By adding the kitchen and family room to the back of this Santa Monica home, we were able to include a basement entertaining space and home gym. The main level of this home leans a little bit formal, which is perfect for the family who loves to entertain, but the basement is definitely made for fun and relaxation with family, or for game or movie viewing time with friends.
In case you missed it: Living & Dining Rooms, Kitchen & Family Room, Primary Suite
The Basement
It's hard to believe, but none of this space even existed before this renovation, and it's the biggest add-on, in my opinion. We added a huge entertainment area, a bathroom, a bar area, and even a gym in this space! The powder bath is located at the bottom of the stairs, so we used a playful patterned tile with a black vanity and brass accents to set the tone that this is a fun space as soon as you walk in. In the main entertainment space, we included a huge, super-comfortable sectional and a wall media center with plenty of tables for setting a drink or snack while relaxing. There are sconces on the wall to give those movie-theater vibes and a couple of ottomans for extra seating. The big window keeps the room from feeling too dark, and matches the wall of steel-and-glass doors that define the gym area.
In between the gym and media area is a bar area, which has plenty of cabinetry for holding snacks and drinks, and a sink with a beautiful tile backsplash that reflects light from the window. We went super moody down here and did dark painted cabinets with dark counters and then added floating shelves to open it up a little. The little peninsula has stained vertical paneling that mimics the kitchen island upstairs and adds a little texture.
The Laundry Room
Back upstairs, the laundry room is conveniently located between the kids' rooms and the primary suite. Our client really wanted a super-designed, pretty space to do laundry -- who can blame her?! The front-loading machines are raised to be easier to use, and the custom cabinets include a pull-out underneath to make loading a laundry basket simple. We used the cutest concrete tile in a contrasting pattern and color for the floor. We kept it simple with white subway tile with a handmade look for the backsplash and black counters. The cabinets are a muddy cream color to warm up the space, and then we brought in the cutest wood pendant, a beautiful vintage rug, and a sweet piece of art to make it feel special.
