Basement of the Week: Wine Inspires a Refined Renovation

Wine-club Fridays were a big inspiration for this basement’s design. “My clients belong to a wine club that gathers every Friday, and they wanted a nice place to entertain those guests that was also comfortable and cozy for kids,” says interior designer Gabriele Pizzale. A unique mix of walnut, steel, quartz, cork, global patterns, wine bottles and more have resulted in a stunning space that’s inviting to all ages.

Basement at a Glance
Who lives here: A young couple with 2 daughters
Location: Toronto
Construction and contracting: Accurate Home Improvement
Size: About 2,00 square feet, including a playroom, an exercise room and a storage space (not shown)
Photography by Still Moments

A wall that holds up to 144 bottles of wine is the first thing guests encounter as they come down the stairs. “We used LEDs to illuminate the bottles without heating them,” Pizalle says.

The basement is full of warm textures; the stone around the wine wall is a veneer of elongated slate tiles. The flooring is cork (appropriate for a wine-inspired renovation). “The cork is so great for a basement because it’s cushioned and it self-heals if, say, a stiletto punctures it,” the designer says.


This console table is actually a small desk. The ottomans can be pulled out to serve as extra seating. “We wanted everything to be relaxed, fun and rustic down here,” Pizzale says.

The textured wall is made up of sheets of rotored MDF panels. They come in unfinished 4-foot by 8-foot sheets.

MDF sheets: Richelieu Hardware (to the trade); desk: Style in Form; ottoman fabric: Kravet





Pizalle custom designed a sectional large enough to fit the whole family, as well as two comfy armchairs. The armchairs are covered in a fabric inspired by African kuba cloth. The coffee table is actually two tables pushed together to fit the large scale of the sofa and room. The rug is a sophisticated hide that, like the cork floors, can stand up to abuse.

Frosted glass windows lead to a playroom. “This gives the effect of windows to the outside,” Pizalle describes. (There are a few windows and proper egress down here — one is reflected in the mirror in the previous photo.)

Coffee tables: Style in Form; chair fabric: Robert Allen; sofa fabric: Duralee, rug: Hellenic Rugs


The rough-hewn metal and wood TV stand adds a rustic element, contrasting the other more sophisticated pieces in the family room.


A new gas fireplace warms the room. Pizalle crafted the light fixture from three single Hinkley Lighting pendants hung at various heights.

A wet bar includes a sink and wine cooler. Grass cloth adds more warm texture, while the Cambria quartz’s chiseled edge brings in another rustic touch.


The table has an antique wash, which gives it a unique patina. The chairs can handle a red wine spill; their seats are upholstered in vinyl.

Chair fabric: Kravet


The walnut veneer around the fireplace is “very similar to a ledgestone veneer, only made of wood,” Pizzale describes. The natural walnut is less than a quarter inch thick, mounted on plywood.


More grass cloth brings a warm vibe to the powder room. The mirror and vanity have walnut wood too; the countertop is Cambria quartz.


The bathroom floor is a natural slate with a Chiclet-style porcelain mosaic inlay.

While Pizalle emphasizes the rustic touches in her descriptions, the way she’s balanced color, finishes, materials and textures has resulted in a comfortable, refined space. The basement hits the right note whether the owners are entertaining wine connoisseurs on Friday nights, hosting a birthday party for a first grader on a Saturday or having family movie night on a Sunday.

More: How to Finish Your Basement the Right Way

URL: Basement of the Week: Wine Inspires a Refined Renovation http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-22312.html