One of the most exciting things about completely redoing a room is reimagining how the homeowner will use the space. This bonus room was so much fun to update.

 The room is in a house that was previously a model home and designed to be a quirky guest room/playroom with bold patterns and colors. The clients needed a more functional room that fit the design of the whole house.

Maintaining a place for guests to sleep while not dominating the large open room was made easy with American Leather’s Comfort Sleeper Sofa collection.

The room transformed into a stylish and comfortable place to relax. The soft sloping arms of the Perry Sleeper Sofa give a little flare while keeping with a classic and beachy look that fit the feel of the rest of the home.

Now, they can cozy up to watch tv and have a lovely room for guests. Several months after the installation, the owner confessed they use the space all the time – a total win for our design goals!

The versatility and intuitive features the American Leather Comfort Sleepers offers make creating multifunctional spaces an attractive and comfortable reality. Their sleepers feature 8 inches more sleeping area than a traditional sleeper with 80 inches of sleeping space on a plush, hi-density HiPerform mattress that comes standard on all models, or upgrade to a Cooling Gel or Tempur-Pedic mattress.

Even the most coveted aspects of home design can be challenging. Open floor plans are attractive for many reasons but can also be tricky. The first time we laid eyes on this project, it was under construction, and the layout was a large and long open space to include a bar and a second access to a storage room. Once we got in and assessed the area, it was clear that in order to maximize the room’s potential, we needed to make a few changes. The bar placement was critical, or we ran the risk of awkward, wasted spaces. Luckily, coming into the job so early, we had that flexibility. We shifted the bar down to one end of the room and closed off the wall with the door to the storage area (it was a secondary door and was not the primary access). This design made a well-defined area for entertaining with a tabletop surface: a dining table for games or food and drinks was perfect for the client.

After tackling that feature, there was still a large and long space to work with. On the far wall was a fireplace, and one desire for function in the basement included a cozy spot to watch TV. The fireplace proved the natural spot to place the TV (a picture TV for the win since it doubles as art). We settled on the modular style of the Winston Sectional from CR Laine because it allows for ottomans to be used on the ends of the sofa to create chaise lounges or centered in the room to form a large ottoman/coffee table. We always aim for versatility, especially in a space for casual entertaining. An area in the middle was left – on one side, a large sectional, and on the other, a table for entertaining. We created a conversational space that could easily overflow from the table/bar area or as a reading, working, or resting place when not entertaining.

The challenge always proves to be fun because that is where creativity comes into play. Sometimes that creativity requires small-scale changes that pay off in big ways when all is said and done. What was once a head-scratcher of a room is now a multi-functional hub for all ages. And it could not have turned out without the trust of such wonderful clients.

Check out more of our basement redesigns here:

• Modern Comfort
• Bright, Sophisticated Entertainment Space

The original Living Room space was outdated with it’s old faux sponge painted walls, window treatments, and lack of a cohesive conversation area. The furniture was against the walls and the colors on the walls and of the floors did not compliment each other.

Our starting point was with a floor plan to create the ideal conversation area. As a focal point, we created a built in wall unit and painted the wall behind it dark brown for an extra pop. The wall unit was made with an opening in the middle for a large contemporary picture with great colors. That was the idea that got us going, from this artwork we began to build out the color scheme all while keeping the color of the flooring in mind.

It was easy to be inspired by this charming, renovated farmhouse and its wonderful inhabitants —a busy family with kids, dogs and horses. Dream House’s Wendy Flynn worked her magic to help the owners achieve a lighter, brighter feel with an updated country look that is lovely for entertaining but also withstands all the fun of its smaller, busier family members. She transformed this large, open area into beautiful, comfortable living and family rooms.