1044). And when it comes to the adjoined bathroom, since Kate mentioned that she’s not afraid of a bit of boldness, we think a mid-toned aqua color with a hint of gray (to keep it from getting too crazy) would be really fun in that small space off of the living area (Benjamin Moore’s Paradiso 717).
2. We love that Kate and her family are into an eclectic mid-century-modern meets art-deco look, especially since they snag many of their furnishings on a budget from places like Craigslist. This budget friendly and modern 18″ pendant light from Ikea (for just $39) should fit right in with their aesthetic, and it’ll look amazing when it’s hung over the new table area that we’ll be adding as well as over the sofa on the other side of the room for a bit of balance and interesting texture in both areas.
3. This sleek and modern tulip table is the affordable Ikea version of the original- plus it’s oh so easy to wipe clean with kiddos (which is why we think it’ll make a great little drawing/game playing area where Annabelle can someday color with her crayons and play with her legos). So many family rooms gain a ton of function with the addition of a small round table since it can be used in about a million ways.
4. We can’t get over this 6 x 9′ hand tufted wool rug with some pretty amazing art deco medallion detailing. Not only will the fresh turquoise color pair perfectly with the navy sofa and the chocolate coffee table that we’ll be bringing in, we think it’ll instantly define the seating area and really add a ton of cheerful interest and pattern to the space. It’s a room-maker for sure.
5. And here’s that chocolate coffee table we mentioned, which we’d also love to see in front of the navy sectional to ground the seating space. The round corners are definitely more kid friendly than anything pointy (or glass) and we also love how the shape mimics the tulip table on the other side of the room. Plus the shape will help when it comes to the flow of the space since round tables are always easier to slip around than anything with edges.
6. An assortment of tan, teal, turquoise, and wheat pillows will break up all that navy in the sofa while complementing everything from the rug to the new upholstered chairs we dug up for the table on the other side of the room.
7. And speaking of those great upholstered chairs, they’re striped (which always helps when it comes to kids and hiding stains) and the price is pretty darn amazing (2 for $199). Plus the fact that they work seamlessly with our color scheme is the icing on the cake. And the dark legs tie in with the round coffee table on the other side of the space for an even more cohesive and balanced effect.
8. This super huge statement making map (just $16.99!) has some great rich tones of navy that will easily relate to the sectional below it (we’d love to see it hanging centered above the back of the sofa). Walking down the stairs into a room with warm and enveloping wheaty walls and fun details like a chic oversized map and a turquoise rug will really give this room a whole new feeling. And adding in a few dark wood furnishings and some ample splashes of white along with the navy couch will temper the brights- so it’s not too chaotic and kid-ish.
9. We’d actually love to see two Expedit systems worked into the room. The first would be this model, placed on its side so it’s four squares wide and two squares high. We’d like to see it centered in the TV nook (with a new flatscreen mounted on the wall above it as Kate mentioned in her letter). And the fact that they’ll be wirelessly hiding their media components in the nearby storage space will keep things looking super clean and kid-friendly to boot. Then Kate can snag some perfectly sized woven baskets that work with our color palette (like these) for Annabelle to fill with toys, legos, and everything else she’d love to play with- and they can be slid right into the square cubbies for tons of concealed storage and easy-on-the-eyes function that any kid would love.
The second Expedit piece that we think would definitely add to the space would be this 4 x 4 square version, which could be placed on the same wall as the sectional behind the table. Again Kate can bring in boxes and baskets to fill with items that Annabelle can use- whether it’s board games or crayons for drawing at the table. And items like hardcover books and lacquer boxes in aqua, wheat, navy and chocolate will also add interest and color. Kate can even lean items like a bright turquoise canvas and an unbreakable wood bowl full of wheat colored woven balls atop this taller storage piece to give it a bit more height and fill up that whole wall behind the table.
So there you have it. A basement full of eclectic and inviting style. We can’t wait to see what you guys think!
Update: We sadly can no longer find the time to take on client commissioned mood boards (and just whip up general inspiration boards instead) but if we ever reinstate them we’ll make a big announcement on the blog!
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That rug is simply irresistible! Good luck, Kate!
Lovely mood-board as always!
Hope to see the “after” pics….
This mood board comes just in time…I’ve been thinking of adding the 4×4 IKEA bookcase behind a similar round table in our living room/office for extra storage and heighth. I haven’t been able to decide if it would ‘work’ though. But since you’re using it here, it gives me a boost of confidence!
I agree…that aqua medallion rug is going to make the space!
