Flexible, fun basement living for the on-trend urbaniteChannelling New York loft style, this open-plan living area combines smart design with interactive features for a stylish and sociable space
This space is designed for the hard-working, sociable city dweller. There is a study area with a spacious desk, a table for informal dining (or card games!) and a comfy lounge. Here, stylish seating caters for a crowd and an ingenious coffee table can divide into three moveable pieces for flexibility. The drinks cabinet shouts sociability while the media unit contains compartments for tech which can be concealed behind sliding doors. Animal sculptures — perfect for the urban jungle! — and an illuminated initial personalise the space. It’s all here: work from home then mix drinks for friends, sink into a chair and enjoy a movie together, on the TV or projected onto the wall above, which is smoothly rendered ready for screenings.
A mix of seating creates an eclectic look in the living space. No lounge is complete without a spacious armchair and footstool and this generous design, in leather and oak, lends some masculine style. A statement sofa provides crash-out space, but looks anything but trad thanks to its unusual, pillowy shape. The rocker creates a clean, minimal silhouette to prevent the area looking crowded, while the green chair is a grown-up take on a child’s beanbag, offering the same low-slung comfort. These two pieces add a playful note, while the woody colours on all the upholstery bring a mid-century feel. The three-tier coffee table is supplemented by a nifty black design by the sofa, which multitasks as table, stool, storage basket and even seating.
Clever zoning and a mix of materials and colours help this basement space feel welcoming. Textural brick walls add character and to balance their industrial feel, the floor is a classic oak herringbone. The rug pulls all the surfaces together, looking both elegant and urban, thanks to its almost-camouflage pattern. There is an NYC cityscape on the wall, bringing the urban landscape inside, but fun additions include a dart board and a floor lamp styled like a floodlight, reminding any visitor that this stylish space is designed for fun and relaxation.
This hip urban home can move from comfy, quiet hangout to open, sociable space seamlessly. It helps that there is a drinks cabinet, of course! Its retro styling suits the space and it poses as chic storage when shut. Open it up, though, to discover glasses, bottles and storage. The coffee table, with its trio of different heights, can adapt to any seating arrangement and will work as one piece or three smaller tables, providing abundant, flexible surface space. Black accents anchor this whole space, found on the windows, dining table and desk and up on the ceiling, in the dark marble surrounds on the spotlights.
A table is useful in any apartment, for dining or gathering round for a drink, cards or a board game. This simple, graphic design is made from the same grey oak as the desk and both pieces boast interesting, angled legs, for a chic, harmonious feel at this end of the space. The table’s circular shape is super sociable — just pull up another chair or chunky wooden stool — and it’s flanked by comfortable, classic Danish-designed chairs in solid wood. The dining area is finished with moon pendant lights which create warm light over the table and intimately zone the space.
This basement caters for the work-from-home trend with a dedicated study space. The grey oak desk feels professional and comfortable, thanks to its generous size and three useful drawers. The tall metal and wood shelving provides additional storage and space for display, to personalise the corner. Its industrial feel is echoed in the desk lamp which boasts a concrete base containing a tray for keeping desktop bits tidy. Three clocks help you stay on time around the world and a beautiful design classic armchair completes the scheme, delivering exceptional comfort and timeless style.
The space around the stairs is dedicated to fun, but contains lots of sexy black to marry with the overall scheme and keep this corner feeling grown-up. A basketball hoop and punch-bag look smart in black leather, matching the room’s other dark notes while providing a focus for play. A small fridge will keep beer, wine and nibbles cool, but its iconic design and dark colour ensure it remains unobtrusive. Clever L-shaped storage in dark wood with baskets in contrasting gold on top slots neatly under the stairs, to exploit this often under-used space.
To work the industrial loft look, this basement space has brick rather than plastered walls. One wall features exposed bricks, alive with the red tones we associate with British bricks and mortar homes, but also looking distinctly New York loft in style. The remaining walls are painted white, to maximise light levels. Black accents are peppered throughout against this gritty backdrop, while metal and oak are the basement’s signature materials, seen here on the parquet floor, entrance hall hanging rail and bench.
Get the entrance right and the space flowing off it will look tidy and ordered. This neat, well-equipped entrance contains lots of inspired storage, including a simple bench in the oak and dark metal found throughout the space. This keeps shoes tidy and is somewhere to perch when putting them on. The hanging frame provides versatile, adjustable coat storage while the magnetic target on the wall is a safe, colourful place for keys. You can empty your loose change onto the cute, small shelves on your way in and check your appearance in the mirror before racing out. Two pendant lights flank the space, creating a welcoming, soft light.