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The New Open Concept Basement A couple transforms their basement into a new gathering space filled with cozy touches By Michelle Mastro Photography by Anne Matheis Design by Liston Design Build
For the past two years, homeowners have reimagined their basements as bonus entertainment spaces. Ahead of the curve, Heather and Jimmy Graham started renovating their basement long before the recent trend. “We built our house about eight years ago, and we got to a point of not having finished the basement,” Heather explains. “Then, we decided we needed more space indoors because we couldn’t use the outside spaces year-round.” The couple decided to break up the large open floor plan of the basement into smaller sections. To help them determine the unique layout of their project, the couple turned to Andrea Liston-Jones, director of design at Liston Design Build. “They really had a new idea for an open concept, while still having multiple little spaces,” says Andrea, who helped Heather and Jimmy locate the perfect spot for each feature, including the proposed bar. “At one point, we probably had the bar in every spot in the basement to see where it fit best. But when it came down to it, I had to think about how the couple would use the space. They’re the family that entertains every holiday season, so we wanted to have something that felt cozy and comfortable,” says Andrea. Although each smaller space is carefully delineated from the rest—a sliding door partitions off the small gym, for instance—Andrea and
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JAN/FEB 2022 STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM
