Project Reveal: Longhorn & Leather

Saddle up and hitch a ride with us as we tour this lower level home refresh! Ok, well it’s actually not THAT western-themed, so don’t worry. We had so much fun with our clients creating a lower level that now makes them want to hang out and invite guests to spend time there as well. There was nothing wrong with their lower level, other than it really lacked personality and decor. It was pretty bland, and homeowner Christa said it was more of a kid’s hangout and that she and her husband rarely wanted to spend time there. Their home was newly built when they bought it and Christa said they had purchased a sectional sofa and a couple of pieces just to have something to throw down there to sit on. Other than that, their focus was on designing the main floor (you’ll see this is an upcoming reveal, called Woodlands Casual) and the basement was something that was kind of ignored for a few years. They were ready to reclaim their territory and the whole western/Montana lodge style theme originated because her husband Steve really wanted some sort of buffalo or longhorn cattle artwork to be included somewhere in the design. We absolutely loved the idea and hence, the Longhorn & Leather vibe became our design inspiration!

before photos

The biggest problem was the lack of decor and personality. The walls and surfaces were all bare, the homeowners hated their brown plush carpeting, and there were no window treatments to block sunlight from shining on the tv.  The kid’s gaming area overtook most of the rec room area, and the carpeting wasn’t the most durable for a walkout basement with a lot of in and out activity with their kids and their friends.

DESIGN PRESENTATION

Our proposed design plans included:

1. New carpeting in the family room
2. A durable luxury vinyl plank floor in the rec room and hallway areas. It looks like wood but is much easier to maintain
3. Replace their 2 uncomfortable chairs with 1 or 2 really comfortable recliners for the ultimate movie watching experience
4. Relocate the kid’s game tables, etc to create a comfy and more adult lounge space for entertaining, as well as for family game nights
5. Add interest to the tv wall by adding a textural wallpaper
6. Update and elevate the light fixtures
7. Add window coverings to provide some light control and privacy. We recommended woven shades for their organic and nature-inspired look.
8. Add whimsical artwork and decor to make the space fun and give it personality!

FAMILY ROOM + Bar seating

The new version of this lower level now feels warm and inviting! We added a gorgeous wallpaper that looks like cork with metallic accents to the entire tv wall, as well as in the back of the built in niches next to the fireplace. We brought in rustic modern wall light sconces to add ambient lighting and pizazz to the tv wall as well. The leather recliner is unbelievably comfortable and I love that it does not look like your typical recliner. The wood legs and slimmer style keep it very modern and classy – not your Dad’s recliner! We added custom pillows in plaid, stripes and woven leather to brighten up their existing sectional sofa. Floor and table lamps help to add functional but soft lighting. We love the artwork we custom ordered – we named the buffalo Bubba (thanks to our friends on social media’s vote) and framed him in a beautiful rustic wood frame. One of the most dramatic changes was changing the carpeting. We chose a stunning herringbone patterned wool carpet by Godfrey Hirst. It is so soft and the lighter color really brightened up the entire room! Another favorite feature of mine is the beautiful woven shades. They are literally woven to the exact size of the window and the texture and detail on these Hartman & Forbes shades is to die for! They add a luxurious layer to the beautiful tall windows.

BAR + GAME TABLE

Game night anyone? If you’re going to spend some time (like hours) sitting at a table to play games, or just socialize with friends, you want to be in a comfortable chair, right? These swivel chairs are hands-down one of our favorite. The darling checked flannel fabric (yes, I said flannel!) takes the coziness to a whole new level! The table itself is like a piece of art. The concrete top and modern metal base helped to keep the room feeling more modern and less old-school ranch or log cabin feeling. The new luxury vinyl flooring has more gray tones in it, which we loved as a contrast to all of the warmer brown tones in the cabinetry. Layering a little cowhide in the lounge area was a must-have detail in our opinion. Leather and metal counter stools at the theatre counter are not only stunning, but they create extra seating for guests and a perfect spot for more friends to watch the game on the big screen tv in the family room. Lastly, lots of accessories were added to bring in layers of greenery, wood textures, cowhide, suede, woven rattan, and metals. This whole lower level now has a lot of interest and personality and has become a favorite place for this family to spend time in!

We hope you enjoyed seeing how this lower level was transformed to give our clients a space that now feels like a part of their home, rather than just a forgotten basement. We wish them many years of enjoyment in this gorgeous, rustic, modern, Longhorn & Leather lower level!

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XO,

Amy & the Interior Impressions Team