Brattain Residence
Deephaven, Minnesota

Project Goals:
We were hired to help transform this walk-out basement from dark and heavy into light and airy. Uses include a family room, a game room with pool table and wet bar. We needed to work around existing ductwork and beams positioned under an already low ceiling height.

Project Outcome:
The fireplace was refaced to soften its presence and emphasize the horizontal; dark wall paneling was removed and a narrow chair rail was added to keep the eye low on the wall. The visual weight of the ceiling was reduced by creating thin, wood-trimmed tiers to hide ductwork and beams. The stairway was restructured to make it transparent and to reverse its direction, with the bottom at the entry from the garage. Custom-built, tiered glass ceiling lights finished the composition with a few more gentle layers, creating an effect of visual lightness.

View of stairs before