Successfully creating an at-home gym that also has serious interior design clout is no small feat. On Save My Reno, designer Sabrina Smelko and contractor Sebastian Clovis take a dark basement and turn it into a state-of-the-art gym (and laundry room) fit for an Olympian.
Spot Me
After living in their new house for only three months, first-time homeowners Natalie and Adam decided they needed a designated spot to do their squats, plus a place to air out their piles of smelly hockey equipment.
Former CFL football star and Save My Reno host Sebastian Clovis shares his workout tips.
If You’ve Got It
Since Natalie is an Olympic athlete – she was part of the Canadian hockey team that took home the gold at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi – tastefully displaying hockey-career memorabilia was important to the couple.
Ground Zero
Yikes! Before the Save My Reno team stepped in, Natalie and Adam’s basement had become a dumping ground for their bags of hockey gear, miscellaneous furniture and tools they could never find due to all the accumulated mess.
In the Red Zone
Sabrina endeavoured to bring order and calm into this new basement gym by installing grey engineered-wood floors, an easy palette of white, grey and red, and defining different zones around the space with activity-specific furnishing and accessories.
Sweat Equity
Since their budget was set at $30,000, the Save My Reno team sourced second-hand, state-of-the-art exercise equipment that was still in excellent shape but wouldn’t break the bank.
How the Save My Reno team turned this no-go basement into a family-friendly refuge.
Canadian Yogi
A strong Canadian theme runs throughout the space, evident here in the maple leaf water bottle and red square poufs, paying homage to the country Natalie has now represented twice at the Winter Olympics.
Stick It to ’Em
To pay homage to their preferred sport, Sabrina thought it would be fun to incorporate old hockey sticks into this custom-made double hockey locker, designed to hold Natalie and Adam’s gear when they’re off the ice.
Dark Days
The exposed HVAC unit, washer-dryer set and 1970s wood veneer panelling all helped to make this large basement feel dark and boxed in. Rather than moving the ductwork, Sebastian was able to construct a wall around it as part of the new laundry room.
All in One
Since the original washer and dryer were in good shape, Sabrina decided to keep them and incorporate them into a design scheme that included white shaker cabinets with gold hardware, a handy wall drying rack and rail, and a gorgeous, cost-efficient butcherblock counter.
Sink Into It
It’s almost sacrilegious to imagine soaking dirty gloves and socks in this gorgeous white farmhouse sink, but even the most fashionable features of this laundry room have a necessary function, which is the hallmark of truly smart design.
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