We completed the renovation of our 1930’s house in several phases, the last – but perhaps the most anticipated – of which was the basement. I know that basement living space is an odd notion in some areas of the country, but in the Midwest the words “finished basement” mean a lot. It’s often treated like bonus space, where you hide the mess of bins with kids’ toys and baskets of laundry. And every dude in the Midwest knows the phrase “Man Cave.” Trevor talked about for years, with the key elements (in his opinion) being a TV seven times as big as actually needed and a comfortable place to sit. And by sit I mean nap. It became clear that there was a lot more space to fill in the room, so I got to work thinking of things that I would love in the room and knew would be used by the whole family. I wanted it fun and cozy but super functional. I wanted it rustic but not dated. I wanted it casual but well designed. I used the TV as my bargaining chip (“We can get that size if I can get these light fixtures”) and spent a fair amount of time convincing Trevor that what I had pictured in my brain made sense (“Trust me, we want the fireplace behind us, not under the TV”). Out of that dreaming, brainstorming, negotiating, and convincing, the “The Happy Factory” came to be.
The room has a ton of functional seating. The comfy sectional is perfect for hunkering down for a movie; the seats at the table behind the couch are an ideal place to enjoy a bowl of chili while watching the game; the banquette in the corner is great for a game of Chutes and Ladders with the kiddos.
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