1. Home Gyms

It’s too common to take an existing bedroom in a basement, throw in some equipment, and use it as a home gym. With carpeting and limited airflow, it can be difficult to get that workout area feel in such a closed-off room. With a basement finish, you have an opportunity to add proper flooring, a more open concept, and any other features you may need to give it a true studio feel.

The possibilities are endless. In our project example below, this client utilized glass doors, durable flooring, and even a rock wall feature to bring the gym home.

2. Bars and Entertainment Spaces

Your finished basement should reflect your lifestyle and day-to-day. Are you the party host of your friends? Do you have extended family visiting often? If so, a custom home bar may be a great option!

Custom bars create a space to host get-togethers, relax, and mingle with friends. Design-wise, your options are unlimited. From a warm cabin feel to speakeasy themes, you can bring your favorite bar aesthetic home to you.

3. Home Theaters

A home theater is an incredible feature that will make your basement stand out from your neighbors’ basements. If you’re a movie watching family who bonds over TV time in the evenings, a home theater can take your favorite pastime to the next level.

Your remodeling partner can replicate the feel of a movie theater, complete with luxury seating and light-blocking features. They can also help you get the sound system and screen size and quality you need.

4. Creative Storage

A lot of our clients like to leave some basement space for storage, but storage can often look unsightly, unorganized, or out of place in a finished basement.

Use creative storage options like a hidden bookcase to keep the convenience of a storage area while still having a complete, finished design in your basement. Also — the bookcase itself serves as a little extra room for miscellaneous items! You can also create more storage through custom-built entertainment centers like the one below.

5. Add an In-Law Suite

If you have family visit often, or family moving in, creating an in-law suite is a great option. In your basement, you can add a new bathroom, bedroom, and even a kitchenette/dining area for your loved ones. Apartment living just below your feet!

6. A Playspace for the Kids

We find many of our basement finish clients need to create a space for their kids to hang out and play as they grow. Dedicating a room in your basement for playtime, toys, games, or having friends over helps separate the “grown up” parts of the home from where the kids can play.

7. Wine Cellars

Wine cellars are a great way to complete a bar/entertainment area. If you’re a wine connoisseur, a custom wine cellar adds luxury, class, and a unique touch to your basement. Your storage opinions for your favorite wines are unlimited, and your home is bound to be the hotspot for many wine tastings to come!

8. Get Creative with Your Design Style

You aren’t married to traditional design! With a design-build partner, you’ll work with an interior designer who has done it all and seen it all. Figure out your ideal design style by getting inspiration on Pinterest, Houzz, and Yelp. Ask yourself – what finishes, colors, styles, and materials do you gravitate toward?

Pro tip: Send your favorite photos to your designer before starting your project!

9. Crafting Room

You don’t have to store your crafts in a plastic bin in your kitchen! Make space to create with a crafting room that’s suited for your favorite hobbies. Leverage your designer to build in storage and organizational features to make your creative outlet a breeze.

10. Design a Basement That Fits Your Life

The most important thing about your basement finish is to make sure that the completed space brings you joy. Your basement should be an extension of your home, your lifestyle, and your day to day.

Ask yourself what you’d like to improve in your life through a basement remodel. What benefits would remodeling add to the flow of your home? No matter what you decide, remember that your design is yours — custom-tailored to the needs of you and your family.

Basement Finishing with FBC Remodel

Here at FBC, we have a proven design process that allows homeowners to custom-build their dream basement with an award-winning designer. If you’re ready to start your project, contact us today to chat about your basement! We’d love to help bring your dream to life.

1. Do Your Homework

It’s important to first start with your own research far before moving forward with home remodeling partners, designs, and construction.

By the time you begin booking design consultations and interviewing contractors, you should know the following about your project:

• What is the scope of work? Do you need to update finishes in your space or are you looking for a full reconfiguration?
• How much are you investing? Have you established a budget for your project? What do you need to do in order to establish your ideal range? Some examples include meeting with a financial advisor or starting a financial process to learn your option. 
• Which remodeling partner works best for you? Do you need a general contractor to swap out a few finishes, or are you looking for a remodeling firm to reconstruct and reconfigure the space? Are you more hands-on and would like to DIY some of the project?

