Jeff Krisel Basement Cove Design Recommendations
Consultation Notes Jeff Krisel lives on the northwest side of Grand Rapids, MI. He is having a hard time making use of the cove at the foot of the stairs in his basement. Because of this, the space has remained relatively empty and unused. He would also like to make use of his artwork. Jeff is drawn to warm earth tones & tribal design. He loves being outside and is Inspired by white birch, solitude, and water. He likes art that speak to him- mostly drawn to images that tell a story. In the past, he was more drawn to white/steel/concrete, but he’s embraced the style of his home and infused it with pieces he likes. He still sometimes feels, though, like he’s living in somebody else’s home. Jeff loves music, having alone time to recharge, cars, and working out. His music tastes include blues, rock, and classic rock in addition to classical music/orchestral sounds.
Designer Goals & Beliefs Our goal is to provide inspiration, recommendations, and the next steps to make our client’s current home match his future aspirations and needs. We will achieve this through listening to his needs, investigating his personal style, researching the best options for him, and pushing him to think of ideas or options that may not have been previously considered. We believe that for a home to feel “lived-in” yet clean & inviting, one needs to find a balance between old/ new furnishings and high/low end. We will try to utilize the pieces our clients already have in addition to providing recommendations for new & vintage items to add to their home collection. Finally, to make a home feel warm/comfortable without feeling too sterile, we believe one needs to incorporate a variety of textures (wood, linen/textiles, metal, etc.), and we will be intentional in this with the recommendations provided.
MOOD BOARD
Goals For Your Space Â
This project is a unique one as you are currently not using the space AND most of what you have (and do) already has a defined place. It’s less about solving an existing problem and more about finding a new use & making it functional for your lifestyle. Since the space is not enclosed on all four sides, it is also important to make sure that the cove blends well with the opposite side of the room. We need to marry both sides of the room, but also bridge the gap between the ultramodern downstairs furniture/accessories with the natural/tribal vibe of the first floor and fireplace. We’d like to create a space where you feel yourself- chill, zen, comfortable. We’re calling it a “guitar lounge”. It’s a space you can spend time in that is unique to you and your love for music.
Recommendations We believe that you should incorporate the newly designed cove with the kitchen/bar space in the basement. This will help the whole room blend well together & give a cohesiveness. We recommend changing out the cabinets & countertops. The lower counters can pull from stone on the fireplace wall & bridge the gap to the other side. The counter tops can be steel, concrete, or wood.
Stone Counter Examples Â
New cabinets/floors can be installed that will bring a warm, rustic vibe. We recommend putting the hardwood throughout the whole space & defining the areas with areas rugsthis will add visual interest/definition (as you also have a great eye and affinity for rugs).
To further define the space and make it pop, we recommend painting the cove & accent wall in the bar area a moody gray.
On the wall closest to the bar, a built-in accent wall should be added to store stereo equipment (for listening), technology for watching videos, amp storage, etc. This way everything you need is at your fingertips, but stored away in a tidy fashion. This will also help to further blend the cove to the bar area.
A comfortable accent chair should be added to the space. The size/style is important since the space is so small and you don’t have as many options to make an impact. Accessories & lighting should be added to provide function & interest.
The remaining two walls in the space should be filled with art like a gallery wall. Pieces will be hung closely together to create a striking effect. Some additional art pieces should be added, though, to the collection to make it feel more organic. A skull, for example, will break up the space & help it feel “natural�. Additionally, having an unframed canvas or wood painting (example provided is by local artist Jeff Kraus) will make it feel less matchy-matchy and more collected and visually interesting.
So, what’s next?
Whew! That was a lot of information. Now that you have seen the inspiration/recommendations, soak it all in. Let us know if you have any questions. After processing the information, you have a couple of options. ü Call or e-mail to set up an appointment to discuss your likes/dislikes of the design and how we can move forward together with Hunt & Gather managing the project (we would discuss what items you would like to purchase yourself, what we should be hunting for, budget, and timeline). ü Start working on the room on your own (purchasing items, hunting for things, etc.) and only call us when you need clarification, recommendations, or final styling. Remember, the WHY is more important than the WHAT, so if you don’t like a pillow/lamp/etc. that we recommended, find something with similar lines or a similar purpose (or a cheaper price) and consider purchasing that instead! ü Nothing. This wasn’t what you were looking for, and you would like to discontinue working together. Additional pricing for services would be given at the follow-up meeting that fit your specific needs. Hope you Love the design concept! Can’t wait to hear from you!
THANK YOU Kelley Howley & Fernando Ramirez Hunt & Gather 951 Cherry St. SE huntandgatherGR@gmail.com