Bright Basement-Choose non-toxic furniture to earn ceilings appear higher.
A faux-brick wall, fireplace mantel, slipcovered sofa and classic finds unite in this rustic area. Meg cleverly hidden wiring and ductwork into a long, 40-square-foot cupboard behind the doors flanking the fireplace.
Vibrant Laundry Room-Pinch pennies with MDF cabinets and add your own trim.
H&H senior editor Meg Crossley turned into this unfinished basement laundry room into a laundry room oasis. Improper venting supposed the washer and dryer had to be transferred to the opposite wall, in which they're now hidden by bi-fold doors. Meg also added a convenient sink with a kitchen-worthy faucet, an upper shelf and lower cabinets for extra storage. A builder cut door fronts from MDF, and then Meg additional Shaker trim for a custom look. To give the cellar an airy atmosphere, the space had been painted white. Sico's Light Sugar (4150-11), an obsolete white, makes the ceilings look higher without feeling sterile or cold. The cupboards were painted robin's egg blue for a country-inspired look.
Work with plumbing.
Placing this shower beside the plumbing shaft left room for a freestanding sink at the small bathroom. New plumbing was inserted in the laundry area, and the HVAC ducts were increased to the ceiling joists to allow for as much headroom as possible.
Refreshed Laundry Room
If you may 't manage to move pipes, keep the sink as-is and dress it up with a cloth skirt attached with double-sided Velcro. H&H design editor Sarah Hartill gave her basement laundry room a quick and easy makeover by covering a classic sink rack with a pretty floral skirt and including a graphic print rug to heat up the chilly floor tile. A countertop built to match over the laundry machines provides a folding surface, while simple stainless steel shelves store various supplies.
