BASEMENT CASE STUDY
Overland Park basement remodel: from raw concrete to a full lower-level living space
This basement started as a wide-open shell with exposed joists, concrete floors, steel posts, ductwork, insulation, and scattered workout equipment.
Built by Design turned it into a polished lower level with a custom wet bar, island seating, entertainment lounge, pool table area, gym, bathroom, and quiet office nook.
PROJECT SNAPSHOT
A finished basement built around real daily use
The goal was not simply to cover the framing. The basement needed a plan for entertaining, fitness, guests, games, storage, and the structure already in place.
- Location
- Overland Park, KS
- Project type
- Full basement finish and remodel
- Main features
- Wet bar, entertainment lounge, game room, bathroom, home gym, office nook
- Style
- Modern, clean, high-contrast, polished
BEFORE
Plenty of square footage, but no finished plan
The basement had the bones of a great lower level, but it still worked like a storage and utility zone. Exercise equipment sat in the open. The ceiling was exposed. Support posts, ductwork, mechanical lines, insulation, and concrete shaped every decision.
Before the remodel, the basement was open, unfinished, and mostly used as storage and workout space. 
The square footage was there, but the basement had no finished ceiling, flooring, or defined entertaining zones. 
The homeowners had useful space, but it needed layout planning, lighting, finishes, and purpose.
THE PLAN
Make the basement feel intentional, not patched together
Basements come with realities you cannot ignore. This one had posts, beams, duct runs, plumbing needs, and a large open footprint that could have easily turned into one oversized finished room.
BBD planned connected zones instead: bar, lounge, game room, office, gym, and bath. The result feels open, but each area has a job.
Planning had to account for
- Existing support posts and steel beams
- HVAC, plumbing, and mechanical runs
- A wet bar and bathroom that needed real rough-in planning
- Lighting across a large lower level
- Flooring transitions between bar, lounge, game, and gym spaces
- A ceiling plan that made the basement feel finished, not covered up
AFTER
A lower level with clear zones and a real reason to be used
The finished basement now supports hosting, watching games, playing pool, working out, working quietly, and giving guests a bathroom without sending everyone upstairs.
A separate office and sitting area adds flexibility for work, quiet time, guests, or a secondary TV space. 
The new bathroom makes the lower level more practical for guests, workouts, parties, and daily use. 
The gym moved from equipment in an unfinished basement to a dedicated room with durable flooring and finished walls. 
The final lower level feels polished, useful, and connected, built for hosting, relaxing, and everyday living.
FINISHED ZONES
One basement, several ways to live
Custom wet bar
Gray cabinetry, floating shelves, under-shelf lighting, a full refrigerator, appliances, sink, textured tile, and a large island make the bar the natural gathering point.
Lounge and TV area
Leather chairs, soft flooring, clean trim, and a mounted TV give the family a comfortable place to watch games, host friends, or keep the main level quiet.
Game room
The pool table sits in the center of the plan, close to the bar and lounge but with enough open space to move around it comfortably.
Basement bathroom
A finished bath with gray cabinetry, stone-look counters, glass shower doors, white tile, dark accent tile, and black fixtures makes the lower level usable on its own.
Dedicated gym
Rubber flooring, finished walls, recessed lighting, strength equipment, cardio equipment, and mounted screens turn former overflow space into a real workout room.
Office and sitting area
A desk, sofa, TV, rug, and warm wood accents add a quieter zone for work, reading, guests, or a second hangout space.
MATERIALS AND DETAILS
Modern without feeling cold
The palette stays tight: gray, black, white, stone texture, stainless appliances, warm leather, and wood accents. The basement reads as one finished plan instead of separate rooms selected at different times.
- Gray shaker-style cabinetry
- Textured dimensional tile backsplash
- Floating shelves with integrated lighting
- Quartz-style counters and large island seating
- Stainless appliances and matte black plumbing fixtures
- Carpet in the lounge and game areas
- Hard surface flooring near the bar
- Rubber flooring in the gym
- Glass shower doors with white and dark accent tile
- Warm leather and wood accents
READY TO TALK?
Turn an unfinished basement into space you actually use
If your lower level is unfinished, half-finished, outdated, or wasting square footage, Built by Design can help plan a basement that works for your family and feels connected to the rest of the home.