Fresh Transformations from New Spaces

Lessons Learned: Design Matters

*Kay had to make sacrifices in order to get what she wanted in a basement retreat. To create an exercise area, game room, theater and wine cellar, she had to take out the fourth bedroom in the home. Although real estate agents advise against lowering the bedroom total, it makes sense for Kay who'll be enjoying these spaces for years.

*The use of stone throughout the basement made for several dramatic moments. Aside from the day it was finished, the day that the stonework on the columns was installed was probably the most exciting.

*A big "must-have" for Kay was a unique spot to serve wines and entertain. Seeing how guests gather aroung the kitchen upstairs, she sought a similar space downstairs. The use of curved framing and a domed recess above the wine table created an intimate tasting area that tied in with the arches, the niches and the art glass pendants above the bar.