Tiny basement ideas
10 cozy small basement ideas to make the most of your subterranean space
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By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.On the hunt for small basement ideas? Well, we have you covered with loads of inspiring small spaces that just prove what you can do with even the diddiest of basements.
It might seem like that square footage under your home is not really good for more than just storing your holiday decs, or the ski gear or the furniture you inherited from your in-laws. But by turning that space into an actual functioning room, whether that be a home office or an extra bedroom, not only will you be giving yourself the extra space but you could also add value to your home.
Decided it's time to start making the most of your small basement? Well just keep on scrolling to get inspired to remodel...
- Find more basement bedroom ideas in our gallery.
What can you do with a small basement?
You can do so much with a small basement!
If you are looking for the best ways to add value to your home, turning your basement into a second living space or a guest bedroom, complete with a small bathroom would be the best way to go. However, if you are just after a space to add a home office, a gym, or even a home cinema, basements are the perfect place to do so.
Of course, we can't ignore the fact that basements make for amazing storage spaces too. Just make sure if you do use your space for storage you don't allow for it to come a dumping ground. Make sure everything is kept accessible and organized to boxes, bags, drawers etc. Keep it a space you don't dread having to go down to!
1. Create a cozy den like space
(Image credit: Interior Fox)
If your small basement has not been blessed with windows, which we know is super common, your best bet is to embrace the darkness and the smaller proportions.
Turn your space into a really cozy, go on let's just say it, grown-up den.
This space designed by Interior Fox , might be dark, small, and have low ceilings but you don't notice that. All we see here is a really pretty inviting space that would be perfect for watching a film with a couple of G&Ts on the weekend.
'Given the same consideration as other rooms, the basement can become just as stylish and functional as a main-floor living space. Start by considering how much natural light the room has; this will determine how much electrical lighting is required. Spotlights are always a great place to start: they are low profile and, paired with a dimmer, will allow for full control depending on the time of day or activity. Layer with wall lights, floor and table lamps to really help to set the tone.' explains Jen & Mar from Interior Fox .
'For smaller spaces with low ceilings, try to keep the furniture low to the ground and not too bulky to maximize the feeling of space.
This will make the room appear larger and prevent it from feeling overcrowded.'
2. Add a second living room
(Image credit: Staged for Upsell)
Adding a second living room in your basement is a great use of the space, especially if you have kids. But also it can just be nice to have a second space to chill in, watch films and hunker down, especially in the colder months, we think a basement living room is even more inviting than one in the main house.
Again, pick low slung furniture if you are dealing with low ceilings and stick to a simple neutral color scheme to keep the space feeling light and airy. Loving this basement space styled by Staged for Upsell , the monochrome vibe here that's been warmed up with brown leather and wooden accents is perfect in this small space.
'I would suggest adding pot lights in the basement during a reno, however, beyond that don't feel like every wall in the space needs to be painted dark. Keep some walls painted white or light grey and play with dark accent walls.
The odd accent wall and using some dark leathers and black in your throw pillows for example will be enough to keep it feeling more masculine and moody.' explains Joanna Lane Owner and Creative Director of Staged for Upsell.
3. Divide up your space with sliding doors
(Image credit: Katie Gelsheimer)
How gorgeous is this basement space by Katie Gelsheimer ? The small bedroom area is actually windowless, but it feels far from gloomy because it's so beautifully lit and decorated. Those sliding doors are such a feature of the space and they allow for all the natural light from the kitchen area to flow through and keep the open plan feel but can be closed when privacy is needed.
4. Turn a small basement into a guest bedroom
(Image credit: Interior Fox)
A small basement is the perfect opportunity to add an extra bedroom to your home. You might be looking at your basement thinking, there's no way anyone is voluntarily sleeping in that, but what usually takes a basement from a glorified storage space to a lovely cozy bedroom you'd actually not be terrified to sleep in is lighting.
Whether that is natural or artificial, you need to make sure there is plenty of it.
If you are lucky enough to have windows in your basement, chances are they will be positioned at the top of the room, not ideal for bringing in lots of light. However, you can maximize it by keeping the space around the windows as clear as possible, and pick light and floating window treatments – a mix of blackout roller blinds and a nice voile curtain would be our recommendation.
Also make sure you have plenty of artificial lighting in the form of overhead lights, wall lights and some lovely soft lamps too.
5. Experiment with darker colors
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We've been swooning over Amy Wilson's basement for over a year. Just look at it! That small basement is cooler than any room in our houses. Plus it proves you don't have to always play it safe with the colors in your basement.
If you are a lover of dark and dramatic interiors then roll with it.
