This Arts & Crafts home in the Longfellow neighborhood of Minneapolis was built in 1926 and has all the features associated with that traditional architectural style. After two previous remodels (essentially the entire 1st & 2nd floors) the homeowners were ready to remodel their basement.
The existing basement floor was in rough shape so the decision was made to remove the old concrete floor and pour an entirely new slab. A family room, spacious laundry room, powder bath, a huge shop area and lots of added storage were all priorities for the project. Working with and around the existing mechanical systems was a challenge and resulted in some creative ceiling work, and a couple of quirky spaces!
Custom cabinetry from The Woodshop of Avon enhances nearly every part of the basement, including a unique recycling center in the basement stairwell. The laundry also includes a Paperstone countertop, and one of the nicest laundry sinks you’ll ever see.
Come see this project in person, September 29 – 30th on the 2018 Castle Home Tour.
Built in 1951, this sprawling ranch style home has plenty of room for a large family, but the basement was vintage 50’s, with dark wood paneling and poor lighting. One redeeming feature was a curved bar, with multi-colored glass block lighting in the foot rest, wood paneling surround, and a red-orange laminate top. If one thing was to be saved, this was it.
Castle designed an open family, media & game room with a dining area near the vintage bar and an additional bedroom. Mid-century modern cabinetry was custom made to provide an open partition between the family and game rooms, as well as needed storage and display for family photos and mementos.
The enclosed, dark stairwell was opened to the new family space and a custom steel & cable railing system was installed. Lots of new lighting brings a bright, welcoming feel to the space. Now, the entire family can share and enjoy a part of the house that was previously uninviting and underused.
Come see this remodel during the 2018 Castle Home Tour, September 29-30, 2018!
These Woodbury clients came to Castle to transform their unfinished basement into a multi-functional living space.
They wanted a cozy area with a fireplace, a ¾ bath, a workout room, and plenty of storage space. With kids in college that come home to visit, the basement also needed to act as a living / social space when they’re in town.
Aesthetically, these clients requested tones and materials that blended with their house, while adding natural light and architectural interest to the space so it didn’t feel like a stark basement. This was achieved through natural stone materials for the fireplace, recessed niches for shelving accents and custom Castle craftsman-built floating wood shelves that match the mantel for a warm space.
A common challenge in basement finishes, and no exception in this project, is to work around all of the ductwork, mechanicals and existing elements. Castle achieved this by creating a two-tiered soffit to hide ducts. This added architectural interest and transformed otherwise awkward spaces into useful and attractive storage nooks. We incorporated frosted glass to allow light into the space while hiding mechanicals, and opened up the stairway wall to make the space seem larger. Adding accent lighting along with allowing natural light in was key in this basement’s transformation.
Whether it’s movie night or game day, this basement is the perfect space for this family!
The goal of the homeowner was to modernize and expand the existing kitchen, and open up the space between the kitchen, dining room and living room. There was also a need for a large mudroom and a remodeled basement level. Castle was able to remove most of the walls separating the main floor living spaces and design a new contemporary kitchen that provided lots of added cabinet and countertop space. Walnut cabinetry with a painted pantry cabinet complement Caesarstone countertops and Italian backsplash tile. The entire main floor is open and inviting. Almost 60 sq. ft. was borrowed from the garage to create a spacious mudroom area. The mudroom floor is finished in large, beautiful slate tiles. A new bathroom and media area were added to the basement, along with several new windows that bring in wonderful, natural south and east-facing light.
A 1,100-square foot basement build-out gave the owners of this 2000 twin home an exceptional entertaining space and more. The basement features a kitchenette with an island, custom cabinetry by Chelsea and Cambria quartz countertops. Custom cabinetry was also installed in the craft room. The family room boasts a tray ceiling and fireplace, and a new ¾ bath with a custom tile shower was added. The new lower level truly provides the owners with a perfect space for entertaining guests, as well as a cozy area in which to settle in for movie night.
This 1968 Fridley home was overall in good condition. After 10 years, the family of 5 was simply ready to make some updates to suit their needs and style. On the main floor, previous remodels had left the homeowners with layers of mismatch flooring. From carpet to parquet, tile to engineered wood, this house had it all. The family decided to unify the front entry, ½ bath, kitchen, dinette, and family room with a new modern tile. Removing a large closet between the dinette and family room also helped modify the space to make it seamless. A large new 8’ glass patio door and new fireplace with surrounding shelving became focal pieces of the new space. A ½ bath refresh rounded out the main floor improvements. In the basement, a family room, bedroom, and ¾ bathroom were added so the family had more space to spread out.
This 1949 South Minneapolis home had an underutilized, unwelcoming basement with old, dark paneling in the family room, and an unfinished laundry, storage and work shop area. Headroom was at a premium because of low hanging duct work, plumbing and gas lines.
Castle Building & Remodeling transformed this basement by creating a much more welcoming, well-lit and functional family room, with an added egress window, built-in storage units and a media area with a flat screen TV. Duct work and piping in the unfinished half of the basement was raised or consolidated to give adequate headroom for a bright and spacious new laundry area.