I am really interested in this “radio controlled remote.” I didnt know such a thing existed and would love to hide the cable box and DVD player in our bedroom if we could. Any info yall have to pass along would be greatly appreciated :)
Hey Anne,
We have zero info but we’ve seen it mentioned on Apartment Therapy. Perhaps heading over to their site and searching the term will turn up some details? Happy hunting…
xo,
s
It all sounds wonderful! Kid friendly, but not childish.
I think this space is going to look great! However it’s a little dark. I would suggest adding a few lamps to the Expidit pieces…especially the one by the table. Then again, I’m not the expert ;)
Trista,
Great idea! Chic glass based table lamps (Ikea has some for a great price) might look great on either Expedit piece (as long as they don’t interfere with TV viewing or feel unsteady enough to be a hazard for the baby)!
xo,
s
We just bought the Expedit bookshelf this weekend for our laundry room. I’m pumped to put it together. I love the pendant lamp too!
I would have to advise against the tulip table from Ikea. I have that and I also have a 10 month old that sits by it daily. The table isn’t very stable, the table top moves when you place your elbows on it and moves even more when our little one bangs everything into it. The bottom of the table is made from plastic and its surface isn’t too smooth so it’s difficult to clean. Also the table top now has a few scratches, most from our babies messy eating habits. I’ve had the table from 7 months and regret having bought it…. But the table does look damn nice though (when clean and before the scratches)
Love the rug and the suggested color for the bathroom!
While not officially part of the mood board, Kate might want to consider putting a pedestal sink in the bathroom or a skirt of sorts around the existing sink to hide the pipes. I think that will help finish the look.
Another great room, I think the map is my favorite single element – but it’s all gonna look terrific. If the owners are up for it, crown molding might spiff up the room too, to camouflage that “basementy” look some.
Thanks for all the suggestions Eva, Erin and Mandi!
xo,
s
I love the rug, but I hate to say that there isn’t much to add interest to the space from that mood board. I would think that this sized space would need more than just one piece of artwork. Are suggested accessories not a part of your mood boards anymore?
Hey Caitlin,
When those walls get a coat of warm wheat paint and that turquoise medallion rug is placed under the navy sectional with two textured orb lamps hanging overhead (and an aqua bathroom peeks out from the end of the room) you’ll be amazed how much interest, texture, pattern, and color the space will have!
And when it comes to wall decor/art, the TV will be mounted above the smaller Expedit system while the map hangs above the sectional and the taller Expedit shelf will be placed behind the table (obscuring much of the wall there). So there’s not much more wall space to add art to!
Accessories are definitely still included in our descriptions (and occasionally worked into boards, space permitting). It’s really all about what our clients request/need. In this instance we were starting from scratch in the furniture department so we had to devote room on the board to those items (and they have a small child so we didn’t hunt down vases and delicates). But we did include pillows and mention baby safe accessories like baskets (which we linked to) along with a turquoise canvas and a wood bowl full of woven orbs in the writeup. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Love the map idea. We had an entire wall of our family room covered with wallpaper that was a map. However, it wasn’t until I had geography in elementary school that I realized that Greenland wasn’t bigger than the U.S.!
I ADORE the rug and think it will be gorgeous paired with the navy sectional. Fingers crossed Kate sends in after pics- I think this could be one of the best befores/afters yet!
I must protest the removal of the hockey posters … especially on a night the Habs play a game 7. Lol.
I love the mood board, but lately they all seem to be the same. Same West Elm coffee tables, same Target striped chairs, same blue coral, same striped drum chandelier, same world map wall art. I know there are limited sources for online shopping available to all areas, and tried and true is always a plus, but I worry that they all look the same. I am not trying to be offensive, malicious or snarky.
Hey Lise,
We definitely recognize that we have a specific aesthetic, but that’s what our clients request and expect when they hire us. So while we may seem to gravitate towards a few consistent color schemes or furniture shapes- it’s all about giving the homeowners what they want (much of which isn’t included in the little letter that we share here- they actually fill out a lengthy questionnaire and we shorten it for the blog). So sometimes things like maps or striped pendants are requested after our clients see them on other boards that we’ve done and indicate that they’d love something like that for their very own space. We’re actually excited that we’re still finding new furnishings and accessories to feature in every single board that we do, even though we’re constantly whipping up two a week (and have created over 130 total). In fact we just saw some new inky blue patterned curtains that we can’t wait to work into one of our future boards!
xo,
s
I second staying away from the IKEA table. We have had ours now for only 1 month and with 3 kids under 4, it already looks terrible. The top is almost impossible to keep clean. Even markers and regular pens require a magic eraser to come off. My kids are banned from using anything but crayons to color on this. The table looks great but with kids, I’m afraid isn’t very practical. Love everything else.