'It is often a misconception that dark colors make a room feel smaller. In fact, this can work brilliantly in compact spaces, and can help a room to feel co-ordinated and cozy. Paint is a great way to define a space, so don’t be afraid to introduce different colors to the walls. We love to mix it up with different tones to create interest but also to reflect our clients’ individual style and personality.' explains Jen & Mar from Interior Fox .
6. Create a home gym
(Image credit: Green Retreats)
Gym closed? No problem, create your own in your small basement. Imagine you can blast your tunes as long as you like or even put a TV down there and you can catch up with shows. One episode of Married at First Sight Australia = a good hours workout.
Depending on how fancy you want your at-home gym to be, you could create one in your basement on a pretty cheap budget. You could of course lay rubber flooring and add speakers and air-con and go all out creating a space you are going to use really regularly.
Or if you are just looking to create an area to escape the kids and the dog to do a quick workout, or you could just paint the walls, lay down a few mats and arrange your equipment.
Pop up some pegboard on the walls to store your weights and bands on the wall and to make the gym feel more... like a gym.
7. Add a cinema room
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Surely it's everyone's dream to have a home cinema? And what better place to create a movie room than in your basement. This space by A House We Built is so gorgeous, we love the shiplap paneling, which works so well to make a basement feel cozier. Plus the wooden paneled ceiling really brings in warmth and because they are so light you don't notice the low height.
If you want to create a more immediate set up, spend the weekend giving your basement a clean out, maybe give the walls a fresh coat of white paint.
Then get some old sofas down there, a big area rug and set up a projector to up your movie night game.
- Head over to our guide to how to build a home cinema.
8. Create the ultimate games room
(Image credit: Staged for Upsell)
Where else can you justify having a pool table in your home than in a basement? Even if you aren't a fan of pool, they really add a focal point for a socializing space, and we are sure your guests will get into it! Add some retro arcade games, a foosball table and of course a mini-fridge to create a great space for entertaining.
9. Turn a small basement into a home office
(Image credit: Chris Snook)
With so many of us working from home a whole lot more, creating a separate space is super important for feeling productive. Also, it's nice to be able to 'leave' your work away from your living spaces, just to further encourage that work-life balance that a lot of are trying to master right now.
Just make sure your space either gets some natural light, or has plenty of light sources that are enough to work by.
Add position your desk under a window if you are lucky enough to have one, then just get decorating your space to suit your style.
We have plenty of small home office ideas in our gallery, so be sure to check that out too.
10. Use a small basement for storage
(Image credit: A Bowl Full of Lemons)
Sometimes, it's best just to except a small basement really is best used as some amazing extra storage space. They are so much easier to access than an attic and you can really organize your stuff so you know where everything is, rather than having to brave the black hole that is the loft every time you need to get to your ski gear or the blow-up beds.
Here, A Bowl Full of Lemons has used a clear labeling system to organize her garage. Come on, you have got to admit that is one satisfying picture. And if organization really is your thing, check out her Instagram .
Find more basement storage ideas in our gallery.
Hebe joined the Real Homes team in early 2018 as Staff Writer before moving to the Livingetc team in 2021 where she took on a role as Digital Editor.
She loves boho and 70's style and is a big fan of Instagram as a source of interiors inspiration. When she isn't writing about interiors, she is renovating her own spaces – be it wallpapering a hallway, painting kitchen cupboards or converting a van.
10 expert strategies for maximizing space |
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While it may be compact, exploiting the best small basement ideas can make this a valuable part of a home. Even a basement with a limited floor area can function as extra living space, a home office, a playroom, or fulfill other needs.
Executing your basement ideas may mean making an unfinished zone into one that’s habitable, or even digging down, but even if the resulting space isn’t particularly large, good design can make it a pleasurable place in which to spend time.
Here, we’ve assembled the top small basement ideas and expert advice to create an area whose spacious feel belies its limited proportions.
Small basement ideas
A small basement needn’t be relegated to a storage-only space. A wide range of different rooms can be created at this level of a home, and the right design and decor choices can make it feel anything but constricted.
1. Consider scale
(Image credit: Future / Paul Raeside)
Whichever type of room it is, to make small basement ideas successful ensure the proportions of the furniture selected are appropriate.
‘Make the most of small spaces by keeping space and scale in mind,’ says Maggie Griffin, founder and lead designer of Maggie Griffin Design . ‘Built-ins for storage and a small wet bar keep things handy, while comfortable upholstery (think small-scale sectional) can invite one for movies and bingeing Netflix.
‘Even basement bedrooms can be small but chic and cozy. Keep colors light to make the most of the natural light.
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2. Keep small basements feeling open
(Image credit: Mel Yates)
In addition to considering the size of furniture, think about its design to keep a small basement feeling open and therefore larger. In this home office the desk has a slim profile with no legs that make it a less bulky presence than alternative styles.
