OT: Renovating Basement and Need Your Opinions

[Guest guest]

We live in a 1950s ranch. Basement is right out of the 70s, dark paneling, puny

lighting and they covered up a lot of windows that would have given natural

light. The basement is dry and that's what counts - why we bought it.

 

We just got word from the contractor that he will begin the renovation December

2. Time for us to " move into " Home Depot/Lowes and start looking at what we

want.

 

The basement will be a home office/homeschooling/sewing and AT/hang out

space/birth education/misc storage space.

 

That's a lot of jobs for this one space. Basement is a decent size so it's not

that much of an issue. It will be my place of business which is why I'm asking

folks here for their advice.

 

We need some input such as:

 

- Lighting: go with the mini track lighting? Remember the space needs to

easily be used for relaxation exercises yet provide lighting for teaching

(homeschool and birth)

- Colors: what colors do you feel are conducive to relaxation yet not put you

to sleep when you need to work/learn/study?

any palette or scheme that you consider has a direct effect on energy?

- Materials: Fabrics, wall finishes

- Layout: what would you consider placing together - home office next to

classroom or classroom next to hangout?

- How do you layout one huge rectangle???? Is a rectangle good for therapy

space or should I try to soften corners? If so, how?

- We have gas heat and utilities so I was thinking of installing a stand alone

(soapstone maybe?) gas stove for added heating w/ beauty.

 

That's a good place to start for now. Thoughts are appreciated. I think the

most troubling aspect is that my husband loves the industrial look which I

loathe. I love more natural but vibrant and welcoming feels to my space. He'll

be sharing the home office space w/ me and just hanging out downstairs in

general. I have a thousand more reasons I need that space (hence the tug of war

about who has more say in this ROFL).

 

Dale

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Dale! I will try to help a bit. I wish I had a large basement to

convert to a soap/oil/whatever room.

 

I have placed my answers below, next to your questions.

 

HTH,

Candy

 

> We need some input such as:

>

> - Lighting: go with the mini track lighting? Remember the space needs

> to easily be used for relaxation exercises yet provide lighting for

> teaching (homeschool and birth)

** Well, track lighting would certainly give you plenty. You could

always use the track lighting when needed, but when you are doing

relaxation, you could turn those lights out, and break out some small lamps

and candles. This would give you some relaxing aromatherapy with the

candles burning too. **

 

> - Colors: what colors do you feel are conducive to relaxation yet not put

> you to sleep when you need to work/learn/study?

** I think that a muted green is great. Not quite a 'baby' green, but

a soft sage green....or like a mint type green. Very calming, but not sleep

conductive. **

 

> any palette or scheme that you consider has a direct effect on energy?

** I don't have a real 'feeling' on this one. Sorry! **

 

> - Materials: Fabrics, wall finishes

** Fabrics - I like any type of tapestries. Muted tones of course.

Wall finishes - Anything but paneling. Seems too depressing to me. Perhaps

sheetrock, painted a matte finish of whatever color you decide on? Texture

can be applied to the walls as well, if you'd like. **

 

> - Layout: what would you consider placing together - home office next to

> classroom or classroom next to hangout?

**I would think that the office would work well next to the classroom.

Then from there to your 'hangout'. **

 

> - How do you layout one huge rectangle???? Is a rectangle good for

> therapy space or should I try to soften corners? If so, how?

**Well, how will everyone be entering the space? Do you have a door

straight into your basement? Perhaps center your office area around the

door in which people will be entering. Then work the rest of the rooms

around your office area. I would think that the rectangle shape would be

fine, per se, but I think it would be a good idea to 'soften' the area.

Adding lots of comforts....plenty of pillows on the sofas, or chairs....or

whatever you will be adding to the room. Also, privacy screens...you know

the trifold kind??....that would help to soften the area, and give

definition to the room. You could make it seem like a rounded room this

way.**

 

> - We have gas heat and utilities so I was thinking of installing a stand

> alone (soapstone maybe?) gas stove for added heating w/ beauty.

**I don't know what a soapstone stove is, so I can't comment. But it

sounds like it would work. **

 

> That's a good place to start for now. Thoughts are appreciated. I think

> the most troubling aspect is that my husband loves the industrial look

> which I loathe. I love more natural but vibrant and welcoming feels to my

> space. He'll be sharing the home office space w/ me and just hanging out

> downstairs in general. I have a thousand more reasons I need that space

> (hence the tug of war about who has more say in this ROFL).

**I think the industrial look just wouldn't work for the work you do.

It would remind me of a hospital. YUCK! Personally, the more you

can make it feel " homey " , the better it would come across. At least all of

this is my two cents!**

 

HTH,

Candy

 

 

 

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