High-End Hibernation
It’s such a common trope that it almost makes us cringe to keep writing it, but well, here we are: winter is coming.
Which is why this month, our 614Living section pays tribute to a few local home projects that have turned the bottom level of their houses into the top feature on its profile.
Suite Life
Owner: Arved Ashby
Remodeler: Reliance • reliancedbr.com
Music lover and educator Arved Ashby already resides in Columbus’s tucked away road-in-a-ravine, Walhalla Drive, but he wanted to transform his lower level into a quiet and comfortable getaway, too. But, with limited square footage and a long list of must-haves, he and Reliance had to plan space in a meaningful and functional way. Raising the ceiling by moving utility lines out of the way, and adding large windows in the gathering spaces, as well as providing accent and task, helping expand the space as much as possible.
The light color palette paired with the natural textures of wood, leather and concrete helped to bring everything together, while the linear fireplace and bar area in the family room added the final touches of comfort and warmth needed. The simple and continuous subway tiles of the bathroom made the it feel more expansive and luxurious. In the end, we were able to provide our client with a space that was uniquely his in style and functionality. The basement became a guest suite complete with a bathroom and small area perfect for everyday relaxation or weekend gatherings with friends.
Barrels of Fun
Owner: Jean Shaw
Remodeler: Griffey Remodeling
griffeyremodeling.com
The idea of a bar in a basement isn’t a new one, but we’re going far beyond just a few stools and bar taps these days. Take the latest project from Griffey Remodeling, for example, where whiskey isn’t just an item on the shelf, but the entire motif. The custom cabinetry and stonework does plenty to set the project apart from your basic underground watering hole, but it’s the sink—yes, the sink—that shines here. Who else can claim that their bar has a custom-made sink carved into the belly of an authentic Maker’s Mark barrel? Every good bar has a good backstory, and beyond the barrel, this one has it’s own incidental lore, too. Thanks to savvy brainstorming and some reclamation talent from an old barn in Coshocton, the room boasts a corrugated ceiling rather than just basic old drywall. Couple that with the Jack Daniels lights hung from old hay pulleys, and photos of the actual barn in Coshocton being torn down, and you have a tavern that tells its own tale.
Wine On-Demand
Owner: Chetan and Sonali Kandhari
Remodeler: Buckeye Basements
buckeyebasements.com
There’s plenty to take in when entering the Kandhari’s basement—the spacious theater room and adjoining rec room are enough to make any underground upgrade complete. But, our guess is most guests stop and stare at the wine wall, the space’s stunning showpiece. Whereas a wine cellar is often cut off from the rest of the room, the stone-backed wall of vino is front-and-center, close to the bar, and ready to be utilized for any occasion. Perhaps most interesting of all is that the wine wall looks its best when the room is not in use——the dimmable LEDs carefully placed at its base illuminating it for the showcase piece that it is.
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