Before & After: Malvern Basement Renovation

Steeplechase Lane in Malvern, PA – The old basement, which stored seasonal equipment and other odds and ends, had a concrete floor, exposed plumbing and floor joists, and stone foundation walls.

No longer dark and uninviting, the basement now provides a casual counterpoint to the more formal living spaces in the rest of the house. The architect dressed up the stairway with a wooden handrail and balusters and created a storage area beneath the stairs. The arched opening beneath the stairs maintains the connection between rooms. Effective use of recessed lighting also contributes to the basement’s appeal. Support posts that had to remain for structural purposes were disguised with attractive architectural casing.

Before & After: Wayne Basement Renovation

Lindsay Drive in Wayne, PA – Dark wood paneling and a dropped tile ceiling characterize the original basement. The homeowners envisioned a space that would be a welcoming hangout for quiet evenings or weekends with a house full of guests.

After – The existing dark paneled basement was gutted, refinished and reconfigured with a more open floor plan. The space had to be multifunctional, so it was divided up into four distinct zones: a bar, wine room, office, and exercise area. Utility and storage closets are hidden behind closed doors. A cultured stone accent wall off sets a custom bar by Conestoga Valley Custom Kitchens. The existing columns became a design feature in the new bar. Hardwood floors and warm neutrals wall paint complete this inviting family hangout.

 

Before & After: Basement Renovation

Existing Billiards Room – Just barely big enough to accommodate a billiards table, the architect envisioned a new plan for the existing billiards room – a cozy study with sophisticated finishes connected to a temperature controlled wine cellar.

After – The cigar study and adjoining wine cellar find an intimate setting in the former billiards room. Glass front arched French doors keep smoke in and children out, ­while maintaining a visual connection to the rest of the lower level. Luxurious finishes and custom cabinetry (by Stimmel Design Group) exhibits the home owners preference for class and sophistication.

De-Compartmentalized Basement Renovation in Villanova

An award-winning basement renovation by Gardner/Fox was featured in the September issue of a national remodeling magazine. Read the full article online at  Qualified Remodeler.com

Why We Love our Job

Every once in a while, someone takes the time to acknowledge a job well done and we totally appreciate it. In fact, we’d like to clone these guys and build them a million houses. Unfortunately we can’t. So we’ll just say that appreciation is greatly appreciated. Oh – and our guys are the best. See below….

My wife and I recently completed our basement renovation through your firm and are thrilled with the results. Having served as a Vice President in an advertising agency I’m aware that most managers are only informed when clients are unsatisfied which is why I wanted to make sure you were aware of the great work being done by Ned Greenhow, Ken Brown and Dave Brightman.

Ned was on sight every day and did a good job keeping us informed of the progress. He was extremely approachable and included us in the necessary decisions. He made sure we felt good about our choices and the outcomes. I was very impressed when he took the time to chalk everything out on the floor so I could visually see where different walls could go. When we requested changes, he addressed them immediately, and with a positive attitude. Even more importantly, my 3 year old daughter loves him

Ken, our project lead, must never sleep. Any time I sent him an e-mail (and I sent them at all hours) I got a response within 30 minutes. During the second week of the project, we were scheduled to be without heat and water, as the team was digging through the foundation (to gain more height) and replacing the HVAC. We were staying with family when my wife went into labor (3 weeks early) with our second daughter. Ken made sure to push the team to finish early so that when we were discharged from the hospital we could return to our home. I can’t thank him enough, as my wife would have never let me here the end of it otherwise.

Passion and enthusiasm are the words I would use to describe Dave Brightman. He arrived near the end of the project to touch up areas of the property that were disturbed during the construction and to take care of some additional masonry needs. He is very passionate about his craft and it shows in the final product. My wife wanted to do more construction just so we could have him continue to fix other areas of the property.

While I’m not sure I would recommend undertaking construction and a newborn at the same time – I would certainly recommend Gardner/Fox and especially Ned, Ken and Dave.

Regards,

Rob

Thank you Rob! To say it was a pleasure to work for you would be a complete understatement. We hope you enjoy your “new” basement.

Ned, Ken, Dave – take the rest of the year off!