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Finished basements are a way to increase your living area. Before you begin the fun process of design, you need to spend some time looking closely at the basement as it is now. There are a few questions that should be addressed:

Was your basement built with the idea of habitable rooms? – This really is a question for older homes. Do you have enough headroom to make the space comfortable? If that isn’t a problem, the age and type of mechanical systems can be an issue. In particular, old furnaces take up considerable space that could be used as living space with a newer furnace.

Has there been water damage? –Water leakage is the bane of any finished basement. Any and all water damage has to be repaired and prevented from happening again. Signs of water damage can include water stains on walls due to previous flooding, cracked and damage masonry, and mold and mildew. Water damage can be quite serious if not addressed. Water damage can cause structural damage and also health problems for those with allergies to mold and mildew.

Removal, repair and prevention is vital before continuing a basement design. Externally, gutter and downspouts should be reconfigured to discharge rainwater away from the house structure. If there is evidence of groundwater seepage, sump pits with a sump pump or a French drain is another option.

Are there any structural problems with the walls or the floors? – If you find cracks in floors and walls, repairs should be made to prevent seepage or a way for bugs to find their way into your home. If cracks continue to grow, try to find the source of the problem (i.e.- a tree roots too close to the house foundation) and fix it.

Bowed walls may also be an issue. If the wall is more than an inch, the wall will need to be strengthened and supported. This may modify your final basement design but is critical for the structural stability of your home.

Can the mechanical systems support your finished basement? – The heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC), electrical and plumbing systems play a part in every basement remodel. Each system needs to be evaluated to determine if any modification of the system need to be made.

This is again a question for older verses newer homes. Most newer constructions are designed to include a finished basement. With older homes each system has to meet current building code requirement. With electrical systems, a new higher-amperage panel may be needed to service the additional demands of a remodel. Plumbing can be more labor intensive to install a basement bathroom, kitchen and laundry. The location of where the water and drainage are located can affect the cost and your basement design.

Storage is King – Like with real estate it is all about location, location, location. Storage is vital to any good kitchen design. With all the pots, pans, appliances that seem to be getting bigger and better, a kitchen should be able to provide the storage without taking away much needed counter space. The kitchen should not only provide the storage, it should also make it easy to get that appliance used on rare occasions. The cabinets and pantry should also be versatile so that it can store those oversized pots and appliances that never seem to fit anywhere or hold flatware or all your various storage containers.

Simplicity is better – It is easy to get overwhelmed with all the wonderful design ideas that are out there. A big mistake is trying to do too much. With aesthetic choices on cabinet style, countertops, backsplash or paint color, one thing should be the focal point of your design and all other choices will be designed based on that.

Function, Function, Function – Like storage, functionality of your kitchen should be paramount in your design. Do not get caught up with kitchens that look beautiful but are not designed for cooking. Sometimes, we forget the main purpose of the kitchen is to prepare food. Especially with smaller kitchens, we try to pack various ideas into one space. We can’t have large appliances that eat up kitchen space and then want an office area, or an enormous island. Too many wants crammed into a kitchen can cripple its main function.

Center of your Life/ Center of the home – The kitchen inevitably is the place where people tend to congregate be it family or guests. To provide easier access for everyone, it only makes sense to open the area to the dining room or the family room if possible. A well designed kitchen will keep guests out of the work space but allow them to chat with you while you work.