Lavish Lower Levels

Warming Things Up
The construction and design of the lower level have advanced leaps and bounds from its cold, dark predecessor. In new construction, the walkout lot has literally opened up a host of design opportunities. “The walkout lot is such a premium because people feel like they’re getting better value from that lower-level space,” says Peter Hagstrom, president of Hagstrom Builder in Lake Elmo. “Walkouts make lower levels feel like they’re part of the main living area because of the windows and the light that is allowed in.”

Nine- to ten-foot ceilings are the norm, not the exception. Ductwork and mechanicals can be built into the floor truss design, allowing for higher ceilings. “There no longer need to be dropped ceilings in lower levels,” says Steve Schwieters, president of Wooddale Builders. “That’s a myth. It’s something in the past.”

One must-have for the lower level is in-floor heating. Most systems use in-ground, hot-water tubing, on top of which concrete is poured. “Making sure we’re not cold to the bones is quite important to people,” Chermak says. “It’s the number-one thing I get asked about. People want their homes to be comfortable, livable, and a place to completely relax.”

Warmth is important in the figurative sense, too. “You have to do lighting and heating in a manner that’s going to be comfortable, both physically and psychologically,” Near says. “The finishes also have to be done so that it feels like a warm place.”

To that end, homeowners are creating spaces with materials that match the quality of the main levels while keeping the space a little less formal. “Homeowners are still doing very nice things, but they’ll make it a little more rustic,” Hagstrom says. “They may have used cherry cabinetry on the main floor, but on the lower level, they may use knotty alder or knotty pine. Countertops are mostly stone. We’ve done all granite in our last few projects.”

For flooring, carpet and tile are still popular choices because of their durability—an important consideration if you’re planning on a well-used space. (Choose carpeting with a thin pad, Frosch advises, so you can reap the full benefits of the in-floor heating.) Another benefit of installing carpet in the lower level is that it absorbs sound.

Tiling is most often used in the bathrooms and wet-bar areas, but homeowners who have an outdoor pool find that using tile where there’s heavy foot traffic is the perfect fit for their family and guests. “For instance, if you were to have an outside pool area, you need accessibility to the bathroom, the bar, and the food-prep area from outside,” Schwieters says. “For that, you want hard-surface floors, like ceramic tile. You don’t want kids running across the carpet with wet feet.”

Lighting also plays an integral role to a lower level’s livability. “Lighting is so much better than it used to be,” Hagstrom says. “You can light the space without seeing the source of the light. You can use recessed lighting and not see the brightness of the bulb. Valance lighting lights the ceiling. It’s great for watching TV or conversing.” Many choose halogens for lighting artwork and under-cabinet lighting for their wet bar/kitchen area.