This project started with an emergency call from a client when a leak had flooded their basement. Because the leak resulted in invasive mold remediation, requiring all of the floors to be ripped up and most of the sheetrock to be removed, the client decided it was time to complete the basement renovation they had always wanted. In this scenario, Coda took care of the entire project, from remediation and demolition to design and build. Below are photos and a brief summary of each aspect of the project.
Water Infiltration and Mold Remediation
After a leaking pipe flooded the basement, we tested the area and found mold, meaning that a full remediation was necessary (flooding and mold is something that we can take precautions to prevent or catch quickly but unfortunately this was a scenario that was undetectable and flooded too quickly to catch before the damage was done). When it comes to mold remediation, porous surfaces can’t be effectively cleaned and typically have to be discarded, which in this case included carpet, sheetrock, furniture, and anything else stored in the area that didn’t have a surface that could be easily wiped off. We brought in a remediation specialist to treat for the mold and remove contaminated materials, along with a cleaning / moving company to assist in clearing the basement of salvageable objects.
Building and Design Considerations
The client’s goals for the new renovation were to include a private lounge area for playing poker, watching sports and smoking cigars, an updated gym that was brighter and more welcoming than their former space, a new half–bathroom and plenty of functional storage space for a home business. This was a tall order for a small space that didn’t already include plumbing and was spatially limited by the house’s support columns. Because of the many limitations and considerations within the space, it was incredibly helpful to have the design and build all within one team so that we could analyze and plan cohesively. A few key considerations that we needed to keep in mind were:
- Add additional waterproofing and leak detection technology to the basement to protect from future water infiltration and damage.
- Properly delineate the rooms while creating enough functional space and hiding all support columns in the walls without getting into the expensive task of moving them.
- Hide all existing utilities and new plumbing within the walls or in carefully placed ceiling soffits without creating a wonky space that feels like a basement (i.e. a tray ceiling vs. randomly placed soffits).
- Add a wet bar, wine refrigeration, climate-controlled cigar storage and a refrigerator / freezer for beverages and snacks.
- Properly seal the lounge area and add a ventilation system strong enough to eliminate smoke and cigar odors.
- Limit furniture upholstery to materials that won’t absorb smoke odors.
The Design
For this project we worked very closely with the clients to help formulate and execute on their design vision. They wanted a bright and welcoming gym and the goal for the lounge area was for it to be a comfortable and functional space for watching sports and hosting poker games without feeling like a cliché “man cave”.
A few key elements we worked into the design were:
- We designed a “hidden” door by using the wall paneling to disguise the door seams
- The cigar storage, wine refrigeration and wet bar were all carefully spec’d and designed to fit between support columns so that they could recess into the adjacent storage room and sit flush with the walls, maximizing space in what was a very tight layout
- A custom-made poker table was designed to work cohesively with the rest of the furniture and fit the space.
- We sourced shock absorbent and durable scratch proof faux-wood floors in the gym instead of the standard rubber gym floor.
After several rounds of floor plans and design boards we settled on the below layout and schemes.