2. Gauge and Understand the Time Commitment

Your personal time is valuable, and it’s important to understand how construction can affect your everyday life for a couple of months. Remodeling with a design-build firm, for instance, averages 8 – 16 weeks per project. Commit to the timeline and find what works best for you before you move forward.

3. Talk to Others About Their Home Remodel Experience

Talk to people in your circle who have already completed a whole house remodel. Go beyond the end result and ask about their overall experience, how they liked the process, and if they enjoyed their remodeling partner. Use that experience to choose the best course of action for your own space. 

4. Create a List of Potential Home Remodeling Partners

Successful, established companies are most likely to have a prominent online presence and a simple way to submit free inquiries. Beware of companies or individuals who send you bids without seeing your space, don’t have a singular point of contact, or lack a credible website.

It’s also important to look at each partner’s process. Here at FBC, we have a proven design-build process that guarantees your home remodel will be on-time and on budget. Make sure to see what other companies have to offer!

5. Compare Reviews and Past Projects

Design companies and contractors should have galleries of their work and outlines of their process on their website or portfolio. Take note if a company has a similar style to the vision you have for your own home. Do you feel inspired by looking at their past projects? If not, take them off your list.

You should also look at their reputation online. Browse each company’s online listings like Google My Business, Yelp, and Houzz to hear from other homeowners in your area about each potential partner. 

6. Book Design Consults

Now that you’ve narrowed down your top picks, start scheduling design consultations. This is your time to learn about each company’s process and past experience. When interviewing these various companies and contractors, concentrate on the first impression. 

Make sure:

• They’re asking questions about you, your family, and lifestyle rather than going straight into measuring your space. Partners who look into the “why” behind a project will best understand the design you’re looking for.
• They don’t give you a bid without measuring and designing the space first. With any custom design, there should be a custom price so you know exactly where your money is going.
• They plan to pull a permit for the project. If you’re reconfiguring space, finishing a basement, or doing any sort of plumbing or HVAC work, you’ll need a permit. If a contractor/company suggests not pulling a permit, they are intentionally cutting corners.
• They’re transparent with you. Remodeling is not HGTV — it can be a messy process. If they aren’t forthright about the inconveniences of construction, they’re not being honest about your project.

Pro tip: Take a look at our design consultation checklist for a list of questions to ask, and what questions design-build partners should be asking you. 

7. Never Make Assumptions

It’s easy to assume that everything you’ve said you want for your home is in the final plan, but that’s not always the case. Your design may go through several iterations throughout the process. When reviewing your final plan, make sure you know exactly what it entails. Take time to go over every detail discussed at the start of your planning, and ensure those needs are represented in the written agreement.

Be sure to always voice your opinions, questions, and concerns when working with a remodeling partner and/or interior designer. There’s no such thing as a “stupid” question, and voicing your needs can make all the difference in your finished space.

Home Remodeling with FBC Remodel

From basements to kitchens and bathrooms, FBC has your back for all of your home remodeling needs. Our collaborative design process coupled with an organized, well-managed construction timeline makes remodeling a breeze. 

Ready to explore your whole home remodeling project? All you have to do is contact FBC Remodel to chat with our design coordinator about your upcoming renovation. We can’t wait to hear all about your space!

Basement Finishing Defined

An unfinished basement is a space that’s not currently livable and habitable. When you’re in need of a basement finish, your current space typically lacks drywall, insulation, plumbing, and completed flooring. 

Partially finished basements may have some aspects scoped out, like electricity or basic drywall, but still need significant work to be fully finished. When planning your remodel, you’ll need to account for finishing your basement in your scope of work. Rest assured, your design-build partner will be there every step of the way.

It’s also worth noting that if you need a basement finish, and want to DIY some of the work, you can opt for a nearly finished basement with FBC. 

Nearly finished basements include:

• Custom design and construction documents
• All new walls, ceilings, and architectural features
• Heating and air conditioning
• Fireplace installations
• Fully finished electrical
• Rough-in plumbing
• Ceiling insulation per current construction codes
• Wall insulation as wanted or needed
• Fully finished drywall
• Painted ceiling and prime coats on walls with ceiling color
• Inspections for all rough-in, electrical and HVAC

From there, you can opt to finish your remodel with FBC, or DIY the rest of your basement!

