I’m going to make a personal disclosure here and say that I happened to have known these clients prior to them becoming clients. And I (Kylie) happened to have nannied for their children on numerous occasions.
So I did my fair share of laundry in what was then their unfinished basement garage.
I walked up those basement steps way more than once.
I can still remember the rumble of the garage door going up as you stood in the kitchen.
But in all that time traipsing through that space I never, ever, ever dreamed that it could turn into anything spectacular. It was, after all, just a basement garage! – like so many in Kansas City.
Well, I went by last week to finally get some after shots of what is now work Scovell Wolfe did more than 4 years ago. And they knocked this one out of the park! I like to think of myself as someone who has the ability to envision things before the work begins. But this! This was beyond my wildest imagination!
Wow.
I’m told there was nothing easy about this project – nothing even remotely straight forward about it! But it sure came a long way. I mean look at what it was midway through the project! Hard to even believe.
And this basement now has it all. A powder bath. A spacious laundry room with 2 sets of washers and driers. A living and dining space. A wine cellar. And a walk-out…
A ‘walk out’ as in walk out and over to the new detached garage Scovell Wolfe built.
Complete with an exercise room beneath the car bays plus an upper floor for storage.
Here we are mapping out the new structure prior to building.
But back to the basement. Take a look at some of these incredible before and afters.
Let’s start with the stairs. Given the foundation and structure of the house, there wasn’t much flexibility as far as modifying the location or shape of the stairwell, so it got a nice big makeover instead.
And with the newly built detached garage now housing the exercise equipment, this little basement nook was able to be converted into a temperature controlled wine cellar. Not too shabby…
And then for the main feature. Where once sat a car, now sits a sectional!
Aesthetically, I just think this basement hits the nail right on the head. The exposed ceilings and stone walls harken back the days when it was just a garage. And the grasscloth wallpaper, stunning pendants and beautiful furniture welcome you into what is now a comfortable living space. The contrast makes for an extraordinary juxtaposition.
Here’s where we landed on the outside. From garage door to french doors flanked with windows. Amazing!
When Jim met with these clients at the outset of the project several years back he asked them, do you hope to use this as an adult space or for your children? He said that more often than not, lower levels do not end up attracting adults to use it as a primary living space. So make sure this is where you want to spend your money.
Nearly five years later, our client answered that same question for me. She and her husband use it ALL THE TIME! But I mean look at this place. Wouldn’t you, too??