Meanwhile, the majority of the storage is hidden behind sliding doors to keep the room feeling streamlined.
3. Add in a cozy nook
(Image credit: Jon Day/Future)
Consider adding a nook to boost seating in a space-efficient way if yours is a small basement.
‘We emphasize the coziness with the deep wall color and soft fabric textures,’ says Mindy O’Connor of Melinda Kelson O’Connor Design of her designs.
4. Make it light and bright
(Image credit: Bisca)
One of the most simple but effective small basement ideas? Choosing a light paint color for walls plus trim. ‘Prioritize creating a light and bright environment so it’s a place you want to be, not a dreaded dungeon,’ says Andi Morse, founder and principal designer, Morse Design .
Try following the same strategy with light colored flooring and neutral upholstery, too. Also worth considering is a glass balustrade for the basement staircase so it doesn’t block light.
Up the textural interest of your decor choices to avoid a flat feel when light colors dominate.
5. Go low in a small basement
(Image credit: Best Practice Architecture/Ed Sozinho)
A small basement often presents the issue of a low ceiling along with the problem of a lack of floor area. If that’s the case, pay attention to the height of furniture. In this room a low sectional assists in making the ceiling feel higher, and it’s worth adopting the same tactic when choosing armchairs, footstools, coffee tables, and more.
If your basement has a window, using a shade makes more sense when hanging drapes would impede the positioning of furniture, or a floor-length curtain when this isn’t a problem. A drape that falls just below a sill will emphasize a low ceiling height.
6. Opt for custom storage
(Image credit: David Cleveland/Future PLC)
If you are wondering how to make the most of your basement, know that good storage is a must in a small space. Places to tidy away are even more crucial in a smaller area than a large one because it can easily look cluttered and cramped.
Custom shelving and cabinets are often the superior solution, allowing the use of every inch of space from floor to ceiling. They’re also best for the area under the basement stairs as they can be built to follow the slope. Consider pull-out designs for storage fitted here to make access to contents easy.
7. Use a small basement as a laundry room
(Image credit: Sims Hilditch)
Laundry room ideas can be great for small basements if yours is super compact; an efficient version doesn’t demand a large area.
It’s an option interior designers Sims Hilditch took advantage of in one of their projects. ‘We installed bespoke joinery in which we stacked the washer and dryer,’ says design director Louise Wicksteed.
‘We also installed a Belfast sink complete with useful storage around and beneath it. Although this is a functional space, why not bring an element of fun to it with some colored or patterned floor tiles?’
8. Let mirrors work their magic
(Image credit: Future/Rachael Smith)
Decorating with mirrors is a tried-and-true way to make a room feel larger – and small basements can benefit as much as other rooms. This can be especially the case in a small basement bathroom as these are often windowless with any window given to living or bedroom space instead. Either way, they can help to bounce around and increase natural light.
If you have chosen this solution for a basement bathroom, follow this example by sizing the mirror to the wall above the basin to boost the light and visually stretch the space. Fitting shelves alongside and displaying decorative objects is a neat trick, too, helping to make the small room feel deeper.
9. Create display space
(Image credit: Michael Sinclair)
A basement without decorative accessories can feel bland and uninviting, but if it’s small it can be hard to accommodate the furniture on which to display these pieces.
Hanging a shelf can be the answer, providing a place for objets as well as artwork without filling the floor area.
This room features a warm wall color that also makes the space welcoming and cozy. When adopting a deeper palette, painting the ceiling white and selecting pale upholstery and wood finishes can provide the necessary balance.
10. Slim down
(Image credit: Future Publishing Ltd Photograph: Simon Brown)
In a basement that’s small, and especially if it’s narrow, too, slim wall-hung furniture can prevent it feeling overcrowded and preserve circulation space. Here a chic wall-hung desk provides a place to work, and there’s even a slim bar to make the basement an appealing place to spend time.
A color palette of black and white makes the space cohesive, and sophisticated to boot.
What can you do with a small basement?
A small basement provides the opportunity to add a host of different rooms, despite its compact dimensions. Think about using it as an extra cozy family room, or a playroom, or a space apart for older kids.
It could make an intimate movie theater, or consider it for a home gym or games room neither of which necessarily require large square footages.
And while it might be unsuitable for a basement kitchen, it might be a good venue for a home office to avoid disturbance by the rest of the family, and would make a good study space for the same reason. Depending on the layout of your home, it could make a convenient mudroom. A small basement can also be a sensible location for a laundry room, avoiding the noise of appliances on the main floor.
Which flooring is best for a small basement?
