It's not often that a home space can be made to feel luxurious, like a swanky restaurant or bar, but designer Dahlia Mahmood did just that with this spacious basement area. By using metallic textures, contemporary furniture and Swarovski crystal chandeliers, Mahmood set the mood in this space and the end result is elegantly glamorous.

What were the main items on the owner’s wish list for this space?

The client asked for a private lounge-like space to relax and entertain during guys’ night. He stressed that the room should feel sleek and sexy yet masculine. The client also made a point to install multiple plasma televisions because of his love of cinema.

What was the single-largest issue you wanted to address for the owner?

When you decide to use a high-end brand, there are usually long waits and unavoidable delays that are out of anyone’s control. This is because every customized piece is made unique and of the best quality possible. This particular basement is completely furnished with customized Fendi and took almost six months to complete from start to finish. It’s so important to reassure the client that beautiful furniture is worth the wait and keep them informed about possible delays. Once they stepped into their new basement, however, the client forgot about the wait and fell in love with the space immediately.

What was your biggest obstacle in this space?

From experience, I know that no house is built perfectly. And although this home had great bones, the surface of the ceiling was scarred with small imperfections. The uneven surfaces were so minute they were not visible to the naked eye. When we applied the silver leaf, the reflective finish highlighted every bump and scratch, forcing our faux finishing team to remove, sand and reapply the silver five more times. When applying any lustrous finish, it is crucial to have a smooth and flawless surface.

How does the end result match up with your original vision for the space?

A silver-leaf finish can be very costly and the original design was to only finish a portion of the basement. The silver leaf reflected light throughout the dark basement, bringing it to life. It also accentuated the Italian artwork chosen for the basement, playing off each piece’s color palettes and bringing out the bright metallic tones. It was a tough call, but the end result was magnificent. There was no question as to whether or not the right decision was made.

What surprised you the most about this project?

A high-end interior will take time to complete, and it’s always time-consuming to finish a space that is completely customized and unique. It is also easy to understand an excited client ready to move into their newly designed home, which is why, before starting, it’s important to prepare your client for unforeseen delays. A great company/designer is characterized with patience and the ability to best handle a situation out of anyone’s control.

What are the hidden gems in your plan?

With a touch of a button, the couch in the theater unfolds into a bed so that the client can watch movies deep into the night in luxurious comfort. The partition in the main room divides the basement into two while letting light pass through and creating some interest in the wide-open space. It divides the entertainment area from the more intimate sitting area centered around a fireplace. The bar is one of the more unique pieces, wrapped with genuine iguana leather. Every piece is customized Fendi, from the china on the dining table to the Swarovski crystal chandeliers.