The rooms under the rest of the house

We draw basement layouts for a living, and then we hear months later how the room turned out. This is where we write about the second half of that story: light, ceilings, sound, storage and the compromises worth making.

Layouts

The Path from the Stairs to the Window

When we draw a basement plan, the first line we think about is the one you walk. The path from the stairs to the window sets the tone for the whole space, and a clear, inviting route makes all the.

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Layouts

Designing a Layout Around Basement Support Posts

Those steel posts in the middle of your basement aren't going anywhere. We see them not as problems, but as opportunities to create definition, anchor furniture, and add character to your space.

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Downstairs Living is a drafting desk notebook kept by Priya Nair in Calgary. A drafting desk notebook from Calgary. Nothing on this site is sponsored.

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Layout ideas here are ideas, not drawings for construction. Anything structural belongs with a designer and the City.