Timber Innovations LLC

Kimberly, Wis. | timberinnovations.com

Location: Appleton, Wis. | Project cost: $136,265

This home was built in the 1980s; its traditional look was dated and didn’t reflect the homeowners’ style. They wanted to add an area for entertaining and a guest suite to their unfinished basement. They envisioned a modern, inviting, industrial look with places to work, exercise, entertain and relax. Lack of natural lighting, a support post that couldn’t be moved and a cracked foundation were the major design and construction challenges faced during this project. Work onsite began after the “Safer at Home” mandate was lifted. Fortunately, the basement had a separate entrance. A safe work environment was maintained by limiting onsite workers to ensure physical distancing and by entering/exiting via the basement entrance.

Now, a grand entry with a modern, industrial look, was created by replacing the inside wall with a floating glass panel held in place with custom-made steel brackets fabricated in-house, a metal backlit handrail installed along the remaining stairway wall and a black lacquer finish on new wood stairs that allows the grain to show through. The landing wraps around to become the bottom shelf of the floating bookshelf. This reading nook helps connect the hallway area to the rest of the space.