Does your basement feel confining, cramped and claustrophobic? The low ceiling and dark corners of a basement can be a challenge. Don’t despair! With a few changes you can make your subterranean space feel like a cozy retreat. Trick your eye into perceiving more space by trying the following techniques. Use light colours and contrast: Light walls (off-white, light green, …
Working from home is a rapidly expanding career field. Marketing, clerical work, administrative duties and e-commerce sales are just some of the home employment opportunities. Many people are choosing to work from home (full or part time) in order to skip the commute, reduce stress, enjoy flexible scheduling, eliminate the need for child care, increase production, lower costs and avoid …
Odds are that you have unsightly support columns in the middle of your unfinished basement. Referred to as basement poles, Lally columns or jack posts, these supports present a challenge when designing your basement space. They’re an essential structural support carrying the load of the roof and upper floors. Moving them is an expensive and involved procedure. Let go of …
You’d like your unfinished basement to function as living space. It’s time to renovate! What are you going to do with that unsightly maze of plumbing pipes, exposed beams, wires, ductwork, and structural bracing that is presently the ceiling of your basement? No need to despair! There are many popular basement ceiling options that will hide all those systems. Which …
You’ve decided to renovate your basement. You’re determined to make the best use of the square footage so you’ve planned a storage room, a guest bedroom and a family room. Have you considered how you’ll utilize that neglected space beneath the stairs? With a little creativity, this compact space can be transformed, increasing your home’s functionality and beauty. Consider the …
Do you find yourself tripping over toys or constantly reminding the kids to pick them up and put them away? If you have an unfinished basement then you have an answer to the toy dilemma! Transform that dank dungeon into a bright play space. Give your kids a place to play, create, run off energy and host sleepovers. It’s easier …
Though we spend time and effort planning the layout and look of our home, basement stairs are often overlooked in the design process. Most basement stairways are dark, enclosed hallways devoid of interest and decoration! The simple action of removing the door and opening the enclosed stairway can produce a light, airy feel and create a number of design options. …
It’s the middle of the night and your teen is asleep in a basement bedroom. Faulty wiring leads to a fire in the dining room on the upper floor of your home. Within three minutes, heat from the fire causes everything in the room to burst into flames. Clouds of thick black smoke curl through the house and poisonous gases …
You’ve decided to renovate your basement. How you develop the space will affect the type of flooring you choose. Will you create a cozy playroom, family games room or guest bedroom? A carpet would work for these areas. Are you planning a home gym? Try rubber mats. Will you need a home office? Laminate might be nice. No matter how …
Is your basement a dumping ground for seldom used sports gear, outdated furniture, an overflow of books, infrequently used toys, Christmas decorations and family memorabilia? Do you spend hours of time trying to locate an object you know is somewhere in the jumble? The following suggestions will help you maximize and organize your basement storage. Clear the clutter: Before you …
