What Lies Beneath

– By Annette McLoughlin –

When I was growing up, a basement was a cellar and the only reason you went down there was if your mother needed you to fetch something (and then you ran back up as fast as your feet would take you.) I grew up in an old Victorian and our cellar could have inspired Stephen King. It was dark, dank and home to monstrous spiders (and probably, monsters.) Over the years, basements have evolved, as the demand for living space has grown. As a result, beautiful subterranean play and functional spaces are replacing the caves of yore.

Basements are arguably the best return on the remodeling dollar. The cost of adding on or moving and buying a bigger home is significantly higher than the cost of a basement remodel. “A basement finish equals a kitchen remodel as the best financial return of all home renovations, if the quality matches the rest of the house,” according to an article in the Denver Business Journal. Patricia Neave of Sotheby’s International Realty in Rye is a big believer in the value of the finished basement to buyers with children of all ages and those who want a media room or a home gym. “And families today like having access or a full walkout to their back yards.”

The playroom basement seems to be the popular function of most basements around town, the big benefit being the toy turf factor. The kids have the freedom to be unbridled in their raucousness and to make loud and messy fun and parents can co-exist — above ground — in relative harmony.

For many others, the dream basement includes the Mom and Dad workout room, a luxury for the exercise enthusiast. There’s no need to wait on line for a treadmill at a fitness club when you can slip downstairs for a workout. This investment isn’t as indulgent as it might initially seem, since the basement gym, if used regularly, pays for itself over time in saved membership fees. It also saves you the time spent getting to and from a gym. There is a downside to having your own gym, however, and that’s the fact that it’s a lot harder to justify skipping a workout.

One of the best basements I’ve spent time in is that of my friend Molly Aube. She designed it to accommodate the whole family. It’s very spacious and includes a wet bar, plenty of space for her two sets of twins to play, a pool table and exercise machines. “On a snow day, we could be there pretty much all day,” says Molly. “And on a typical day, it’s usually the first place the kids go when they wake up, and the last place they play before going to bed.”

For anyone planning a basement renovation, Molly says, “Whatever you do, don’t forget to put in a sump pump.” It may not be on everyone’s ideal list, but it will get lots of use.