The clients of this Cochrane home wanted to not only create a living space that would earn them extra income, but something that was special in case a parent needed to move in one day. So they decided to create a legal secondary suite, complete with hand made concrete countertops!

A lot of time and care went into the planning of this space. Often times a tenants most common complaint is the lack of storage. The clients knew this, so they made sure to tell us that storage was a priority. A full kitchen was also a must for this secondary suite, both for storage space but also for comfort.

It’s All About the Details

Luckily the clients knew they wanted to build a secondary suite ahead of time. As a result, a separate side entrance was constructed during the same time as the house. We made sure to insulate the ceiling well once framing, electrical and plumbing were complete. The clients live on the main floor of the house and wanted as much noise separation as possible. So not only did Roxul Safe’n’Sound go in to the floor joist spaces, but we also installed two layers of drywall on the ceiling to increase the mass. (We’re happy to say this method works really well.)

The client wanted the flooring to be as durable and easy to clean as possible. They were happy to learn that luxury vinyl plank checked those boxes. Ikea was chosen for the large but budget conscious kitchen, as well as the cabinetry in the bathroom. We built a custom bank of cubbies to match the rest of the walnut finish.

Mini hex tile was installed as an accent in the linear shower niche, complete with separate lighting! The majority of the walls in the bathroom were tiled with an oversize subway tile to help with the suite’s durability. Glass tile was installed on the kitchen backsplash in a beautiful ocean blue-green.

Concrete Countertops are Trending

Custom concrete countertops were cast in place for the secondary suite kitchen counters, complete with a waterfall edge off the edge of the peninsula. We made another concrete countertop for the bathroom vanity as well.

The clients are thrilled with their warm and inviting space! They have since checked in with us to say that they haven’t had a problem finding good quality tenants in the four years since the suite has been built. What a great way to earn some extra income!

If you’re interested in seeing some of the other suites we’ve built, click here.

The Renovation Story

If there is a need to hunker down underground, we definitely would love to be able to spend it here. We were so thrilled to be a part of this cozy Farmhouse Basement Renovation Project for our Client in Cochrane. We also collaborated with Rochelle Lynn Design for the design of this unique Project. The Rochelle Lynn Team developed the sleek yet homey design and worked closely with Final Cut Creations on the execution. We really enjoyed working with them to overcome design and real-life build issues and agreed on workable solutions together.

The Vision for the Dream Farmhouse Basement

Our client wanted to completely change the layout as well as the overall look and feel of their existing basement. This was an exciting Farmhouse Basement Renovation project that involved a major overhaul of all elements of this floor. It includes a facelift of the existing traditional staircase railing, a floating fireplace, and a farmhouse-style sliding barn door.

Development of the Farmhouse Basement

This complete makeover took place over 3.5 months with a demolition time of 1 week. We started by removing a load-bearing wall, built two temporary walls to carry the load, and put a beam in its place. Then the temporary walls came down and were converted into regular partition walls. This became the perfect canvas for us to start the farmhouse basement development.

For the flooring, we used luxury vinyl plank which is great for basements as it is not affected by water whatsoever. We continued with the trim and doors, before installing a floating fireplace in the family room. What’s sleek about this area is that the wall-mounted TV and surround speakers are set up with cords hidden within the walls. Long gone are the days where your basement is cluttered with dusty and tangled cables.

There will also be no need to head upstairs to make your entertainment refreshments. This farmhouse basement has a wet bar at the base of the stairs, complete with a wine fridge and a sink.

The Details that Bring Home the Balance

What we love about this project are the unique touches that make this space feel cool and polished yet homey as well. We built a custom sliding door with a classic farmhouse barn door design but painted it a fun blue color. To add a more exclusive touch to the space, we used custom-made walnut cabinets and a floating shelf. The doors of the cabinets also feature custom screens with an earthy geometric design that adds to the homey feel.

Another element that we adore about this Farmhouse Basement Renovation project is the classic staircase that curves from the main floor down to the basement. However, the existing spindles and newel posts looked dated, so we replaced them with a more current and simple profile. To complete its modern look, we built a curved wall to partially enclose the staircase and finished it with wallpaper. Complete with a comfy bedroom, lounge, and bathroom, this renovation has made this Farmhouse Basement truly a house on its own.

Click here to see the master bathroom transformation from this same home!