A wide choice of flooring is available for a newly constructed or remodeled small basement that’s been correctly waterproofed when teamed with the appropriate sub-floor. Engineered wood has the appearance of solid hardwood, but will resist warping in response to changes in humidity.
For a cozier feel, carpet is an option. It’s also a good noise insulator and warm for young kids to play on – area rugs on a hard floor are an alternative.
Consider, too, tile for durability: both ceramic and porcelain might suit and they can replicate the look of wood if that’s your preference.
Sarah is a freelance journalist and editor. Previously executive editor of Ideal Home, she’s specialized in interiors, property and gardens for over 20 years, and covers interior design, house design, gardens, and cleaning and organizing a home for H&G. She’s written for websites, including Houzz, Channel 4’s flagship website, 4Homes, and Future’s T3; national newspapers, including The Guardian; and magazines including Future’s Country Homes & Interiors, Homebuilding & Renovating, Period Living, and Style at Home, as well as House Beautiful, Good Homes, Grand Designs, Homes & Antiques, LandLove and The English Home among others. It’s no big surprise that she likes to put what she writes about into practice, and is a serial house renovator.
History | Moscow Theater of O. Tabakov
Oleg Tabakov's favorite brainchild was destined to be born in the most seemingly unsuitable place for serving Melpomene and Thalia - in the old coal cellar of a residential building on Chaplygin Street, 1a.
It was in this house that the leader of the world proletariat Vladimir Ulyanov-Lenin once came to meet with writer Maxim Gorky, and pianist Isai Dobrovein played Beethoven's Appassionata for them. Polar explorer E.T. lived in the house. Krenkel, mathematician S.A. Chaplygin, People's Commissar of the NKVD N.I. Yezhov.
Over its forty-year history, in addition to the name "Moscow theater-studio under the direction of Oleg Tabakov", his studio received many unofficial names: Podval, "basement" theater, "Snuffbox". But whichever of them is used, everyone sees love and tenderness for this amazing, living place, saturated with the solar energy of Tabakov and his students.
Oleg Tabakov came to grips with pedagogy at the age of thirty-nine, focusing on the early professionalization of future artists. Oleg Pavlovich gathered a group of like-minded volunteers, which included A. Droznin Sr., A. Leontiev, V. Poglazov, K. Raikin, S. Sazontiev, V. Fokin. Early 19For 74 years, a competition has been announced among high school students in Moscow who want to study acting at the theater studio of Oleg Tabakov.
Three and a half thousand 14- and 15-year-old children signed up for the examination rounds. By the fall, Tabakov selected only forty-nine people from them. Classes began, which were held for two academic years at the Palace of Pioneers. N.K. Krupskaya in Stopani Lane on Chistye Prudy. Two years later, in 1976, eight of the best graduates of the studio, at the invitation of Tabakov, continued their studies at his first acting course at GITIS. It is this generation - S. Gazarov, V. Mishchenko, A. Seliverstov, E. Mayorova, A. Marin, I. Nefedov, M. Khomyakov, L. Kuznetsova, V. Nikitin, M. Ovchinnikova, M. Shimanskaya, A. Yakubov and A. Smolyakov, who moved to Tabakov in his third year from the Shchukin School, stood at the origins of the Snuffbox.
In the summer of 1977, with the assistance of the head of the RSU of the Baumansky district, Yu. Goltsman, Tabakov found in the courtyard of a residential building on Chaplygina Street, 1a, an incredibly neglected basement where a coal warehouse had once been located.
It was almost filled to the brim with centuries-old deposits of coal dust, sewage and other rubbish. It was in it that future actors were allowed to work, on the condition that they free the future creative workshop from huge amounts of garbage themselves. From the first days of the existence of the studio on Chaplygin, Tabakov built it as a "family", where he, as a wise and attentive father, not only strictly demanded professional results from his "children-studios", but also took care of them in every possible way. In fact, all ten years before the theater received official status, the studio existed at the personal expense of Oleg Tabakov, who disinterestedly invested his money in a business that at first seemed to some as an unnecessary whim of a famous actor. However, soon even the most vehement skeptics realized that they were dealing with an extraordinary phenomenon.
On October 29, 1978, the studio hosted the first performance of the performance, in which third-year students were engaged - ".
.. And in the spring I will return to you ..." staged by Valery Fokin. For the first time, the audience entered an ascetic and, it would seem, deliberately anti-theatrical space, designed in accordance with the idea of the wonderful stage designer David Borovsky. Dampened over the years, the walls of the Cellar were painted black, the same paint covering the boards that covered the cement floor. The tiny auditorium housed a dozen rows of wooden benches with backs. One month will pass, and only the rare lucky ones who are willing to stand in a long line to enter the door under a dim light bulb illuminating a small sign with the inscription "Young Actors Studio" will go to these shops. The viewer was literally fascinated by the living language in which a small student team spoke to the audience about time and themselves. The Studio instantly gained admirers of all ages and professions. The ill-wishers, party functionaries, who saw sedition in the very first "basement" performance, were not long in coming either.