Hey Nikki,
Thanks for the second heads up on that table. One quick “tweak” that might save it with kids around would be to pick up some amazingly durable and fun white oilcloth fabric and staple it to the underside of the table after pulling it taut over the tabletop. It’s instantly be wipeable and essentially kid-proof, and the fabric can always be replaced or removed when kids get older without compromising the table at all- in fact it’ll be in mint condition thanks to the protective covering!
xo,
s
Love it guys! We have a (very) little TV/ play room in progress and were already planning the expedit on its side with baskets and the wall mounted TV on top too (we have a gorgeous 2 year old boy). Great minds think alike!! Lol
Love the colours too – might ‘borrow’ some inspiration from this one!
K :)
Another vote against that IKEA tulip table – it’s wobbly and not at all sturdy enough for kid use.
We must admit that we’re really surprised about the tulip table feedback. We know a bunch of people (including a few fellow design bloggers) who own and love that thing. But any round white table could easily do for that side of the room- it’s really Kate’s call! Maybe she can find an amazing budget friendly one on Craigslist (heck, even if it’s dark wood she can easily paint it). Oh the possibilities…
xo,
s
OMG – just LOVE the room! Our basement is configured exactly like this and we just painted it two tone – the dark brown on the bottom and the tan on the top with a chairrail. We were very unsure how to decorate but this mood board did the trick!! Now to find a blue sectional…..anyone have any suggestions of where to look??
Hey Kristie,
This is actually the sectional that Kate got (in navy of course): http://www.gusmodern.com/products1/sofas/carter-sectional/carter-sectional.shtml#carter-sectional
And you might find something similar at Room & Board or even West Elm since they have a lot of clean-lined modular sectionals. Heck, Ikea might even have something close. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Hey, love the mood board. I think the problem with the table is it’s size. When you have a base that is much smaller than the top and the material is lightweight plastic, then it will tip. I had a similar but it was VERY heavy wood, so didn’t tip. For kids, try to find an old wood one and paint it.
Great tip Priscilla. You’re totally right about a solid wood one being very sturdy. We have one in our sunroom that’s super chunky and not flimsy at all!
xo,
s
another vote for NOT getting rid of the hockey picture … :) and not just because it’s playoff time.
I love it!!!!The colour palette, the furniture, everything. And I actually love that you use a few similar items from time to time, because it helps me to see better how they work in different rooms, with different color palettes, and different layouts. Love it, love it, love it.
Interesting comments. I appreciated getting to see all these mood boards. They are training my eye to see how basic pieces will work in just about any room – if you choose well. And I think you choose well. Would I buy the exact pieces you choose? Maybe, maybe not – but your choices help me make wiser choices (does that make sense?). I do hope we get to see this room after it’s updated. Too often basements end up with leftovers. This looks like a room that will be used a lot.
For me, I love this board. I have to agree with the posters above, I also like to see some similar items in your mood boards because it helps me to see how different shapes and colors work together and you always explain how and why they work together. This basement looks really small and not user-friendly, but with your ideas it could be a wow. One question, are they not using the closet with the bi-fold doors? It looks like the tv stand would block it.
Hey Patti,
Good question! Since Kate wants to hide her TV components behind those bifold doors we figure that she may need occasional access, but there should be enough clearance to open them if she scoots the TV stand up against the other side of that nook just to get into those doors every once in a while (they’re relatively thin, and the new piece will be narrower than the old TV stand). We thought that although we could leave that area empty for super easy bifold door access (since she no longer needs a media cabinet) that Kate and the family would benefit from the extra storage space (plus that piece will help to ground the floating TV) so we decided that sliding it over a bit to access that closet would probably work for their situation. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
I’m not a fan of maps, but they certainly are popular lately. The hockey poster (Wretzsky?) made me giggle. Basements aren’t prevalent where I live, so I am always excited to see how they look! Can’t wait!!
For those wanting info on “radio controlled remotes” … I used to work for a satellite TV provider that used Motorola equipment. You are looking for a UHF remote (Ultra High Frequency) which uses radio waves to communicate with your receiver instead of Infrared, which requires line-of-site to your receiver. Call your provider or go online and see if they sell UHF remotes. There are also now UHF Extenders which go inside the battery section in your current remote and convert it to UHF. Both options are about the same price though, so I would go with a new remote, you probably need one anyway!
More on the IKEA tulip table… I understand that people without children may like it, because I actually liked mine until my daughter turned 6 months old and started sitting at it. I considered stapling oil cloth on mine but feel it will ruin it a bit, because part of it’s beauty is the view under the table top… it’s clean, simple and fresh… but if you put oil cloth on it you would see the staples and folds from some angles and that would really annoy me. But that’s just me… I would go for a different round table for the kids, preferably a second hand one and give it a coat of paint.
