LEAWOOD, KANSAS
A good lower level has room to host, unwind, and carry some of the load for the rest of the house. Built by Design brings layout, selections, and construction into one plan so the finished basement feels considered from the first step.
WE'VE BUILT HERE
This completed Leawood project gave the basement a custom wet bar with seating, beverage storage, display cabinetry, a fireplace lounge, a game area, and better lighting across the connected space. It was built for family use and for the nights when more people gathered at the house.
The work continued upstairs with a kitchen update that opened the main level and connected it more clearly to the adjoining living and dining areas. The combined project took 13 weeks. See the full scope and finished rooms on the Leawood basement project page.
PLAN AROUND THE FIXED PARTS
Low beams, post locations, duct runs, mechanical equipment, plumbing stacks, windows, and water history all make a difference downstairs. They affect where walls can go, which rooms fit comfortably, and what needs attention before finish work begins.
We look at those conditions in the home before turning a wish list into a layout. That keeps storage, a bathroom, a bar, or a lounge from competing with the parts of the house that have to stay accessible.
BASEMENT BATHROOMS
A bathroom can make a lower level easier to use for guests, movie nights, workouts, and everyday routines. The important decisions happen before finishes: how it connects to plumbing, how the room breathes, and how it fits the rest of the basement.
The stack, drain route, and floor conditions tell us where a bathroom can work before the room layout gets too far ahead.
A basement bath needs enough clearance for the way people move, dry off, store towels, and use the space when guests are over.
Tile, lighting, ventilation, cabinetry, and fixture choices all affect the scope, so they belong in the plan instead of at the end.
WHAT IT COSTS
Finished basements from Built by Design have ranged from $80,000 to $550,000. Structure, mechanical coordination, plumbing, cabinetry, and finish choices have more to say about the final scope than square footage alone.
Our guide to basement finishing cost in Kansas City explains the decisions that move the number.
HOW WE START
The first consultation happens at your home. We walk the lower level with you, listen to how you want it to work, and see the structural and mechanical details that need to guide the plan.
From there, our design-build process brings the layout, materials, construction details, and cost conversation into one path before work starts.
FAQ
Practical planning context for your project. Your project team confirms what applies after a walkthrough and written scope review.
Finishing puts living space into an unfinished basement. A remodel changes a lower level that already exists but isn't working well enough. In either case, the plan starts with the basement's structure, utilities, and the way the household will use it.
Often, yes. The important questions are where the plumbing stack and drains sit, whether the floor needs work, and how the room can be ventilated and laid out. We sort through those conditions during the home consultation before the plan is set.
A bedroom in a finished basement generally needs an emergency escape opening. An egress window and well can affect excavation, layout, and cost, so it needs to be part of the early planning conversation.
The completed Leawood basement and upstairs kitchen project in our portfolio took 13 weeks. Your schedule depends on the starting condition, scope, structural work, permitting, and selections, so we build it around the actual plan.
Yes. Our completed Leawood basement project includes a custom wet bar, fireplace lounge, game area, and an upstairs kitchen update that opened the main level. You can see the finished project and its full scope in our portfolio.
READY TO TALK?
Tell us what the lower level needs to do next. We'll come to your home and start with the space, the structure, and the way your household lives.
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