It was they who wrote denunciations, calling Tabakov's brainchild "a nest of anti-Sovietism." Because of such "judgments" in the near future, there was a tragic seven-year delay in the official opening of the theater.
For four years the Studio worked hard, releasing performances one after another that increased the fame of the tiny theatrical basement: The Passion for Barbara by O. Kuchkina, Two Arrows by A. Volodin, Pinched by B. Kiif, Farewell , Mowgli! according to R. Kipling. Premieres of the performances "Farewell, Mowgli!" and "Two Arrows" caused a powerful public outcry, part of which were countless publications of domestic and then foreign media. Never and nowhere else have so many and so seriously written about the work of students who still had a good year and a half before receiving their diplomas. The tour in Hungary was a fantastic success, where the studio went in May-June1980 years. Far from the homeland, the unique harmony of a very young, but incredibly close-knit cast has become especially noticeable.
His real successes did not touch only those same functionaries-ill-wishers. In 1980, they deliberately doomed the already formed troupe with an absolutely full-fledged repertoire to a painful parting, without giving Tabakov consent to the official opening of a new, in fact, theater that had already existed for a long time in terms of creativity. They were forbidden to work together. As a result of this ban, Oleg Pavlovich, who made desperate attempts to keep the team together, was not allowed to transfer the entire studio to TsATSA, was not allowed to open a youth theater in Podolsk, and was not supported by the idea of building a theater in Bryansk. Tabakov arranged for the graduates of his first acting course to work in various Moscow theaters. He himself was banned from teaching for a whole year.
Tabakov recruited his second studio at GITIS in 1981 from among applicants who did not enter other theater universities. The demanding master dissolved this studio in the spring of 1982, leaving only four people, among whom was E.
Germanova. Thanks to the forced enrollment, M. Zudina, N. Timokhina, G. Churilova, S. Belyaev, A. Serebryakov, S. Shkalikov, A. Mokhov and others became students of Tabakov. It is noteworthy that the students of the “first call” joined the educational and pedagogical process: S. Gazarov, A. Marin, A. Seliverstov, A. Smolyakov. With the resumption of rehearsals and performances, the Basement healed in the same rhythm. At that time, the playbill included titles already familiar to the viewer: “Two Arrows”, “Passion for Barbara”, “Pinched”, as well as the performances “The Story of a Titular Counselor” and “Jacques the Fatalist” staged in the “timeless period”. Student premieres were added to them - "The Lark", "Crazy Jourdain". The play "The Roof" Alexander Galin then wrote specifically for the Tabakovites. December 1986 years in the ministerial register of state theaters, an entry finally appeared on the formation of a new cultural institution - the Moscow theater-studio under the direction of O.
Tabakov. The studio began to receive government subsidies. The long-awaited event happened with a huge delay, when much was no longer possible to restore, and Oleg Pavlovich was preparing the second generation of his students for graduation. scale."
Later, Tabakov wrote: “In 1987, although seven years late, my dream of having my own theater came true. About a big family, where there are many children and where "everything is fair". Reality is so harsh and harsh. And it is very difficult to build any new business, especially as if “out of nothing”. I don’t really like the familiar name “Snuffbox”, and I still tend to call our hard-won business in every sense the “basement” theater. The basement is flesh and blood of the Art Theatre. After all, there are two types of renewal in the theater. The renewal of inheritance is the renewal that followed as a result of the growth of what is called "undergrowth", and the second kind is the studio form of renewal, which, in fact, the Art Theater has been living all this time.
"Sovremennik" is not a theater at all, but the fifth studio of the Art Theater. And the basement theater is his sixth or seventh studio."
The word “studio”, which disappeared over time from the name of the theater, remained to live on the Podval logo, invented by the chief artist of the theater Alexander Borovsky. However, to this day, it is the studio spirit that determines the ethical orientation of the personality of the actor serving in the Theater under the direction of Oleg Tabakov.
Over the course of seventeen years, the theater troupe was replenished four times with Oleg Pavlovich's graduates who graduated from the Moscow Art Theater School, of which he was rector from 1985 to 2000. At 19In 90, R. Kuznechenko, S. Shentalinsky, as well as V. Mashkov and E. Mironov joined the "old-timers" of the Cellar. Mashkov and Mironov burst into Moscow theatrical and cultural life swiftly, cheerfully and, as it turned out, forever. The play "Sailor's Silence" based on the play by A.