Basement Remodeling Defined

Finished basements are move-in ready, and look as complete as the rest of your home. From there, many homeowners decide they’d like to modify or reconfigure the space. That’s what we call a basement remodel. A basement remodel is a gut and renovation of a previously finished basement. Basement remodels are great for older basements, spaces that aren’t up to code, or where no permit was pulled.

Gutting and remodeling a space allows your design-build partner to bring your basement up to code, giving you the best layout and design for your space and adding value to your home. This is an opportunity to move walls, add or move plumbing, create new rooms, and design a space to fit your family’s needs.

Some popular remodels include:

• Adding a bar to an already finished basement
• Finishing an unfinished area of a previously finished and permitted basement
• Adding bedrooms, bathrooms, or specialty areas like a home gym or theater

Our Basement Finishing and Basement Remodeling Process

When finding the right remodeling partner, it’s important to ask about their basement design and construction process.

Here at FBC, we have a proven process that guarantees your project will finish on-time and on-budget:

Step 1: Contact Us

First, you’ll get in touch with our design coordinator, who will find out more about what you need for your basement remodel. They’ll ask the square footage of your basement, what rooms you’d like to build, and what you’re envisioning for your design. From there, our design coordinator will match you with an expert designer for a design consultation.

Step 2: Your Design Consultation

The design consultation is your first appointment with your dedicated interior designer. They will visit your home (in person or virtually) to get to know you, your family, and your day-to-day routine. They’ll not only ask about your basement ideas and design style, but also how the finished design will help improve your life.

Step 3: Design/Measure

From there, your designer will measure the space and provide a rough ballpark for how much they expect the project to cost. They’ll create an “as-built” drawing from those measurements, and that drawing will eventually become your custom design.

Step 4: Ideas Meeting

This is where collaboration happens. In your ideas meeting, your designer will present two 3D versions of your completed design. During the ideas meeting, you’ll point out what you like and don’t like about the two designs. We find that many of our clients combine elements from both options to get their final design!

Step 5: Final Design Meeting & Plan Review

It’s time to lock in your design! In your final plan review meeting, we’ll go over the exact price of your project, including construction notes and the details and finishes you want to see in the finished space. Until this step, you haven’t spent a dime. This is where you decide if you’d like to move forward with construction, and you’ll provide a deposit to lock in your start date.

Step 6: Construction

Your basement can take anywhere from 7-16 weeks, depending on the scope of work and size of your basement. You’ll be assigned a dedicated Project Manager who will be your point of contact for all of your construction needs. Your PM manages all of the trades that are working in your home and ensures your project stays on track and finishes on time.

All you have to do is sit back, relax, and get excited for your new basement!

Basement Finish and Remodeling Services with FBC

What basement finishing and basement remodeling have in common are the possibilities. Basements are often a blank slate with a lot of square footage to work with. Think of a basement remodel as an opportunity to design an entire floor of your home!

With a design-build firm, you have the opportunity to reconfigure the layout of your basement to craft a custom space with the specific fit and function your household needs. We can guarantee no other basement design will look like yours.

Ready to see what’s possible? Contact FBC Remodel today to speak with our Design Coordinator about your vision for your basement.

Depending on the size of your basement, whether it’s currently finished or unfinished, and what you’re looking to do with the space, the cost can vary significantly. That’s why it’s important to talk to your designer about the budget you’re working with — they’ll help you come up with a design you love built around your price point.

Take a look at our pricing guide to get a better idea of basement project ranges.

Top Six Factors that Drive Basement Remodel Price

Layout and Age of Home

Are you happy with the current layout of your basement, or are you looking to completely reconfigure the space? In some cases, you may need your remodel partner to move plumbing or structural elements to get the fit and function you want. The more reconfiguring you need, the more the cost is affected. 

Is your basement currently finished or unfinished? If you need to finish your basement and add other specialty rooms and features, expect some extra cost. Some other factors that can drive project pricing include water intrusion, age of home, radon, and fixing uneven concrete.

Basement Features

Cost is also affected by any custom features you’re adding to your remodel. For instance, many of our clients love installing custom bars to turn a basement into an entertainment space for friends. Features like cabinets, wet bars, backsplashes, and new appliances will affect your price as well. You’ll also want to consider budgeting for stone, mantels, a gas line, and power when assessing your budget.

