Floors and Finishes
Basements often feel cold because we overlook the floor surface even though it is what we step on and feel most directly at home.
Keep reading
Sound and Comfort
We spend a lot of time thinking about what you can see in a basement, but what's behind the drywall might be the most important part.
Keep reading
Sound and Comfort
A basement bedroom can feel exposed to the noises of the house. We think about how to build a quiet room from the studs out, so it feels like a sanctuary, not an afterthought.
Keep reading
Rooms and Uses
Every January, the requests for home gyms start rolling in. It makes sense, with our long winters. We have learned a few things about where to put them and how to make them feel good to be in.
Keep reading
Sound and Comfort
When we draft a media room, we think about more than the screen. We consider the sound that bounces off the walls and the sound that travels up through the floorboards.
Keep reading
Rooms and Uses
We've all been there: a family movie night where someone is too close, someone else can't see, and the sound is all wrong.
Keep reading
Rooms and Uses
So many of us work from home now, and the kitchen table just isn't cutting it. We find that a small office downstairs offers a unique kind of peace and separation that's hard to find anywhere else in.
Keep reading
Rooms and Uses
We love designing dedicated playrooms that contain the joyful chaos of childhood. But our real goal is to create a flexible space that easily adapts as your kids grow, from a toddler zone to a teen.
Keep reading
Light and Ceilings
We're always looking for ways to make a below-grade space feel less like a cave. One of our favourite tricks is using reflective surfaces, and not just mirrors, to make the most of every bit of light.
Keep reading
Light and Ceilings
We often hear homeowners worry their basement will be too dark. But a cozy, moody space doesn't have to feel like a cave.
Keep reading
Light and Ceilings
Everyone says to paint a dark basement bright white, but that's not always our advice. We find that the right off-white, or even a deep, moody colour, can make a basement feel intentional and cozy.
Keep reading
Light and Ceilings
One bare bulb is a bit of a sad cliche for a reason. We think of lighting as three distinct layers that work together to make a basement feel comfortable, useful, and truly part of your home.
Keep reading
Light and Ceilings
The ceiling height in a basement is usually fixed, but that doesn't mean it has to feel low. We have a few favorite ways to use light to draw the eye upward and make the whole room feel more airy and.
Keep reading
Sound and Comfort
One of the biggest compromises of basement living is the sound from upstairs. We walk through the common ways we build a quieter ceiling, from the joist bays to the finished drywall, to make a space more peaceful.
Keep reading
Rooms and Uses
We spend a lot of time thinking about how to make chore spaces feel as considered as living spaces.
Keep reading
Rooms and Uses
We often get asked about creating a space for books downstairs. A quiet corner or a full library in a basement has its own special charm, but it takes a little planning to get the details right.
Keep reading
Layouts
We love a big, open basement, but a single large room can feel a bit like a gymnasium. Here’s how we use furniture, lighting, and a few architectural tricks to give each area its own sense of place.
Keep reading
Rooms and Uses
We spend so much time planning walls and windows, but what about the doors we have to have? Here’s how we think about the furnace room door so it feels like it belongs, whether it’s hiding in plain.
Keep reading
Rooms and Uses
When we draw a basement bar, we're not just adding a counter and some shelves. We're trying to create a destination, a little world within your downstairs space. It’s about more than just pouring a drink.
Keep reading
Layouts
We often find that removing walls in a basement plan does more than just create a big room. It lets light travel and gives a family space to breathe and change how they use the room over time.
Keep reading
Layouts
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.
Keep reading
Layouts
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.
Keep reading