Galich, where both young artists were involved, became a landmark for the Russian theater of the nineties of the last century. Those who were lucky enough to see the true "seagull" of the basement theater still remember this with bated breath. Particularly memorable is the unique image of Abram Ilyich Schwartz, a tragic old man created by the very young Vladimir Mashkov. Mashkov announced himself in the early nineties as a brilliant, original director, who first staged the play "Hour of Finest Local Time", and then "Passion for Bumbarash" and "Death Number". Sergei Bezrukov, Vitaly Egorov, Sergei Ugryumov, Dmitry Brodetsky, who were then students of Tabakov's course at the Moscow Art Theater School, took part in the performances "Passion for Bumbarash" and "Death Number". All four, as well as their classmates Marianne Schultz and Frenchwoman Camille Cayol, after graduation at 19In 1994, they were accepted into the troupe of the basement theater, where they almost instantly became indispensable.
In 1998 and 2002, the group was replenished by young artists D. Nikiforov, A. Usoltsev, O. Krasko, A. Fisenko who completed their studies with Tabakov; a little later, graduates of Oleg Pavlovich's "Latvian studio" A. Lapteva and J. Sexte joined the troupe. Each of them has become an important, integral part and pride of a small theater. However, the troupe of the Cellar grows not only with Tabakov's students. From the opening of the theater to this day, at the invitation of the artistic director, already accomplished, experienced masters join the troupe: N. Zhuravleva, A. Zolotnitsky, O. Blok-Mirimskaya, A. Vorobyov, P. Ilyin, I. Shibanov, I. Petrov , R. Khairullina, E. Miller. Among the very young artists graduating from various Russian theater universities, Tabakov, who has a unique flair for talents, immediately singles out people who are necessary and close in spirit to the basement theater. He offers to try his hand at a specific role. As a rule, Oleg Pavlovich makes an unmistakable choice of actors.
So in different years, L. Khusnutdinova, M. Salakova, D. Kalmykova, A. Fomin, V. Chepurchenko, A. Chipovskaya appeared in the Basement.
For many years now, the Podval trainee group has attracted attention, which, for the most part, includes graduates of Oleg Tabakov's Moscow Theater School, artists aged nineteen and older. They take an active part in almost all productions of the "basement" theater.
The atmosphere of goodwill and mutual trust disposes the actors to master the director's craft. On the part of the artistic director, who often acts as a production director, such a need for self-expression, as a rule, is not suppressed: Tabakov willingly gives his young colleagues the opportunity to try themselves in a new capacity. In addition to V. Mashkov, performances in the basement theater are staged by Tabakov's students of the first and second editions - A. Marin ("Sublimation of Love", "Idiot", "Sister Hope", "Three Sisters", "Storm. Variations", "Madonna with a Flower" , "Nameless Star", "Waiting for the Barbarians", etc.
) and A. Mokhov ("Doll for the Bride", "Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District"). Many major achievements of the theater are associated with the personalities of the invited directors: Valery Fokin (“More Van Gogh...”), Yevgeny Kamenkovich (“Overstocked Barrel”, “Love Letters”, “The Russian Teacher”), Kama Ginkas (“Laughing Room”) , Adolf Shapiro ("At the Bottom", "The Last"), Andrei Zhitinkin ("Psycho", "Confessions of the Adventurer Felix Krul" "), Sergei Puskepalis ("The Marriage of Belugin"), Vasily Sigarev ("Viy"), Marina Brusnikina ( "Epiphany locks"). The beginning of the new century was marked for Podval by the appointment of a young Lithuanian, a student of P.N. Fomenko, Mindaugas Karbauskis, who worked in the theater from 2001 to 2007. Karbauskis staged the performances The Long Christmas Dinner, Synchronous, When I Was Dying, Uncle Vanya, The Tale of the Seven Hanged Men. Karbauskis' works have won several prestigious theater awards and prizes. To this day, on the stage of the Basement, his performances “The Story of a Happy Moscow” and “The Actor” are going on and attracting full houses, and on the Main Stage of the Art Theater - the play “The Adventure, compiled according to the poem by N.
V. Gogol's Dead Souls.
In 2007-2011, the director of the Chaplygin Theater was Konstantin Bogomolov - a talented, intelligent, educated and equally hardworking person. For several years Bogomolov staged the performances The Trial, Fathers and Sons, Eldest Son, Crazy Day, or The Marriage of Figaro, Wolves and Sheep, Wonderland-80, The Year I Was Not was born" and two versions of Chekhov's "The Seagull".
In 2011, a graduate of the workshop of S. Zhenovach, a young artist and director Mikhail Stankevich, who brightly declared himself by staging the play The Devil, and then created the performances The Wife and Twelfth Night, was invited to work as a full-time director.
