LOOK AT OUR BASEMENT REMODEL

One of the reasons we fell in love with our brownstone in the suburbs was the garden-level basement. The layout allowed entry into the basement from both the garage and a flight of stairs from the foyer.

We had three young children, and the garden-level basement limited our kids’ access to the exits ( the reason we moved was that the walkout basement gave my middle one too many opportunities to sneak out of the house.

He was four.

We nicknamed our house the brownstone in the suburbs due to its five levels, ranging from the basement to the loft and the top floor, which offers mountain views.

With two dogs, three kids, and two parents working from home, the carpet took a beating.

As a Realtor, I see the owner’s basement flooring choices. Carpet is a popular choice for cozy comfort under bare feet, and the “builder basic carpet” is affordable.

For us, the vinyl floor decision was a game-changer for the home office, foot traffic, and with our Berner, Elliott, and our grandpup, Mr. Russell.

There is no judgment in an owner’s choices (most of the time). At one point, our office/guest room looked like this:

This space has had as many roles as an understudy in an off-off-Broadway play.

Over the years, the lower level included:

• playroom
• home office
• Nerf War Zone
• Ping Pong playoffs
• Home theater
• Treadmill (my g version of a gym).

The bar fridge was filled with waters and Gatorades and Pepperidge Farms Goldfish.

The basement hosted indoor knee hockey.

One of the reasons it was so popular is it never felt like a basement. With it’s garden-level windows we had sunshine and views of a snow rollingin from the west.

We were on the tail end of our kitchen renovation and budget when we realized we had a pre-paid dumpster in our yard. If we were going to remove the carpet, the timing was now.

The second my husband and I agreed we needed to replace the carpet I tore out the dirtiest section of carpet and hauled it to the garage while my husband went to Home Depot to get a Dumpster bag.

Tip: I found it helps if I start the demo process to minimize the chance of moving the project to a later date.

CARPET TO LUXURY VINYL FLOORING

Over the past ten years, we updated our basement as our needs changed for the lower-level multi-purpose space.

Ipulled this photo out of the archives.

This was when we began our basement remodel plans. Probably after uploading this photo.

INITIAL BASEMENT RENOVATION INCLUDED

• replace the windows facing the front of the house,
• add wrought iron spindles
• replaced the granite tile countertop and honey oak cabinets (to match our kitchen cabinets).
• updated the bathroom + built this Pottery Barn knockoff vanity.

So we put our ensuite bathroom remodel on hold and tackled the basement flooring.

This is the area on the adjoining wall of the room above.

Those window treatments likely were a reflection of my mental state with three kids, two dogs, a husband who recently quit his job “to purchase a med device company (and later a second startup). And, I had just signed with a national real estate firm, with a crazy workload with relocation clients.

If our heads weren’t already spinning, the Ikea drapes certainly didn’t calm our new level of crazy.

But now, all I see is the hockey goal and I just smile at the memories.

Our basement is ground level with an egress (entry door) exit to the garage.

Our dogs and family are in and out of the entry garage door all day long.

And since my husband moved his office to the basement, he basically created a WeWorks space with refreshments and a big-screen television on the lower level.

THE BEST DECISION

We had two carpet estimates and were leaning towards carpet because the basement is chilly. And, with a wood subfloor underneath we wanted padding and carpet.

BUT, our neighbor and friend, who is a custom home builder, suggested we look at luxury vinyl flooring for the lower level.

Although the word vinyl suggests cheaper there is nothing affordabe about vinyl flooring.

KEEP IT UNIFORM

We have hardwood floors on our main level and carpet on the upper level and four flights of stairs. Unsure of the costs to add hardwood to four flights of stairs, we opted to add the luxury vinyl flooring to the lower level and the two steps to the garage entry door.

We left the carpet on the four flights of stairs.

Realtor tip: As a homeowner, try to minimize the number of flooring options on one level or open floorplan. It breaks up the space and can look choppy when a home has carpet, wood floors and tile on the same floor.

try to minimize the number of flooring options on a level.

I added this rug to my husband’s office.

Do you know why it is called luxury vinyl?

Because it is pricey! Now we did have some hardwood flooring to remove around the bar, but it was more expensive than we anticipated.

So it is a good thing we absolutely, positively love, love, love the decision to add vinyl flooring to our basement renovation.

LUXURY VINYL FLOOR IS THE BEST DECISION

With the updates we have made in our basement, the vinly wood grain floors is our favorite. I wish we had done it years ago. It is dog-friendly, kid-friendly, and family-friendly.

BENEFITS OF LUXURY VINYL FLOORING

• Makes our basement look larger
• Basement feels ten times brighter
• Scratch resistant
• Easy cleanup

We love it!

We added a dog bed (from Costco) in my husband’s office (the dogs love to listen to his conference calls). and a 2nd dog bed near the garage entry so they always here when someone comes home (or the UPS driver).

You may have seen this on my stories after we installed a Ring doorbell.

We recently purchased a pool table here and had three generations of our family playing pool over the holidays.

We love it! If you have any questions, please contact me here.

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