We’re all trying to find a little bit of light in the darkness right now, both figuratively and literally. As the days get shorter and colder, and with Delta mucking things up in general, a comfortable space you can breathe in, even feel energized in, becomes more important than ever.
You can find that airy quality in the room above, the last place you’d expect: the home’s basement. Redone by locally based Shotgun Double interior design, it’s an important hub for the home. It’s located on the ground floor, at the main entrance to the house, and acts as a gateway to the house’s back patio. But because of a large fireplace dominating the room, and a garden-level-style view out back, it felt too cramped for entertaining.
But a cramped feeling can all be a matter of the proper arrangement of elements. The addition of a sizable home bar performed two functions: one, it allowed the homeowners a fun way to entertain, inside and out. Two, it created a second focal point for the room, balancing out the weight of the fireplace. The room’s function and layout were more or less instantly rounded out.
With the counterweight taken care of, it was all about lightness in the rest of the room. A screen rises halfway up the main window of the room, to create both a permanent sense of privacy and light at the same time. Bright, nautical-themed paintings and wall hanging reflected the owners’ interests, while giving a sense of lightness and play to the room, emphasized by a free-hanging lamp. Glass shelves above the bar make the knickknacks and barware hover. And while the room gives off classic breezy lounge vibes, the use of natural materials in much of the decor gives a sense of timelessness. The liveliness and breathability is cemented by the conscious arrangement of pots and vases for lots of plant life.
Feature image by Angela Newton Roy Photography
For more design inspiration, subscribe to our Home newsletter.