The Oleg Tabakov Theater is working tirelessly to form a diverse and interesting repertoire for the audience. This is one of the most actively touring Russian theaters, which has traveled to almost all corners of our Motherland and neighboring countries. At the invitation of the host parties, the performances of the basement theater go on tour almost every month.
During foreign tours, the theater visited Germany, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Italy, France, Finland, Israel, the USA, Canada, and Japan.
The dream of Oleg Tabakov and his students to build a new world in an old coal cellar has come true. However, at 19In 1997, the small size of the stage and the corresponding technical capabilities, as well as the constant shortage of seats in the tiny auditorium, led the founder of the Podval to the idea of the need to build a new theater building. Twenty years of hard work of many tens and hundreds of people have passed from the idea to the full practical implementation of the project. The Theater under the direction of Oleg Tabakov will open its 31st season in a newly built building at 5, Malaya Sukharevskaya Square.0001
Temptation Gray Bar
Thyme & Place Design LLC
When my client had to move from her company office to work at home, she set up in the dining room. Despite her best efforts, this was not the long-term solution she was looking for.
My client realized she needed a dedicated space not on the main floor of the home. On one hand, having your office space right next to the kitchen is handy. On the other hand, it made separating work and home life was not that easy. The house was a ranch. In essence, the basement would run the entire length of the home. As we came down the steps, we entered a time capsule. The house was built in the 1950's. The walls were covered with original knotty pine paneling. There was a wood burning fireplace and considering this was a basement, high ceilings. In addition, there was everything her family could not store at their own homes. As we wound though the space, I though “wow this has potential”, Eventually, after walking through the laundry room we came to a small nicely lit room. This would be the office. My client looked at me and asked what I thought. Undoubtedly, I said, this can be a great workspace, but do you really want to walk through this basement and laundry to get here? Without reservation, my client said where do we start? Once the design was in place, we started the renovation.
The knotty pine paneling had to go. Specifically, to add some insulation and control the dampness and humidity. The laundry room wall was relocated to create a hallway to the office. At the far end of the room, we designated a workout zone. Weights, mats, exercise bike and television are at the ready for morning or afternoon workouts. The space can be concealed by a folding screen for party time. Doors to an old closet under the stairs were relocated to the workout area for hidden storage. Now we had a nice wall for a beautiful console and mirror for storage and serving during parties. In order to add architectural details, we covered the old ugly support columns with simple recessed millwork panels. This detail created a visual division between the bar area and the seating area in front of the fireplace. The old red brick on the fireplace surround was replaced with stack stone. A mantle was made from reclaimed wood. Additional reclaimed wood floating shelves left and right of the fireplace provides decorative display while maintaining a rustic element balancing the copper end table and leather swivel rocker.
We found an amazing rug which tied all of the colors together further defining the gathering space. Russet and burnt orange became the accent color unifying each space. With a bit of whimsy, a rather unusual light fixture which looks like roots from a tree growing through the ceiling is a conversation piece. The office space is quite and removed from the main part of the basement. There is a desk large enough for multiple screens, a small bookcase holding office supplies and a comfortable chair for conference calls. Because working from home requires many online meetings, we added a shiplap wall painted in Hale Navy to contrast with the orange fabric on the chair. We finished the decor with a painting from my client's father. This is the background online visitors will see. The last and best part of the renovation is the beautiful bar. My client is an avid collector of wine. She already had the EuroCave refrigerator, so I incorporated it into the design. The cabinets are painted Temptation Gray from Benjamin Moore.
The counter tops are my favorite hard working quartzite Brown Fantasy. The backsplash is a combination of rustic wood and old tin ceiling like porcelain tiles. Together with the textures of the reclaimed wood and hide poofs balanced against the smooth finish of the cabinets, we created a comfortable luxury for relaxing. There is ample storage for bottles, cans, glasses, and anything else you can think of for a great party. In addition to the wine storage, we incorporated a beverage refrigerator, an ice maker, and a sink. Floating shelves with integrated lighting illuminate the back bar. The raised height of the front bar provides the perfect wine tasting and paring spot. I especially love the pendant lights which look like wine glasses. Finally, I selected carpet for the stairs and office. It is perfect for noise reduction. Meanwhile for the overall flooring, I specifically selected a high-performance vinyl plank floor. We often use this product as it is perfect to install on a concrete floor.
It is soft to walk on, easy to clean and does not reduce the overall height of the space.
