Buckle up your seat belts, this is going to be one VERY long post! I was originally going to break it up into two, but since this is really an open space that we worked so hard to tie together, it only made sense to share it all at once. Also just a warning if I start to ramble on and on – I’m writing this at well past midnight and barely alive anymore!

You’ve seen most of our home published here on the blog, but the unfinished basement was one I rarely (if ever) showed because, well – it was unfinished. Fast forward 3+ years from move in and we now have a fully finished basement that has become an extension of our home that we don’t know how we previously lived without.

So this is my husband’s man-cave, lounge, den – whatever you would like to call. It was mostly his vision and he made nearly all the decisions down here – so I’m just here to decorate and make it a little bit pretty :) You already had a sneak peek back when I shared the bathroom and wine wall HERE on the blog a few months ago, but finally (well over a year after we started construction) we finally completed decorating the main living space of the basement. While this is not my usual go-to palette, I am very happy with how it all turned out and it’s really become a cozy, relaxing space that the whole family enjoys spending time in.

Let’s get right into it with details about the sofa! We loved partnering with Mobilia last year on our guest bedroom (they have such a great selection of furniture), that I immediately turned to them to find the perfect sofa for our basement. I had loved all the options I saw when browsing their online store, but on our very first visit to a Mobilia showroom we immediately fell in love with the Nims Fabric Sectional. We knew we wanted something cozy – something we could really sink into on movie nights. And most important we needed a fabric that would hold up with regular (unsupervised use of children)! I monitor my white sofa on the main floor like a hawk – but the basement was a space we didn’t want to have to micromanage, so the light grey fabric was the perfect mix of durability and style.

We chose the three-piece, right facing sectional and also purchased the matching ottoman for added comfort and flexibility. We love that the ottoman can be moved around for extra seating or simply as a foot rest as needed. We also fell in love with the low-profile design of the sofa as it’s a style we have never done before, and it looked really inviting. We decided to keep the low-profile vibes going throughout the room and it was definitely the right decision. Something else we really love about the Nims sofa is that the cushions are down-filled making it extra comfortable and cozy. They do sink in when you sit down and require a good fluffing to get them back to their original shape, but it was that lived-in look that attracted us to this design in the first place as it really suits a basement setting. Grab your favourite blanket (like this one from Dreams Jumper) and you might just never get up!

The sofa really set the stag for the rest of the family room area. Since we painted the walls, ceilings, and baseboards dark navy (Benjamin Moore 2128-30 Evening Dove) we tried to bring in brighter pieces that would pop against the very dark backdrop. We added a pair of green velvet chairs for a pop of colour, infused a bit of pattern with a refresh to a vintage chair we have owned for years – and it couldn’t have been a better match. Add in a few scores from FB Marketplace (hello Jonathan Adler console and BNIB gold arched floor lamp) and we have the coziest lounge area.

Directly behind our family room is the bar area. We decided not to put in a full kitchen, but equipped the space with a fridge and sink built into the most stunning cabinetry and open shelving. I love how this area turned out – and again even though it’s not something I would have chosen on my own – the final results really are outstanding! The backsplash tile from Sarana Tile was an instant favourite and the navy and gold design really bring out all the other golden accents in the space.

Of course I have to mention another fabulous light fixture from Dainolite that really completed the space. This chandelier (Horizontal Aged Brass Chandelier w/ Acrylic Diffuser) was one of the very last pieces we installed just a couple weeks ago and the entire basement was really missing something until it went in. Like all their other lighting throughout our home, Dainolite delivers quality fixtures and beautiful designs, unmatched elsewhere. While honestly I struggled for a bit deciding on the perfect piece for this room, this chandelier was the perfect match aesthetically and functionally.

The dining table was another FB Marketplace find that almost didn’t happen. I didn’t want to spend a fortune on a table I knew we wouldn’t use all that often, so I kept my eyes peeled for what felt like months only to find a stunning brand new piece (for a steal of a price) that checked off all the boxes exactly one week before shoot day. The white chairs may look familiar as I borrowed them from our kitchen table upstairs, but they look so well down here I may need to keep them here and replace the ones upstairs.

We decorated so much of the basement with lots of amazing find from H&M Home – my go-to decor destination. I’ve always found their home products to be really good quality, modern and attractive, and the best part is that they are super affordable. We picked up blankets and glassware, to candles and trays – too many things to mention here. See below for the full source list.

The table setting was complete with our all-time favourite dinnerware from Fable. We use their Blush Pink dishes everyday upstairs, so it only made sense to add a small set to the basement too in the most luxurious Navy hue. (Use code CANDACE10OFF for 10% off at Fable) Highly recommend checking out their dinnerware, cutlery and serving bowls as it’s such great quality and really so beautiful!

There’s a games room off to the side of the bar area that allows for hours of fun playing fuse ball or air hockey, and while I had no idea how else to decorate this space – we hung some really fun drink recipe posters from Opposite Wall that tied the space back to the rest of the bar. If you’re looking for unique, original artwork that won’t break the bank, check out Opposite Wall and use code THEMINTEDMAMA for 30% off only until May 7, 2022.

Well I hope you’ve enjoyed touring our basement as much as we had fun decorating it and getting it ready for it’s grand reveal. This is one of the very last spaces of our home to share on the blog, and I’m starting to wonder what I’m going to do without more rooms to design. While that’s left to be determined for now, feel free to ask any questions or just leave a comment with your thoughts below. Thanks for sticking around this long!

SOURCE LIST: Construction: Millbay Carpentry | Tile, Backsplash: Sarana Tile | Cabinetry: Vanitar | Painting: M2A Painters & Decorators | Sofa: ℅ Mobilia | Coffee Tables: ℅ KARE Design | Gold Arched Floor Lamp, Green Armchairs, Rug, Dining Table: Wayfair | Chandelier: ℅ Dainolite | Media Unit, Floating Shelves: IKEA Canada | Plaid Chair and Stool: Vintage (Fabric by European Textiles, Reupholstery by Vintage 30) | Artwork, Side Table, Navy Dining Chairs, White Laquer Tray: HomeSense | Sculpture, Candles, Black Candle, Diffuser, Black Glassware, Grey Blanket, Black Velvet Cushions, Servingware, Placemats, Candle Stick, Lacquer Tray, Star Napkin Holder, Gold Dessert Cups, Marble Boards, Gold Tray, Large Black Vase, Glass Carafe Set, Gold Plant Pot, Spirits Glassware: ℅ H&M Home | Black Window Coverings, Black Branches, Napkins: Bouclair | White Blanket: ℅ Dreams Jumper | Poster Artwork: ℅ Opposite Wall (Use code THEMINTEDMAMA for 30% off)| Console Table: Jonathan Adler | Bench: West Elm | White Dining Chairs: Similar | Navy Dinnerware, Cutlery, Carafe Set: ℅ Fable (Use code CANDACE10OFF) | Charcuterie Platter: Polly and Co. Catering | Gold Cocktail Set: Amazon | Dress: Petite Studio NYC | Shoes: Pretty Small Shoes | Jewelry: The Minted Mama Collection

*Photos by Darby Mitchell Photography