Sylvan Basement

Location
Portland, OR

Size
1,387 SF

The Best in Basement Living

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Detail showing a wood mantel against a black stacked stone fireplace wall with a glass vase of tulips and a small decorative figurine.

There is always room for improvement in a basement. While some people use this added square footage for storage, a party room, or miscellaneous activities, this 1950s daylight ranch presented the opportunity for full living quarters. The client embraced that potential with a basement renovation.

For this project, we set out to create a distinct sense of place—a home within a home. The focal fireplace was key to that effort. The dated brick was re-clad in black stone tile and paired with a granite hearth and mahogany mantel.

Basement renovation with a black stone tile fireplace wall, wood mantel, and built-in wood cabinetry with open shelving on both sides.
Basement renovation with custom wood built-in shelving and cabinets, open display shelves, and integrated desk area adjacent to a black stone fireplace wall.

Pocket doors discretely divide the living space from the bedroom space beyond. Floor to ceiling cabinets provide maximum storage opportunities while built-in open shelving provides a finishing touch that defines this refined living area.

Thoughtful space planning makes better sense of the former convoluted plan and maximizes square footage. By dividing the existing over-sized utility area into three spaces, there is room for utilities plus a laundry room for each floor of the home. Additionally, a centrally-located hall now guides guests to the ample bed and bath areas.

The renovated bathroom consists of two adjacent rooms. One room contains the toilet while the adjoining room contains the walk-in shower and sinks. This allows multiple people to use the space at the same time yet retain a sense of privacy.

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Basement floor plan before renovation showing existing layout with multiple small rooms, bathroom, storage areas, and stair connection to upper level.
Before
Basement floor plan after renovation showing reconfigured layout with open living area, new bedroom, bathroom, and kitchenette, along with improved circulation and connection to the stairs.
After
Basement renovation featuring a wood-framed opening with a fluted glass sliding panel separating the living area from a kitchenette with wood cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, and a blue tile backsplash.

Mahogany features throughout the original woodwork on the upper level of the house. Continuing the use of quarter-sawn Honduran mahogany in the basement renovation creates cohesiveness between the different levels of the home. The sustainably-harvested wood headlines on the mantel, cabinetry, doors and windows. Additionally, we preserved an original glass wall and framed it with the signature mahogany.

The basement kitchen continues the simple, modern design in this renovation. Rich wood tones compliment black porcelain tile flooring and black granite countertops. A denim-colored tile from Encore Ceramics, set in a 2/3 bond, provides an inspired accent. 

Basement renovation kitchenette with wood cabinetry, stainless steel range and hood, blue tile backsplash, dark countertops, and a window bringing in natural light, partially screened by a fluted glass panel.
Basement renovation kitchenette with U-shaped wood cabinetry, stainless steel range and hood, horizontal blue tile backsplash, dark countertops, and integrated open corner shelving.

Whether space for family visits or an apartment for rent, this renovation proves you can live in style in the basement.

Close-up of dark countertop with sliced red cabbage on a cutting board, set against a blue horizontal tile backsplash with wood cabinetry above and glass bottles and tumblers nearby.