You may have seen the recent article in the Star Tribune about Dan and Bridget Smith’s quest to turn their unfinished basement into a comfortable, stylish living space. You can read the article here, but for a more behind the scenes look at the transformation, keep reading!

Dan shared with us the colors he chose and some insights into the renovation.

Entertainment Room
Dan used AF-375 Rattan (Aura Matte) in the entertainment room. He said the Rattan really changes color in different light.  Sometimes it almost looks olive, and other times very golden brown.

Bar Area
For the bar area, Dan used AF-220 Masada (Aura Matte). He really liked the way the Masada looks with the cherry bar. The bar and cabinets are Cinnamon Stained Cherry.  Doors and trim are Poplar that were stained to match the cabinets.

Exercise Room

Two colors were used in the exercise room area, HC-8 Dorsett Gold  (Natural Eggshell) was used as the primary color and BM2172-30 Mexicana (Natural Eggshell) served as the accent color. Dan said,  “We went for something vibrant for this room as ‘inspiration for perspiration’, without overpowering the rest of the basement.  The Dorsett Gold and Mexicana are very ‘Spicy’ and blend well together without looking too ‘Golden Gopher-ish’.  Both colors were done in Benjamin Moore Natura as a healthy alternative for the room.”

Hallway and Stairway
In the hallway, Dan used HPM 0259 Persian Fable (Platinum Ceramic Matte) and AF-280 Salsa Dancing (Aura Matte) as the stairway accent. HE chose Persian Fable for the hallway as it is very neutral to tie everything together, yet not so light that it comes off as an off-white next to all the other rich colors. Salsa Dancing, on the other hand, is a terrific accent for the cherry and wrought iron bannister.  Even though it is only on one wall, it is the first color your eye is drawn to when coming down the steps from the main level.

Bathroom
Dan was looking for a cool, soothing color to help relax after a workout for the bathroom. So he went with Devine Hosta. It’s not cold, but definitely cool in comparison to the colors in the workout room.

To see more of Dan and Bridget’s before and after pictures, check out the album on Hirshfield’s Facebook page!