Great tips both Eva and Jennifer! Thanks for sharing.
xo,
s
Another source for a round table might be Value City Furniture (www.vcf.com). It’s not too glamorous but has good deals. We got our kitchen table there and it’s very heavy/sturdy. I’ve scrubbed off crayon and marker many times.
Although I’m also a fan of painting Craigslist finds. Can’t beat that.
Can’t wait to see the “after” pictures!
The carpet looks like the same one on the bossycolorblog.blogspot.com (post from April 26) to give you an idea of what it looks like in a room.
Hey Miki,
It looks awesome. Thanks for the link!
xo,
s
Wow, great job! I love the rug that you found for this room! Do you think that the rug would go well with a chocolate brown microsuede sofa and loveseat?
Hey Jenny,
Definitely! Just bring in other lighter toned pillows and accessories to break up all the brown and keep things feeling balanced. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Hey guys, this is Kate here.
We’re super excited about what Sherry and John came up with for our basement. We’ve already got the ball rolling (we were Craigslisting fools this past weekend and did some online ordering) and will be sure to send in finished pictures.
Thanks for the comments about the Ikea table! We’ll visit it in person to see what we think, but are also shopping around for another round table as a replacement. I’ve got some vintage pieces in my sights that are in the same price range as the Ikea piece.
In response to a few questions, we’re planning on a tv set-up like this: http://www.unplggd.com/unplggd/small-cool-2007-entries/6-renes-museum-minimalism-021289
Rene is actually a friend of ours, so we’ve seen his set up and it is even more impressive in person.
I was planning on adding a sink skirt (those pipes are ugly) and we may also take out the medicine closet and replace it with a nice mirror. We don’t use it. And I’m a hobby photographer, so I’m thinking we’ll frame and hang some of my shots if we find we have wall space to fill.
That door by the tv leads to the furnace room. There’s more room than you would think, so the Expedit unit won’t block the door (we measured) and it’s not a door we use a lot so a wide open walkway to it isn’t necessary.
Finally, my husband would like me to add the following: that is a picture of Guy LaFleur. Guy is not being evicted from the house, he is merely being relocated. Go Habs!
Thanks so much for dropping in with that info Kate! We’re so glad you already have the ball rolling down in your basement and we can’t wait to see how it all turns out. Send after pics whenever you get a chance!
xoxo,
s (& j)
I have that pendant and I don’t recommend it. I didn’t notice it in the store, but after having it for awhile, I realized it looks like a bunch of male anatomical parts. Everytime I look at it now, that’s all I can see. I hate it.
I love reading your blog. It just gives ideas how to decorate my house. I love that chair and Expedit.
Kate – I have a question for you. I’ve been drooling over the Gus modern sectional at my local furniture store and would love to know if it’s comfortable and holds up well. I like that the seat seems firm, and the back cusions are softer. What’s your assesment of the sofa? Thanks!
Hi Sherry, et. al-
I live in CT and have now become addicted to your blog- my husband and i are 26 and our house activities remind of younghouselove’s! except i dont have a knack for design as much as Sherry does. Its very hard to have the eye you and your husband have- congrats and never loose it :)
Just wanted to say that I am going to print out some of your mood boards for design ideas and will be sure to take lots of photos!
We all spend 100′s of hours at local stores picking out furniture, but i have to say- im switching now to online shopping because its so time consuming driving to all these places…why leave the house- when you can get all the design ideas from the comfort of your computer thanks to younghouselove.com
Thanks for inspiring me to get off my couch and get moving on decor!
Melissa :)
Ooh send us lots of photos- we’d love to see how your rooms turn out! Good luck and happy decorating…
xo,
s
Aother vote to keep the Canadiens posters. Those are geat retro posters from the greatest hockey franchise. They need to be kept.
I truly love the rug choice you have made I love the color blend you have put together and can”t wait to see the after photos.
This is Kate. Just wanted to drop in and let you know that we’re almost done with our basement. We got detoured along the way by some other house projects, but we now have paint on the walls and furniture in place. We need a few more details – pictures on walls, pillows on sofa, things more neatly arranged on the bookshelf – before it’s photo ready, but we’re getting close. We watched tv last night in our almost-done basement and love it. We tweaked a few things based on reader comment, but it’s true to the spirit of your original design.
And a belated response to Wendy’s question from May, we’re happy with the sofa. We’ve had it for two years and it’s held up well. The seat is definitely firmer but less so than some of the other Gus Modern sofas that we tried. And the cushion back is comfy. It had a lot of static when we first got it, but that has mellowed over time.
Thanks so much for the update Kate! We can’t wait to see how it all turns out!
xo,
s