This is How to Create an Adult Oasis in an Unfinished Basement

Directed to design a stylish adult-centric space in a nondescript unfinished basement, Save My Reno designer Sabrina Smelko and contractor Sebastian Clovis fulfill the assignment – and then go beyond it.

Chic basement living area with two grey armchairs, a grey ottoman, silver side table and a patterned rug

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Ask and Receive

Hoping for a space that oozed with grown-up sophistication, homeowners Michel and Christine were delighted with their cool, completed basement, which cost them $65,000 all in.

Related: See how the Save My Reno team created this basement workout wonderland.

Modern basement home office with a wall of navy blue cabinets, wood tabletop and two wood veneer desk chairs

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Basement Office Beauty

Having a well-organized home office was key to making this design work for these busy young parents. Sebastian gave them double desks with plenty of space for their own computers and desktop accessories, but also installed a navy shaker cabinet in the middle for them to share.

See the view from Sabrina Smelko’s home office.

Unfinished basement stuffed with storage boxes and children's toys

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The Stuffed Underground

This unfinished basement was a sea of cement floors, exposed framing, yellow insulation and uncovered ductwork – not to mention the dozens of storage boxes various family members had dumped there over the year.

Basement hallway with a set of stairs, customized wooden railing wall, and a hall table with a wooden lamp and mirror

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Zoning Approval

Creating a cohesive living space out of an empty shell can be a challenge, but the Save My Reno team was able to designate distinct areas and focus on problem solving, such as putting extra storage under the stairs and hiding a weight-baring post in the new guest bedroom wall.

Sebastian Clovis shares the top 5 reno mistakes he sees people making and how you can avoid them.

White barn door in a finished basement with new grey engineered wood floors and light grey walls

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Closing the Door

After the homeowners had experienced a barn-door debacle during a previous DIY renovation upstairs, they were determined to put that design-disaster to rest and install a chic, working barn door for their new guest bedroom – this time with Sebastian’s expert guidance.

See how the Save My Reno team transformed a forgotten storage shed into a backyard retreat.

Modern guest bedroom in a finished basement with a diamond patterned beige rug, antique box side table and a bed with a green headboard

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Grey Matter

Grey engineered wood floors now runs throughout the basement, including this restful guest bedroom painted in a soft grey and dressed with pleasing neutral patterns and textiles.

Upcycled bedside table made from an antique box and green painted table legs

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Up, Up and Away

Both the chic headboard and sweet bedside table were upcycled projects that Sabrina spearheaded with Christine’s help. A couple coats of sage-green chalk paint, which doesn’t need sanding or priming, has given new life to a discarded headboard and antique wooden case.

Check out these antique-market shopping tips from the Save My Reno team.

Finished basement with chic at-home office and a lounge area with grey furnishings and large TV above an electric fireplace

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Blank Canvas No More

Sebastian installed new insulation, drywall and pot lighting to finish off this once-exposed space, providing the blank canvas for Sabrina to work her decorating magic, pulling together an adult-focussed space that ticks off a lot of must-have boxes.

Wood veneer office chair beside a wooden topped desk and navy blue cabinet set

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Work Space

To give this multifunctional floor an injection of sophistication, Sabrina chose navy shaker cabinets and varnished wood finishes for the office and a mix of tactile greys and whites for the lounge area.

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Adults Only

This cozy lounge area provides the perfect spot to recharge after a long day splitting time between child care and at-home work. Flick on the electric fireplace, load up some Netflix and actually chill.

Watch full episodes of Save My Reno for free here on HGTV.ca.