150 year old 1500 sq ft bare-bones basement gets complete makeover - perimeter french drains, lowered floor for increased headroom, new staircase, hand-hewn posts and beams. Integrated powder room, wet bar, study, game room and living room areas

This 1933 Wauwatosa basement was dark, dingy and lacked functionality. The basement was unfinished with concrete walls and floors. A small office was enclosed but the rest of the space was open and cluttered. The homeowners wanted a warm, organized space for their family. A recent job change meant they needed a dedicated home office. They also wanted a place where their kids could hang out with friends. Their wish list for this basement remodel included: a home office where the couple could both work, a full bathroom, a cozy living room and a dedicated storage room. This basement renovation resulted in a warm and bright space that is used by the whole family. Highlights of this basement: - Home Office: A new office gives the couple a dedicated space for work. There’s plenty of desk space, storage cabinets, under-shelf lighting and storage for their home library. - Living Room: An old office area was expanded into a cozy living room. It’s the perfect place for their kids to hang out when they host friends and family. - Laundry Room: The new laundry room is a total upgrade. It now includes fun laminate flooring, storage cabinets and counter space for folding laundry. - Full Bathroom: A new bathroom gives the family an additional shower in the home. Highlights of the bathroom include a navy vanity, quartz counters, brass finishes, a Dreamline shower door and Kohler Choreograph wall panels. - Staircase: We spruced up the staircase leading down to the lower level with patterned vinyl flooring and a matching trim color. - Storage: We gave them a separate storage space, with custom shelving for organizing their camping gear, sports equipment and holiday decorations. CUSTOMER REVIEW “We had been talking about remodeling our basement for a long time, but decided to make it happen when my husband was offered a job working remotely. It felt like the right time for us to have a real home office where we could separate our work lives from our home lives. We wanted the area to feel open, light-filled, and modern – not an easy task for a previously dark and cold basement! One of our favorite parts was when our designer took us on a 3D computer design tour of our basement. I remember thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, this could be our basement!?!’ It was so fun to see how our designer was able to take our wish list and ideas from my Pinterest board, and turn it into a practical design. We were sold after seeing the design, and were pleasantly surprised to see that Kowalske was less costly than another estimate.” – Stephanie, homeowner

The facade is of a 1939 Mediterranean home, gutted inside. This foyer used to be outdoors, but under the first floor--we enclosed it and built a new entry and stair.

Not an inch was left unused. The space directly below the stairs was perfect for storage cubbies created by the homeowner's contractor to complement the desk area.

This contemporary masterpiece rests on a cliff with a nice view of Oklahoma City. The polished concrete floors, bright blue stair case, modern furniture, and minimalist style make it one of the more unique homes Western has been a part of. The box shape design literally leaves the upper half of the house hanging over the base of the house. The use of Western's clean, straight lined Series 600 Multi-Slide door systems not only complimented the style of the room interiors, but it also allows this homeowner to open up his entire wall to the beauty of the outdoors. Joseph Mills Photography

Tony Quinn

The laser-cut plywood swallow wall unites the home, traversing all 3 storeys. It is wrapped by a custom oak + steel staircase.

A floating staircase with treads and quarter landings anchored to the wall. Dark oak cladding system makes the stairs fit in with the house décor. Clear-glass balustrade and linear LED lightning produce a luminous effect that maximises the safety as well as the visual effect.

Under-stair Mudroom/Entryway Storage

Post to post handrail system with 4091 box newels, poplar handrail with a dark stain and Oil Rubbed Bronze wrought iron balusters with knuckles. Portland Stair Company

Cheryl Terramagra

Sally McCay Photography

Under the Stairs Glass Enclosed Cable Wine System

Contemporary remodel on beautiful Whidbey Island.