Basement Lounge
Jennifer Ryan Design
Debbie Schwab Photography
A fresh design idea: a small fusion basement with exterior windows, gray walls and concrete floors without a fireplace - great interior photo
Sterling Place - Lefferts03
reBuild Workshop
© reBUILD Workshop LLC
Fresh design idea for a mid-sized fusion basement with white walls, porcelain stoneware floors and gray floors - great interior photo
A basement? No...really?!
Kon-strux Developments
Harnessing this antique barn board in it original colors is the soul of this basement space. In the center of the photo you can see into the glorious new bathroom with glass surround shower and subway tiling throughout.
Basement Playroom
Wentworth
Homey inspiration: large fusion basement with exterior windows, blue walls, carpet and beige floors, no fireplace
Basements
Arbuckle Design Builders, LLC
This project was a lot of fun, a true man cave! With the help of Todd Hempeck (architect), we were able to create a basement with features to entertain just about anyone.
The whole family enjoys the space! There are a lot of great features such as the pool room, workout room, wine cellar, wet bar, TV room, office, and bathroom. My real favorite is the electronics wired throughout the basement and house. The movie room has a large flat screen on the wall and a 108" roll down projection screen in front of it. With a blue ray projector and a screen that rolls up flush to the ceiling, it's awesome! And of coarse, there is a flat screen next to the pool table.0043
Meadowview Basement
FBC Remodel
Basement home theater with contemporary fireplace and TV wall. ©Finished Basement Company
Pictured: Fusion Basement Bar
Basement Bar
Kitchen Encounters
This basement bar has an island with a unique lighting feature. The radius stainless steel back of the island is backlit behind a sheet of white plexiglass. It also has white tile surrounding the remaining back and side that looks like sugar cubes.
Edgemont Home Renovation
Edmund Terrence, LLC ( HP Builders)
Full custom bar designed by EdmundTerrence and installed by HP Builders, Inc, features custom made stained glass, Peruvian Mahogany front bar, Artist aged barn style beams
Temptation Gray Bar
Thyme & Place Design LLC
When my client had to move from her company office to work at home, she set up in the dining room. Despite her best efforts, this was not the long-term solution she was looking for. My client realized she needed a dedicated space not on the main floor of the home. On one hand, having your office space right next to the kitchen is handy. On the other hand, it made separating work and home life was not that easy. The house was a ranch. In essence, the basement would run the entire length of the home. As we came down the steps, we entered a time capsule. The house was built in the 1950's. The walls were covered with original knotty pine paneling.
There was a wood burning fireplace and considering this was a basement, high ceilings. In addition, there was everything her family could not store at their own homes. As we wound though the space, I though “wow this has potential”, Eventually, after walking through the laundry room we came to a small nicely lit room. This would be the office. My client looked at me and asked what I thought. Undoubtedly, I said, this can be a great workspace, but do you really want to walk through this basement and laundry to get here? Without reservation, my client said where do we start? Once the design was in place, we started the renovation. The knotty pine paneling had to go. Specifically, to add some insulation and control the dampness and humidity. The laundry room wall was relocated to create a hallway to the office. At the far end of the room, we designated a workout zone. Weights, mats, exercise bike and television are at the ready for morning or afternoon workouts. The space can be concealed by a folding screen for party time.
Doors to an old closet under the stairs were relocated to the workout area for hidden storage. Now we had a nice wall for a beautiful console and mirror for storage and serving during parties. In order to add architectural details, we covered the old ugly support columns with simple recessed millwork panels. This detail created a visual division between the bar area and the seating area in front of the fireplace. The old red brick on the fireplace surround was replaced with stack stone. A mantle was made from reclaimed wood. Additional reclaimed wood floating shelves left and right of the fireplace provides decorative display while maintaining a rustic element balancing the copper end table and leather swivel rocker. We found an amazing rug which tied all of the colors together further defining the gathering space. Russet and burnt orange became the accent color unifying each space. With a bit of whimsy, a rather unusual light fixture which looks like roots from a tree growing through the ceiling is a conversation piece.
The office space is quite and removed from the main part of the basement. There is a desk large enough for multiple screens, a small bookcase holding office supplies and a comfortable chair for conference calls. Because working from home requires many online meetings, we added a shiplap wall painted in Hale Navy to contrast with the orange fabric on the chair. We finished the decor with a painting from my client's father. This is the background online visitors will see. The last and best part of the renovation is the beautiful bar. My client is an avid collector of wine. She already had the EuroCave refrigerator, so I incorporated it into the design. The cabinets are painted Temptation Gray from Benjamin Moore. The counter tops are my favorite hard working quartzite Brown Fantasy. The backsplash is a combination of rustic wood and old tin ceiling like porcelain tiles. Together with the textures of the reclaimed wood and hide poofs balanced against the smooth finish of the cabinets, we created a comfortable luxury for relaxing.
