Candice Olson’s best basements

For 20 years, interior designer Candice Olson has been offering Canadians her well-seasoned design expertise for all areas of the home, but her specialty is the dark, cave-like basement-"the most complicated room," as she puts it. We were recently able to steal some time from Olson while she was tearing apart a house for an episode of her W Network reno show, Divine Design.

CHW: What's different about designing basements compared with other areas of the house?

Candice Olson: It tends to be the last room in the house that gets renovated because everyone wants it to do something different. It tends to be a multi-purpose, multi-tasking room: storage for everything from off-season clothing and decorations to tools; the home office; a workshop; a media room for watching movies and playing video games, sleeping quarters for out-of-towners...all of which makes design all the more complicated because the space's usage is so wide-ranging.

CHW: What are people using their basements for?

CO: As far as trends go, it's media, media, media. As TV screens get flatter, they're getting bigger, and people are creating home-theatre rooms with six-speaker surround sound. They want a space for the whole family to gather in.

CHW: How have you combined two usages, say, a family TV room and guest quarters?

CO: This is a common combination: a room for everyday use that doubles as sleeping quarters 10 per cent of the time. In one case, the family wanted just this, but they also needed a lot of storage space. My solution: install flat closet areas around the room, almost like walls, which guests could use too. These closets acted as architectural detailing that defined two seating areas that consisted of twin mattresses and lots of throw cushions. By day, they were comfy couches; by night, they were beds. Try to think of double-duty fixtures, how a desk can be used as a vanity, for example.

CHW: Where do you begin your design?

CO: Basements often come with large structural posts or low bulkheads, so you should work your design around them. With posts, I sometimes enclose them into an interior wall or turn them into bookshelves or some sort of cabinetry. Bulkheads are perfect for creating a cosy nook for seating, or for putting shelving or your large-screen TV because it doesn't matter how much headroom you have.

CHW: Basements are notoriously dark. How do you combat this?

CO: People always say basements are dark, and, yes, they are. But thoughtful lighting fixes this problem. Usually we're dealing with a lower ceiling, so, if possible, install recessed halogen pot lights. I place them about 14" away from the wall perimeter. This

placement gives the impression of a larger room by visually pushing out the walls. Adjustable fixtures add to this affect, allowing you to illuminate artwork, brighten a piece of furniture or bring out textures such as stone, wood and fabric. If recessed lighting isn't possible, put in track lighting; it's busier, but people look at the direction of light, not the light itself. Of course, couple your lighting above with low-level lamps and sconces, just like you would in any other part of the house.

CHW: How can you simulate natural light in a room with small-or nonexistent-windows?

CO: Everyone wants bigger windows, but what are you looking out to? Most often, it's a poor view of the side of your neighbour's house or some grass. It's not a great view and shouldn't be the focal point of your room. Once you've installed adjustable lighting, you don't need to rely on natural light. In fact, I sometimes completely cover up windows with drapes so no light shines through, especially the typically tiny basement windows. I love to take an 18-inch window and treat it as if it were a beautiful eight-foot-wide sliding glass door by framing the area with large, floor-to-ceiling drapery. Your eye is fooled into thinking you're above ground and the effect is better than the sliver of light you'd get through the tiny window. Even with no windows, you can frame large mirrors as if they were windows and the effect is the same.

CHW: What type of textures and fabrics are people asking for?

CO: My clients are gravitating toward modern design elements such as polished chrome, glass and mirrors, which can create a stark, cold atmosphere on their own. This is why it's important to contrast these smooth textures with warm materials. Mirrors are especially great in basements because they give the impression of a bigger space

CHW: Is this move toward smooth design reflected in flooring choices?

CO: Yes. I don't get a lot of requests for wall-to-wall carpeting anymore. Engineered wood floors are most popular, with area rugs for cosiness. I'm a huge fan of vinyl flooring that looks like wood, especially if your floor is even slightly uneven or you're worried about water damage.

The DO's & DON'Ts

Is your basement reno-ready?

Does your basement smell musty, have traces of mould, cracks in the floor, wall or ceiling? Do you need to duck your head to avoid a beam or duct? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you need to incorporate the fixes into your reno bill.

Assuming your basement is in prize-fighter condition and ready to be renamed Games Room, here are some finishing tips:

- Never finish the basement in a home less than a year old. "The outside walls need to dry and settle first," says renovator Jason Klassen. "In the first year, check for cracks, make sure the floor is dry. In first or second year, check for ice behind the insulation. That's a good indication that your concrete is still wet."

- Don't bother roughing in electrical and plumbing for bathrooms or kitchens. "The homeowner pays a contractor $500 because they think it's going to save them some money, but we often have to break open the floor to move the pipes a few inches," says Klassen, "which costs about $1,200 plus the original $500 you wasted with the rough-in."

- If you're having a new home built, upgrade window size and type to egress. The upgrade is typically about $300 a window, but if you wait till it's time to renovate your basement, "you're looking at $3,500 for the window-well cutting and framing, plus the cost of the window," says Klassen.

- "Always upgrade to spray-foam insulation," says Klassen. "The Building Code calls for regular batt insulation for basements, but it doesn't work well in basements because of our cold climate."

What it Costs

Homeowner Mark Liberman doesn't mess around. When it came time to renovate his 1,100-square-foot basement, he didn't hold back: bedroom, bar/kitchen area with granite countertops, home gym, modular storage units, bathroom rough-in and an entertainment area "for a TV and a couple couches," says Liberman.

He hired a contractor to do the basic job-studs, drywall, electrical, plumbing, trim, pot lights, subfloor-and multiple specialists will round out the job-flooring, bar, granite countertops, cabinetry, carpeting and tile-for a total cost of about $25,000. "Most people want an open-concept room for a home theatre with a side bathroom," says basement specialist Jason Klassen, owner of Klassen Advanced Renovations Inc. in Ottawa. A typical basement reno takes four to six weeks, or about 25 working days-here's a breakdown of basement reno costs.

The Reno

Basic reno
What you get: Subfloor, studs, insulation, drywall, carpet, trim, painting, electrical and plumbing, cold-air return
Cost: $23,000

Gas fireplace
What you get: Fireplace, tiles, basic frame/mantle
Cost:$3,500

Bedroom
What you get: Egress window (if not already installed), interior walls, door, framing
Cost: $5,000 with window (window plus installation is $3,500)

Bathroom
What you get: Sink, vanity, shower, interior walls, door, framing, tiling, lighting, painting
Cost: $7,000 with shower ($5,000 without)

Home gym
What you get: Rubber-mat flooring, extra lighting
Cost: Flooring tiles $2.75 square foot

Wine cellar
What you get: Cooling unit, racking, separate room (a small bedroom minus window).
If basement is naturally 14ºC a separate room is not required
Cost: $15,000 (Price varies widely and depends on room construction, type of cooling unit [$438 to $5,000] and type/size of racking)

Basement apartment
What you get: Separate entrance, fire-rated insulation from rest of house, bathroom, kitchen (on separate breaker), plus other possible variables
Cost: $45,000 (Price varies widely; if separate entrance needs to be built, major construction might be involved)

Home office
What you get: Basic room (doesn't require egress window; could install soundproofing, extra electrical outlets)
Cost: $3,000 (Price varies depending on construction)

Air-gap subfloor
What you get: Dimpled membrane that allows concrete floor to breath, eliminates moisture, allows for installation of
any type of flooring
Cost: $3,000

Spray-foam polyurethane insulation
What you get: Eliminates chance of moisture/condensation and mould; keeps basement warm and dry
Cost: $2,700