Specialty Rooms

If you want it in your home, we can do it! Unique rooms such as home gyms, offices, crafting areas, wine cellars, and home theaters will be custom-designed to you and your vision. The price depends on the level of customization needed, including materials, equipment, plumbing, quality of finishes, and electrical needs.

Bathrooms

Adding a bathroom to your basement gives a sense of convenience and completion in your space. It’s worth noting that bathrooms require water and electricity. If you don’t currently have plumbing or electricity in your basement, the cost will be affected. You should also take into consideration whether or not you’re looking to move your current plumbing set-up to another area of the basement.

Electrical and Appliances

An often-overlooked element of cost is the hidden mechanical update required to power new appliances. This includes kegerators, kitchenette features, pizza ovens, and more. Make sure to mention what appliances you plan on having in your space when working with your designer and budget.

Egress Windows & Code Compliance

In all basements, having two points of egress is a code requirement. Egress windows are operable windows in your basement that provide an easy exit in case of an emergency. They also provide ventilation and natural light, adding a more comfortable feel to your basement. If your home doesn’t already have these, getting them built will drive the price.

Pricing Out Your Basement Remodel with FBC

Pricing out your basement remodel can seem overwhelming, but that’s where FBC Remodel can help! Throughout our process, we design around your budget the best we can — keeping you in the loop should pricing change. We also promise to keep you in the loop of what may raise the price of your project.

Ready to get started? Give us a call today to chat with our design coordinator about your basement remodel project. From there, we’ll match you with an award-winning designer that works with your budget to come up with a design you’ll love. 

Set Your Priorities

Why are you doing this project? What value is your remodel adding to your life?

For example, are you remodeling your basement for a little extra room, or do you have specific functions in mind for the entire space? Is it more important for you to have higher-end finishes, or to create more space in your home? Knowing your priorities and timeline will help your designer guide you to the best decisions for what you’re desiring in the end. It’s also important to figure out your “must-haves” versus your “nice-to-haves” so it’s easier to cut costs if you need to.

Choose the Right Service for Your Goals

If you’re remodeling a kitchen or bathroom, do you need space planning (e.g. knocking down walls, reconfiguring the space) or are you looking to simply change out cabinets, fixtures, and finishes? If your goal revolves around your finishes, you could opt for an FBC Update rather than a remodel — which can cut the cost and timeline of your project significantly.

If you’re planning to complete a basement finish project in phases, or do the finishing end yourself, take a look at our Nearly Finished Basement option to learn more.

Can You DIY?

We find many of our clients are handy and prefer to do some parts of their project themselves to help stick to their budget. It’s easy to cut costs by taking on some of those final touches of your project yourself.

Some ways our clients save money include:

• Installing carpet after the project is completed
• Putting in your decorative touches yourself — like shiplap, reclaimed wood, beams, or wallpaper
• Opting for a freestanding table for your island vs a custom built-in island
• Buying and installing shower rods or doors
• Purchasing the TV wall cabinet as a furniture piece
• Picking out and installing your own barn doors
• Purchasing an electric (vs. gas) unit for the fireplace
• Applying your own accent paint

Utilize Your Designer’s Expertise

A huge part of your designer’s job is helping you get that stunning end result within your set budget. Use your designer as your advisor — we have years of experience and a wealth of knowledge around your available options.

The more information you share about your preferences, the better! As you’re considering your selections, send over any inspiration you may find online. This gives your designer a better idea of what you’re looking to achieve. From there, they can advise you on what selections work and look good while still being cost-friendly.

At-Home Design with FBC Remodel

Every remodeling partner is different. FBC’s design process works in three major phases — the virtual design consultation, ideas meeting, and final plan review — where we work with your budget every step of the way. Whether you choose us or another partner for your project, we invite you to be up-front with your designer or contractor about your budget from the beginning. That way, they can make your remodel work for you.

Do you have more questions about designing on a budget? We’re happy to chat with you! Give us a call today to tell us all about your project.

Lyndsay B.

Have some fun with paint! It’s easy, requires little materials, and can make a huge difference in your space.

Some ways to get creative with paint:

1. Update a bathroom vanity. All you need is one can of paint in a fun color and some cabinet knobs to beautifully transform your old vanity!
2. Spray paint some standard terra cotta flower pots, in some fun colors or neutrals, to match your décor. You can also plant some flowers or herbs to sit in your kitchen window for a finishing touch!
3. Paint a room! Just two gallons of paint and some painters tape and your space will feel light, bright, and refreshed.

