Downers Grove Home Remodeling

Mid-Century Modern Basement Remodel

Downers Grove, Lansfield

This remodeling project centered on transforming a lower level into a highly customized, multi-functional space designed for entertaining, relaxing, and hobbies. To achieve this, every design choice was driven by the clients' specific lifestyle, ensuring that every square foot served a practical purpose for their unique routines. Polished concrete floors run throughout the level to unify the distinct functional zones while complementing the mid-century modern aesthetic. Custom Walk-In Wine Cellar: The focal point of this basement is a custom walk-in wine storage cellar. Enclosed by floor-to-ceiling glass and sleek black framing, the climate-controlled space features extensive natural wood racking. An illuminated, arched cedar display niche highlights select bottles, while lower flat-panel cabinets provide integrated storage for closed cases. Dedicated Record Station: Adjacent to the wine cellar, a dedicated vinyl listening station was integrated into the open floor plan to cater to the clients' love for analog sound. Custom-built walnut furniture provides specialized storage and open-face display bins specifically dimensioned for their record collection. The space is anchored by a mid-century modern dining set and a brass sputnik-style chandelier. Custom Wet Bar: The expansive bar area utilizes flat-panel walnut cabinetry to bring warmth to the industrial concrete flooring. The wood is contrasted by a dark, textured square-tile backsplash and heavily veined dark stone countertops. The bar is fully equipped for entertaining, featuring a large under-mount sink, integrated dishwasher, and a high-capacity stainless steel refrigerator. Suspended Fireplace Lounge: The lounge area features a unique, ceiling-suspended black pod fireplace. This distinctive, retro-inspired element serves as the primary architectural draw of the seating area, accompanied by a glass-topped coffee table with a sculptural wood base and velvet swivel chairs. Custom Arts and Crafts Room: By prioritizing the clients' personal passions, a separate room was entirely dedicated to hobbies and organization. Wall-to-wall white shaker cabinetry provides extensive concealed storage, filing drawers, and a built-in desk area. A key feature of this room is a specialized wrapping station, a custom cabinet fitted with adjustable wooden dowels designed specifically to organize and dispense rolls of wrapping paper and spools of ribbon.

View Project

Basement Lounge, Gym, & Bar

Downers Grove

When most people think of a basement, they picture a dark, underutilized storage space. For this recent project, we completely flipped that script. We set out to design a multi-functional lower level that feels less like a basement and more like an exclusive, private retreat. By blending moody industrial elements—like exposed painted ceilings and polished concrete floors—with the warmth of reclaimed wood and exposed brick, we created a space that is built for entertaining, relaxing, and everything in between. The Custom Speakeasy Bar: The centerpiece of the entertainment space is a fully custom, speakeasy-inspired bar. We paired deep, matte-black cabinetry with a striking natural stone countertop and a bold, vertically stacked red tile backsplash. The floating rustic wood shelving provides the perfect stage for an impressive bourbon collection, while custom under-cabinet lighting and recessed display pillars give the entire area a warm, inviting glow. A Layout Built for Entertainment: The pool table area is anchored by a stunning crystal chandelier that provides a brilliant contrast to the exposed industrial pipes and brick walls. For winding down, we created a cozy family lounging area featuring a dramatic, dark-painted brick fireplace with a chunky reclaimed wood mantel. We also utilized a classic brick accent wall to create a dedicated gallery space for the client's vibrant concert poster collection. Elite Home Gym: We transitioned the flooring from polished concrete to durable rubber gym mats to designate the workout area, featuring a heavy-duty power rack, cardio equipment, and a custom reclaimed-wood accent wall that keeps the design aesthetic consistent. Clever Under-Stair Storage: We turned the traditionally dead space under the stairs into a functional design feature with custom black cabinetry, drawers, and display shelves that perfectly match the basement's dark woodwork and industrial doors. The Rustic-Chic Bathroom: The bathroom carries the rustic-industrial theme flawlessly with a floating vanity made from salvaged wood, a carved stone vessel sink, a custom copper-pipe light fixture, and a walk-in shower featuring floor-to-ceiling pebble stone tile.

“I've used Bayern Builders for small (plaster repair) to large (complete 2nd floor renovation), and have incredibly positive experience every time. The team is professional, prompt, and very talented. I've worked with a number of trades.”

— Heath Tow

View Project