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There's one word that best described this basement apartment -depressing! The paint and carpet were dingy and the layout was odd. To add to the gloominess, it didn't get a lot of direct sunlight. My approach to this renovation was to banish the drab and bring in the pizzazz!
Because this studio-sized apartment was to be used as guest quarters (and therefore not inhabited full-time), I got to have fun with color and theme. The rustic B&B's of Mexico and the vivid color combinations found in Mexican Folk Art were my inspiration for this design. The excitement of color and pattern counteracted the lack of natural sunlight and emotionally transported guests to faraway exotic places.
In the bedroom/living room, we reconfigured the space so it flowed properly, closing off a labyrinth-like approach to the bathroom and creating a more appropriate entrance elsewhere. Then, we applied an ochre-colored plaster finish on the walls to rid the apartment of its basement feel and infuse it with a sense of architectural authenticity.
The kitchen had a puzzling wall dividing it from the dining room-this was the first thing to go! With the space now open and united, Mexican pavers and colorful cabinetry added to the apartment's Latin theme.
Besides its new entrance, the bathroom also needed a dividing wall between it and what would become a new laundry room. By salvaging the shower stall (we just removed the plastic backing and replaced it with tile), we could spend the cost savings on a special focal point: a custom sink base with porcelain hand-painted Mexican bowl.