Sam D.

Make a cute gallery wall! Easy, fun, personalizable, and made with things you already have around the house. I actually wrote a full piece on my personal design blog about this very project. Check it out here.

New Sconces from Home

Want to change up your lighting a bit? You can create sconces with battery operated bulbs. There’s no electricity needed – and you can hang these babies wherever you want! This is great to add above a bedside table.

Get battery-operated bulbs here.

McKinley M.

One thing I love to do and have done in my own home is organize drawers! There are plenty of inexpensive drawer organizers available through e-commerce sites that arrive quickly and with no assembly. 

Another thing that works great are old shoe boxes or shipping boxes that can be disassembled or reshaped. Take a look at items that are out of sight, but chaotic. For example, take inventory of jewelry, makeup, bathroom products, kitchen utensils and even socks! Not only will you feel accomplished and be able to find your things easily, but these small projects will bring you a sense of ease during this uncertain time.

Jean S. 

Feeling artistic? Make your interior design one of a kind. Take a Sharpie and get creative with patterns and designs to create a fun accent wall! 

Not big on drawing? Use a stencil to paint over the boring floor tile or patio pavers!

Amber G. 

DIY  your own geometric accent paint wall for a major upgrade! 

Adhere wood boards to your existing walls in linear or geometrical patterns and paint the entire wall a bold or contrasting color. 

Show Off Your Design Project!

Need more inspiration? Visit Redfin’s website to get more ideas for at-home improvement projects.

We hope you can take a few ideas from this list and use these projects to have fun and get creative with your family. Make sure to add photos of your project to your Pinterest account or inspiration board. 

Also, we want to see your masterpiece! Feel free to tag us at @FBCremodel on Instagram or Pinterest so we can see what you came up with.

Ready to take your inspo one step further? Get in touch with a designer to schedule your free virtual design consultation, and we’ll show you what’s possible.

We’ve been getting a lot of questions about how virtual design works. Sam, one of our wonderful designers, is here to walk you through the process and get you inspired!

1. Virtual Design Consultations

Design consultations are a complimentary introduction to the FBC Remodel process.

We take time in our design consults to get to know you, your family, your values, and what you’d like to get out of your remodel. Design consults are an easy way to see if FBC is the right fit for you — no pressure or strings attached. We also take time to get familiar with your space and take measurements to start the design process.

Our virtual design consultations are built to be nearly the same as having a designer physically visit your home. The only difference is we walk you through measuring your own space. Once those dimensions are turned in, we get going on your custom design.

2. Virtual Ideas Meeting

The ideas meeting is where collaboration happens!

Your designer presents two 3-D renderings of your completed space. One design is what you envisioned your remodel to look like at the design consultation. The other design is a re-imagined version of your project, where your designer can really show you what’s possible

(Note: We find most of our clients draw inspiration from both designs!).

From the ideas meeting, you work with your designer in real-time to make tweaks and changes until you come up with a design that works best for you.

Virtually, we’re able to show you the “as-built” drawing from your measurements, and bring the space to life through interactive walkthroughs of the 3-D model.

3. Virtual Production Walk

Now that you’ve started to work with your designer, it’s time to meet your project manager!

Your PM will be your point of contact for all constuction needs, and you’ll be working with them exclusively once you move forward with building your project.

Your project manager will have you virtually walk them through your space, taking notes of your space’s specific needs to ensure a smooth build. They’ll also explain how construction works at FBC, as well as how you’ll track your project’s process via app.

The virtual production walk is also a great time to get all of your questions and concerns answered about construction.

4. Plan Review

This virtual plan review is just like the in-person version of your final design meeting. We present you with a noted plan and go over every detail of your remodel. We make sure that the plan and price is up to your liking, and give you the final project cost and timeline.

Up until the plan review meeting, you haven’t spent a dime. If you choose to move forward with building your design, you put down a deposit and choose your construction start date.

Online Virtual Design in Denver with FBC Remodel

Booking a virtual design consultation with FBC Remodel is easier than ever. Simply give us a call at 800-280-6550 to talk to our Design Coordinator, Jenny, about your project. From there, we line you up with one of our designers!

Questions about how we’re remodeling under COVID-19 regulations? Visit our FAQ page here to learn more.