Next Home Project: Home Gym and Basement Bath
If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that we do not need to go to a gym to get a good workout. Peloton obviously crushed it during this season of discontent and disease, giving people a community PLUS a safe way to workout from the comfort of your own home. What I’m saving in our stupidly expensive gym memberships, I’m now putting towards building a home gym. Like, a REAL one. We have a huge unfinished basement that I am currently riding my bike in while fiberglass insulation rains down on me every time I stretch or do an arms workout and is probably giving me lung cancer. Not cool. It’s kind of the proper rough and tumble vibe for Fight Camp, but I’d rather have a clean, finished space that is really comfortable to work out in long term. So I’ve enlisted the help of Brookes + Hill Custom Builders again, who did my first whirlwind renovation, to help out getting this done, hopefully, this fall. Since lead times are NUTS, I’m designing it now so I can order the items we need that may take a long time so that when they have time to do it, everything is on site.
For the gym I’m keeping things really simple- wall to wall gym flooring in black and white but adding a nice accent of wallpaper (from my new line coming soon- stay TUNED!) I love this greige ikat/blockprint stripe and I think it works well down here (hey, any excuse to wallpaper, right??) I’ll have a wall of large scale mirrors and add a TV with storage underneath and a little closet for equipment (also sports equipment for the kids/us). A couple cool prints from Minted and it’s a done deal.
Gym Flooring// Wall Color- BM Grey Huskie // Wallpaper- coming SOON from my new line!!!! // Bookshelf // Weight Rack // Mirrors // Peloton bike // Peloton Tread // Fight Camp // Abstract Art // Figure Drawing left // Figure Drawing right
Here’s the layout- we’d be adding access through the hallway between the playroom and the stairs up to the foyer. There are a bunch of support columns and radon pipes we have to deal with, but I plan to box out what I can or paint everything black…. we’ll see.
Here are the existing conditions so you can see how we are expanding the current bathroom and closing off the gym from the unfinished storage section of the basement. We have a whole other side of the basement that is unfinished (mechanicals/ systems) so taking away half of the left side for a gym is no problem.
And here’s how it looks now – LOVELY, eh?
There is a small 1/2 bath down here that I am trying to expand to a full bath by adding a very small shower – when we renovate the master suite we’ll be losing a full bath and an office, so I want to make the playroom a guest space too – and having a full bath off it makes it nice and private. This bathroom will VERY rarely get used (holiday time guests sleeping in the basement and playdates) so I’m using really affordable stuff but trying to make it kinda cool and different from the rest of the house. There is no natural light down in this bath so I’m just going to run with it and make it moody and dark – why not!? I’ve been a little obsessed with the idea of a deep green tiled shower, and this is the perfect spot for it.
Main Floor // Shower Floor // Shower Walls // Vanity // Shower Curtain // Sconce // Mirror // Shower // Faucet
Here’s the current situation….
Now, to finish decorating the main part of the house! We’ve been so busy my house has come last, but some new developments mean I have to get cookin’!!!! Can you guess what that is?? ;)
Browse:
My vote was for a magazine shoot until one of your other readers suggested another book.
If you are involved, both options are an awesome idea!
Love everything you do! I love options, wondering if you might want to consider putting TV power also on the 14’ wall, can hide w art, that way if you turn your tread towards that wall, you could have room for Pelaton next to it, free up space on the other end. That mirrored wall will be a hit with your kids, especially if you have a tiny dancer ;). You will have room for teepees, train tracks, forts (I bet yours would be the coolest!) or family yoga, lol. Thanks for sharing all your tips and tricks! You have a beautiful family and home!
Love the moody bathroom. You might be surprised at the use it gets. We put in a full bathroom in our basement years ago when we renovated because we needed a full bath while the upstairs ones were being renovated. We also had exercise equipment downstairs- erg machine & Peloton. My husband and boys would regularly use the shower in the basement after working out. YMMV.
I just wanted to second the motion by Judy that you should have a radon test done before you start this project so that you know if you need a mitigation system put in.
Already have one!
Cars…are you designing a car…franki
I’m guessing it’s a new book. I would say a cookbook but I seem to recall you don’t like to cook??
Maybe a book about outdoor design and entertaining?
‘Elements of Outdoor Style’
My friends just redid their gym and added a sauna that they surrounded with builtins to disguise it a bit and make it seem part of the wall. I thought it was totally unnecessary and silly until I used it and it is LIFE CHANGING. More so than the peloton. Definitely sneak one in there.
Saunas give me massive anxiety, so we’re gonna skip that one :)
I love this reply and concur!
I recently built a house that included a fitness area with a floor made of interlocking dark gray rubber tiles with taupe flecks. From the day of install, it was a nightmare to keep clean. A year later the lower level flooded during a major rainstorm (because the city managed to fully block its sewer line). I could not change that floor to an industrial style carpet (with an appropriate pad) fast enough. The feel of the room is 100% more welcoming and it’s 1000% easier to keep clean. Just a thought…
Fabric?
What you’re cooking up? My guess, your kitchen remodel is next!
OMG your own line of wallpaper?? Cannot wait for that to drop.
Make sure you read up on the peloton treadmill accidents involving kids before you buy. I wanted one too but decided against it.
I was just thinking about that too! Saw it on the news recently.
Yes I know. We plan on having a lock on the gym door and also getting the regular Tread not the Tread + which is the one that has the safety issues.
Whoa, that is definitely an unfinished basement! I would be totally freaked out about the insulation too. Two quick questions/notes to ask! Do you get to keep the stone wall, or will you have to cover it up? I like it! Second thing, once your new bathroom is installed make sure that the shower gets a little bit of use! My uncles bought a house where a secondary bathroom had been installed but the shower had NEVER been used and the seal dried up. Once my uncles started using it, it leaked, causing major damage and repair work. You probably know this already anyway! Your new gym is going to be beautiful!
pregnant????
OMG NOOOOOOOOOOO
Yes, to close on a house in MA you have to have a radon test done- which we did and our mitigation system was installed.
I know your gym will be first class…the neighbors will be asking to buy memberships!
If you haven’t done so and since you have a stone foundation…have a simple 3 day radon test run down there. If you’d find radon emitting from the foundation, this would be the time to install a mitigation system before everything is finished off.
Magazine shoot?! (Hoping for this!)
Erin,
Do you follow Jean Stoffer out of Grand Rapids, MI by any chance? She has some awesome “moody” baths, including a fabulous green tile one, which might serve as great inspiration for you! Google her instagram as well as her design website and take a look.
p.s. we installed a dark, moody grey tile in a shower and used black hex (instead of white) for the floor. Everyone thought we were nuts. Nope, it’s completely awesome! And SO easy to maintain! Purely f.y.i. Whatever/however you do this bath will be stellar!