Tiffany's 5 tips for a top-level basement
In the Zone
“Basements should reflect the way we live and, ideally, have something for everyone. This is a space for the family, so I ensured there was a dedicated zone for each member. The father has his gym space, the mother has a pottery studio to work on her craft, the girls have a playroom, even the dog has his own shower room. There’s a comfortable seating area for hanging out as a family, and a home theatre for everyone to enjoy.”
Light Fantastic
“All basements need a mix of lighting – think ambient, task and decorative. I use pot lights for ambient lighting, and I can’t stress this enough: whenever you add pot lights, make sure they’re on dimmers! Wall sconces are a wonderful way to layer in task-oriented lighting. I used them above the desk area and added a flush-mount one in the reading nook. Decorative lighting finishes any room, so I included a table lamp in the basement’s seating area. A good lighting rule of thumb: play with scale and mix materials for visual interest.”
White Out
“Breaking news: white isn’t always right in a basement! In fact, if there isn't a lot of natural light, I would not recommend it, as artificial lighting can make white paint appear yellow and dingy. In a darker basement, go with dark, moodier walls like what we used in the wine cellar and home theatre entrance. This basement, however, has lots of natural light, so white walls in a flat finish work well here and keep things feeling bright and airy.”
Good Shape
“When choosing furniture, especially in a basement, it’s all about striking the right balance so there’s an interesting mix of shapes to keep the eye moving throughout the room.”
Neutral Territory
“Neutral doesn’t have to mean boring when the finishes are tactile and inviting. Vintage rugs in muted tones are perfect for basements because they wear like iron and hide a multitude of spills. The seating area’s antique rug is a showstopper, while the plain, muted broadloom in the girl’s play zone is super plush, as playing on the floor is still a big part of their day. Textures, like the caning on the media console and the nubby ottomans, feel natural and add coziness to a neutral scheme.”
POTTERY STUDIO
One of the homeowners is an avid potter so a home studio (left), complete with a vintage-look sink, makes working on her craft and cleaning up afterwards a breeze.
SCONCE, Schoolhouse Electric. SINK, Etsy. FAUCET,
Kingston Brass. FLOOR TILES,
Factory Tile Depot. Wooden HOOKS, H&M Home. CABINETRY HARDWARE, Myoh.
BATHROOM
The bathroom (below) is near the gym and has a steam shower, so Tiffany wanted it to feel like a spa. Mosaic marble floor tiles create a luxe feel and the wood vanity dressed with brass fixtures imparts warmth to the otherwise cool colour scheme.
Custom VANITY, MIRROR, Tiffany Leigh Design. Flush-mount LIGHT, Hudson Valley Lighting. SCONCES, Circa Lighting. Royal Blanc Quartz COUNTERTOP, Hanstone. FAUCET,
Watermarks Kitchen and Bath. HARDWARE,
Myoh. Floor TILES, Factory Tile Direct.
“I believe ‘basement’ and ‘basic’ are not synonymous! Basements are definitely worthy of special finishes in their own right.”
DOG SHOWER
This shower room (above) is every dog owner’s dream. Tiffany went beyond the utilitarian aspect of this highly practical feature and elevated the aesthetic with glass tiles, burnished brass fixtures and graphic artwork.
PRINTS, Juniper Print Shop. TILES, Factory Tile Depot. FIXTURES, Delta Faucet. DOOR KNOB, Emtek. RUG, IKEA.
MUDROOM
Since the basement connects to the garage, Tiffany reimagined this entry point as a small mudroom (right) with a bench, shoe shelf and baskets for dog walking supplies. This keeps backpacks, jackets and boots from piling up by the door. Bonus: it’s close to the custom dog shower.
BASKETS, Elte. ART, Juniper Print Shop. FLOOR TILES, Factory Tile Depot. Wooden HOOKS, H&M Home.
WORK IT OUT
“With more of us working out at home, personal gyms are becoming a lot more common. They require a lot of practical considerations – like the spacing of equipment and safe flooring material. I chose a vinyl, non-slip floor that’s good for shock absorption on joints and can take the dropping of weights. I wanted the gym to have a slightly industrial feel, so I clad the wall in a brick veneer for an architectural element and, again, to add some contrast. I love the way the vinyl floor looks like concrete.”
VINYL FLOORING, Fibre and Cloth.
THEATRE & CELLAR
“I wanted the wine hallway leading to the cinema to feel like you’re having a movie-going experience,” says Tiffany. “The dark paint colour allows the custom brass cinema sign and marquis lighting to shine in this space, yet still feels sophisticated and cool. It’s a dark and moody ‘wow’ moment in an otherwise light and bright basement.”
SEATING, Station Earth. WALL PAINT, Kendall Charcoal HC-166, Benjamin Moore. SCONCES, PENDANTS, Elte. CARPETING, Tielemans Interiors.