A new 3/4 bath completes the package, along with a built-in linen cabinet in the finished hallway. Storage areas were consolidated in separate areas of the basement with their own access doors. The family now eagerly uses the basement space as a regular part of their home, no longer dreading the trip down to the ‘cellar’.
2015 Home Tour Participant
Looking to add more living space for this growing family, Homeowners of this 1923 St Paul home made the decision to finish their basement. A full new floor plan was designed to include a long list of must haves. The new space included: a new bedroom, family room for the kids to play, an additional room for guests and/or study, new 3/4 bath, easy access for bicycle storage in laundry, low pile carpet that is comfortable for the kids to play, and warmth for the MN winters! A great floor plan was designed that integrated the family room and guest bed/study that also creates wonderful sight lines and a great flow. The basement was updated with all new windows including two egress windows. Beautiful rainglass pocket doors were installed to the bath and laundry to continue the flow of natural light from room to room. Custom natural oak millwork and beautiful door knobs by Rejuvenation Hardware were installed throughout. To match the charm of the home, subway tile and hex tile floors were installed in the new bath and shower. The bath was finished with a stock vanity, mirror, lighting, and Kohler plumbing fixtures. Modern features were also integrated throughout including Hudson Reed wall mount radiators and a NEST thermostat. One of our favorite features of this project, is the original support header and column that we decided to keep exposed. The homeowners took it upon themselves to sand the aged wood down to its natural color and it truly creates a unique piece of art. Castle and the Homeowners couldn’t be happier with the finished product.
This 1953 rambler features a newly finished basement, which adds a family room, guest bedroom, future office area, a combined bathroom/laundry room and an unfinished storage space with built-in shelves. The family room and guest bedroom have egress windows to provide natural light and the new walls, insulation and fireplace in the family room will make this a cozy space to relax. The new 3/4 bath features glass tile accents and a recessed niche in the walk-in shower, heated tile floor, white custom cabinets and a built-in laundry area. Thick carpet was installed on the stairway and throughout the family room and guest bedroom.
A few years after completing this NE Minneapolis homeowner’s basement, it was time to give the cold unfinished laundry room a quick facelift! With passion for design, we were focused on cleaning up the space while keeping a tight budget. The decision was made to create a finished- unfinished space. With design inspiration from Pinterest and a homeowner’s throw pillow, a chevron painted floor pattern was designed. The unfinished walls were painted a warm yellow to brighten up the room. The unfinished ceiling was painted a clean white to give the impression of height and lighten the room. Existing tables that have stood the test of time were painted white and new maple butcher block counters were installed for additional folding room. Finally, new shelving and a long hanging rod were stretched across the room. The laundry room is an eyesore no more! The new space completes the basements design, brings functionality, and most importantly- is fun!
2014 Home Tour Participant
This late 40’s, Arden Hills ranch was getting very little use from an unfinished, unwelcoming basement with a concrete block wall that divided the basement down the middle and low duct work that made most of the space very uncomfortable to use.
Castle Building & Remodeling transformed this basement by creating a large opening in the block wall, connecting the two halves of the basement. The ductwork was moved to one side to allowing for great headroom throughout. The new main open area has been divided into a family room with a fireplace, flat screen TV and flanking cabinetry, next to a craft and hobby area. A new, spacious 3/4 bath, and a bright, efficient laundry room add to the overall functionality of the basement, which also includes a music practice room.
Don’t forget to check out the special cat door entrance to the space under the stairs where the litter box is hidden away in a specially finished area with a motion light…for kitty’s convenience.
With plenty of living space on the main and upper levels of this 1936 St. Paul home, the homeowners were hoping to make their unfinished basement a more organized and livable area without completely redoing it. The space needed to accommodate interests for all people in the house, parents and kids alike. Utilitarian needs such as a work shop, laundry room, and workout area were incorporated for mom and dad. At the same time a more comfortable living/game area was created for the kids to enjoy with their friends. The washer, dryer, and sink were moved and a defined laundry room was created. The entire basement received drywall and a new fresh coat of paint on the walls and woodwork. The ceiling remained unfinished due to low head room constraints and the owners desire for accessibility. The floor was also left unfinished and carpet squares were installed by the client where comfort was needed, also allowing for future flexibility. Cabinetry was provided and installed for specific storage purposes- hanging of seasonal clothes/linens, gift wrapping/holiday items, overflow pantry items, and beer making equipment to name a few. Windows were replaced, and an egress window was put in, making the basement as a whole feel more inviting.
2013 HOME TOUR PARTICIPANT
With desire to maximize living space in their 1914 St. Paul basement, homeowners decided to finish their basement. The space now has a comfortable living space with a new guest room / office and powder room. The most unique feature of this industrial styled basement is the flooring a 3-part epoxy over the original concrete. The results are a beautiful multi-colored floor that adds a lot of texture and dimension to the space, a true conversational piece. With modern furniture throughout and rustic barn doors to separate the living space from the guest room, the space is full of personality and will be a space the homeowners can enjoy for years to come.
