There’s no doubt a finished basement lends immeasurable value to a homeowner’s lifestyle. Nevertheless, unearthing its potential takes creativity and courage. “It doesn’t have to be a continuation of your main floor; you can think outside the box in terms of design,” says Steph Morris, the owner and visionary behind North + Birch, a boutique interior design firm nestled in downtown Clarkston. Recently, Morris and her small but mighty team proved they had the right levels of ingenuity, fearlessness, and collective maternal instinct needed for an accessible and inclusive lower-level remodel in Clarkston.
North + Birch prides itself on having a motherly grip on the colorful aspects of parenthood. “Between myself and my two team members, we have seven children,” Morris says. She and her team remained open-minded, playful, and persistent when it came to building their client’s dream. “We were looking for something fun for the kids and fun for the adults,” the homeowner explains.
The client dreamt of connecting the ground-floor foyer to the basement using a slide. Unlike the previous firms she had interviewed, Morris embraced the unique vision. “I looked for a designer for about a year,” the homeowner says. “I really just wanted a designer who understood being a mother to young children, and who would be game for creating something fun.”
Morris grasped the heart of the concept and agreed to transform the space into a showstopper. The result is a dramatic playground for all. “Imagine the logistics of getting a slide into the house!” Morris exclaims. While the 11-foot, electric-blue slide was the most shocking and unexpected part of the project, it’s one of many jewels to be found in the 3,000-square-foot space.
Other gems include a private cinema with seven theater seats, a secret bar, a stage, a one-of-a-kind living space, and a stylish kitchen sporting custom walnut cabinets from Royal Oak’s Studio Harmony, phyllite counters, and a zellige, hand-cut terracotta tile backsplash — one of the homeowner’s favorite elements.
At first, the basement’s large footprint and 12-foot-tall ceilings posed challenges, but they evolved into a design win. Carolyn Sauber, a lead designer at North + Birch, says instead of forcing cohesion, each room was designed to take on a distinct personality of its own.
The secret bar is masked in true speakeasy fashion. Accessed from the theater through hidden Alexa-operated automated doors, the hideaway’s moody atmosphere is achieved through perfectly-chosen details like a handmade lampshade by East Sussex-based print designer Anna Hayman. Its tassel skirting invites drama, while the velvety shade complements the high-gloss lacquer of the bar’s floating cobalt shelves and a nearby photograph of a woman wearing a lampshade (this original work was sourced from Tell Me I’m Pretty, a fine art website run locally by interior designer Lyzz Hope and photographer Shelby Dubin).
“Showcasing local talent adds a rich level of storytelling to each project,” Morris says. Her team also worked with Clarkston-based builder Brian Galley, from Bella Custom Homes, on the basement’s transformation, while Ann Arbor-based muralist Payton James created the playroom’s captivating murals.
Stylistically, the basement is described as bold and eclectic — a reflection of the homeowner’s playful imagination and artistic approach. “I love that the space feels polished, but it doesn’t feel stuffy,” the client says. “Nothing is untouchable, and you can still roller skate through the house.”
When Morris and Sauber presented the first rendering of the basement kitchen, their client didn’t make any adjustments. “In this moment, we knew they were on board and unafraid to be bold,” Sauber says. “We took risks mixing things, and I think it was the lack of hesitation from our clients that got us, and the design, to where we landed.”
North + Birch’s lower-level wonderland is a true performance piece. Adds Morris, “At the heart of the project, we tried to create an inclusive space for all regardless of age or ability.”
More information: northandbirch.com
Text by Christine Hildebrand. Photography by Jacob Hawkins.
|
|
|
