Adding new life to the old rustic rec room

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/12/2001 (8806 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

QUESTION — With our last child moved out, we are looking to get new furniture for the basement rec room and doing some minor renovations.

While not a large space, we enjoy spending time here, reading by the wood stove and occasionally watching television.

The room has wide pine boards on the walls (aged to a beautiful golden yellow) and an ugly suspended ceiling of yellowed acoustic tiles (yellowed from our smoking days, I’m afraid).

Because it is in the basement, the space is typically dark and has only two small windows which do little to bring in more light, although this is not really a problem.

Our plans include: installing a new off-white berber carpet for the floors and staircase; buying a wall unit to house our television and stereo; replacing the sofa and chairs with something more comfortable (my husband insists on at least one recliner); and a new paint job.

We will remove the wet bar at the foot of the stairs, and any reworking of the existing space that you might suggest will be considered.

ANSWER — In the future, the room will likely serve a number of functions which, aside from those you’ve mentioned, may also include entertaining friends and family get-togethers (including grandchildren?).

These new uses suggest that the room, while still casual in its appearance and capable of withstanding some abuse, should be more formal than it was when in constant use by the teenage crowd.

The seating area I have drawn shows seating for five people. Additional seating might take the form of an ottoman or large floor cushions.

The two main pieces shown are recliners (why shouldn’t YOU have one too?) which flank the wood-burning stove and comfortably face the new wall unit and television.

A large sofa, comfortable enough for curling up and dozing off, completes the setting.

Your choice of berber for the wall-to-wall carpet means that the floor treatment will be neutral enough to harmonize with any colour, so use the upholstered pieces to begin to add colour and life to the room.

With the rustic feeling of the wide pine boards and the rough-textured berber carpet, I’m inspired by the notion of bringing some of the outdoor feeling into the room.

A palette of soft greens and yellows will nicely complement the existing elements in the room.

The sofa, for example, could be covered in a soft jade green chenille, and complemented by two warm brown leather recliners.

Because you won’t want to introduce too much contrast in wood tones, the wood pieces you choose should also be in an aged pine look.

As a contrasting element, accessorize the space in shades of ochre yellow and introduce some black cast-iron elements, such as wall-mounted candle holders and end-table bases.

The ceiling tiles can easily and inexpensively be replaced with newer, more contemporary designs. Your local do-it-yourself store will likely stock a wide array of patterns and designs that I am certain you will find appealing.

I would also suggest at this time to consider a new lighting plan for the room.

If your room is like many circa-1970 rec rooms, lighting is restricted to ceiling-mounted fluorescent fixtures.

Now would be a good time to replace these with handsome recessed pot lights that will give the room a softer and more appealing glow.

If the natural light levels in the room are too low for growing plants, plant bulbs can be strategically placed to accommodate some greenery.

You can contact interior designer David Ferguson through his Web site below.

www.creativespaceonline.com