Reclaiming your Basement (“Fam Cave”)

 

June 20th, 2012. 

Looking for more living space in your house? Tired of tripping over the kid’s toys in the Family Room? Want to be able to entertain more guests with your new flat screen T.V. and billiard table? Open the door and take a stroll down into the dungeon that is your Basement. 

No longer does “the Basement” have to conjure up thoughts of punishment or banishment. It is possible to be excited when someone says, “let’s go down to the Basement.” Whether you live in a brand new home or a centuries old farmhouse, your Basement (“Fam Cave”) can be turned into the entertainment centerpiece of your family life. 

We will be looking at “the Basement (“Fam Cave”) as living space” over our first few entries, but even then, we will not be able to cover all the options and topics that need to be considered when finishing off the lower level of your home. 

First a definition;

fam cave: 1. Large area in house; often in basement; with range of audio and video equipment, exercise machines, kitchen appliances and table games. 2. Where Dad, Mom and their kids can escape, even (gasp!) together. 

To understand the emergence of the (“Fam Cave”), you have to dig a little deeper, back to an earlier era: the dawn of the man cave. That's when Dad carved out a bit of the basement for his own poker retreat and furnished it with a Barcalounger and a TV for football games. By the time large flat screens and Nintendo came along, the man cave was in its prime.

It looked so good that Mom wanted a piece of the cave action. And so, on top of the multiple stereo speakers and beer taps came the Pilates Reformer and yoga mat. Next, the espresso machine and the mini-fridge.

The kids were not to be left out. They whined until they got the Wii player and the built-in stage where they could let it rip with the new karaoke machine, all the while texting on cellphones and surfing on laptops.

And the (“Fam Cave”), that all-encompassing hide-out and shrine to home entertainment, evolved. Don't forget the popcorn maker.

One of the topics that we will not dwell on is the one dealing with permits and codes that address the use of the Basement spaces of your home. Suffice to say that you need to be in contact with your local municipality to make sure that you are in compliance with all of the requirements of their current building codes. One of the biggest ticket items that may come up in your conversations with your code official may be the whole egress issue. This is not a topic to be taken lightly. Just think, you do not want your guests to be trapped in the Basement should there be a fire on the first floor of your home. Don’t skimp or try to get around this. It is for your safety and the safety of your family and friends.

The newly finished space can run the gamut of simplicity to extravagance. Cleaning out some of your unwanted junk and throwing down a remnant carpet can make a great new play space for the kids. Or creating a Home Theater complete with a snack bar and Theater seating along with a Billiard Room and full Bathroom can facilitate a full blown adult entertainment area. Only you can determine your needs and wants as well as your budget! 

Let’s get started!

Happy Remodeling! 

Next Time…Planning Your Finished Basement (“Fam Cave”)