Project Overview

Wichita Home Works completed this Blackstone basement finish in Wichita, Kansas for homeowners who wanted to transform an unfinished lower level into a full extension of the home.

The project created a finished basement with a large living and theater area, a custom projector and entertainment wall, a gas fireplace feature, a wraparound bar and kitchenette, two finished bedrooms, a bathroom with a custom tile shower, custom built-ins, a Murphy door, a reading nook, desk areas, storage, finished stairs, carpet, LVP flooring, lighting, paint, trim, and detailed finish carpentry.

The plans show the basement being reworked from open unfinished space into several connected areas, including a living area of approximately 338 square feet, a bar and desk zone, two bedrooms, bathroom, shower, closets, stair access, and storage areas. The design also called for a theater wall, projector screen, sconces, stone at pillars and fireplace areas, an arched opening to the living area, a gas corner fireplace, a wraparound bar, a brick wall, granite or quartz-style countertops, and a farmhouse sink. 

The finished result is a warm, custom lower level with a strong entertainment focus. It feels like a destination space for movies, sports, hosting, overnight guests, work, reading, and everyday family use.

The Homeowner’s Vision

The goal was to create a basement that did much more than add basic finished square footage.

The homeowners wanted a lower level with personality, comfort, and several clearly defined uses. The living area needed to support a projector screen, fireplace, seating, and built-in storage. The bar area needed to feel like a true entertaining space, with cabinetry, countertops, sink, brick veneer, floating shelves, and lighting. The bedrooms needed to feel finished and useful, with one bedroom incorporating a Murphy-style hidden door concept and built-in reading and desk features.

The bathroom needed to include a custom shower, open linen storage, a vanity, tile, and warm finishes that worked with the rest of the basement. The overall design needed to feel intentional, comfortable, and more detailed than a standard basement finish.

Wichita Home Works’ in-house design team helped plan the basement layout, archway, stone columns, fireplace location, theater wall, entertainment cabinetry, bar layout, bathroom layout, bedroom door locations, Murphy door, built-ins, tile selections, flooring, lighting, paint colors, stone and brick details, trim, and final finish direction.

The final design created a basement with multiple high-value features in one coordinated lower-level remodel.

Scope of Work

Wichita Home Works coordinated the project from design and basement layout through framing, mechanical work, drywall, tile, cabinetry, flooring, painting, trim carpentry, final cleaning, inspections, and closeout.

The project included:

Basement Layout and Framing

The basement was framed to create a living area, bar and desk area, two bedrooms, closets, bathroom, shower, storage access, and finished circulation around the stairs.

The framing plan included treated bottom plates on concrete, 2×4 wall framing, bedroom and bathroom walls, view-out wall framing, a living room wall with gas fireplace framing, a stone-feature corner opposite the fireplace, an arched opening with partial walls between the living and bar areas, reinforced framing for the Murphy door, a half wall for the bar top, and backing for drywall, shower glass, cabinets, and floating shelves. 

The view-out walls were framed with 2x4s laid flat against the concrete so the finished walls would avoid a deep ledge. The Bedroom 1 entrance was moved to a new location, and an access opening was framed under the stairs.

This framing phase turned the unfinished basement into a true floor plan with defined rooms and features.

Living Room and Theater Area

The main living area became the centerpiece of the basement.

The design included a projector screen wall, custom entertainment cabinetry, a louvered projector cabinet, wall sconces, LED lighting, stone details, carpet, and a gas fireplace feature. The entertainment wall was planned around an 80-inch projector screen concept, with a custom cabinet and vented projector area designed to manage heat from the equipment. 

The finished living room provides space for movie nights, sports, gaming, relaxing, and gathering. The combination of carpet, dimmable lighting, sconces, fireplace, stone veneer, and custom cabinetry makes the room feel comfortable and complete.

Gas Fireplace and Stone Features

A gas fireplace was installed in the corner of the living area, with framing, gas supply, venting, and finish work coordinated around the feature.

The fireplace package included a Heat & Glo SlimLine-style 32-inch direct-vent gas fireplace with ceramic glass, logs, LED embers, remote control, fan kit, battery backup, black glass interior, and clean-face front. 

Cottonwood non-tumbled thin veneer stone was installed around the fireplace and at the opposite basement corner. The stone was also used at the bases of the two posts near the arched opening. White grout and stone sealer completed the installation. 

These stone elements give the basement a grounded, custom feel and help the living area feel more architectural.

Arched Opening and Column Details

One of the strongest design details in the basement is the arched opening between the living area and the bar area.

The plans show a broad broken arch supported by partial walls and stone-wrapped column bases. This feature creates separation between the entertainment area and bar without closing the basement off. 

The arched opening makes the basement feel designed rather than simply divided by walls. It adds character, frames the view into the bar area, and gives the living space a more finished identity.

Bar and Kitchenette Area

The bar area was designed as a major entertaining feature.

The bar includes lower cabinetry, upper cabinetry, a wraparound counter layout, floating shelves, a farmhouse sink, outlet planning, garbage disposal, sconces, LED lighting, and a brick veneer feature wall. The project included rough-in and final plumbing for the bar sink, hot and cold water lines, drain work, and a disposal. 

The cabinetry was finished in Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore, and the bar countertops used Quartz Niagara Series 1 with eased edging. The sink was a white apron-style farmhouse sink integrated into the bar countertop layout. 

The finished bar gives the basement a strong hosting function. It supports drinks, snacks, storage, serving, display, and everyday use without requiring trips back upstairs.

Brick Veneer Feature Wall

The bar wall received Charleston brick veneer with a light white German smear.

This detail gives the bar area warmth and texture while tying into the basement’s mix of stone, painted cabinetry, wood shelves, and darker wall color. The brick wall also creates a strong visual backdrop for the floating shelves and sink wall.

The brick veneer was installed over backer board and finished with white grout and a light German smear, giving it a softer, aged look instead of a crisp new-brick appearance. 

Custom Entertainment Center and Projector Cabinet

The living room entertainment wall was built around both storage and technology.

The custom entertainment center included shaker-style cabinet doors, an Iron Ore finish, a wood top, and a projector cabinet with a louvered front. The projector cabinet was designed to sit inside the larger cabinet in front of the projector screen location and allow heat to escape properly. 

A custom Rustic Hickory faux beam was built above the entertainment area, and a Rustic Hickory mantel was built at the fireplace. These wood details add warmth and contrast against the darker cabinetry, gray walls, stone, and carpet.

The finished entertainment wall gives the basement a polished theater-style focal point.

Bedroom 1 and Built-In Reading Nook

Bedroom 1 was designed with more detail than a typical basement bedroom.

The project included a new bedroom door, sliding closet doors, casing, window trim, baseboards, and custom built-ins. A reading nook was built with a cabinet on one side, shelving to the ceiling, center cubbies, and a custom desk with shelving on the other side. Crown molding was installed on top of the reading nook shelves. 

The plans also included a Murphy door concept and built-in bookshelf details, allowing the room and surrounding area to feel more playful and custom than a standard bedroom layout. 

This bedroom can function as a guest room, reading room, office, hobby space, or flexible lower-level room.

Bedroom 2 and Barn Door

Bedroom 2 was finished with a bedroom door, closet, barn door, LVP flooring, lighting, outlets, trim, paint, and finished window details.

The scope included a Cheyenne-style barn door with black barn door track, casing, baseboards, and a finished bedroom layout with closet space. 

The barn door gives this room a distinct design feature while saving swing clearance and adding character to the lower level.

Basement Bathroom

The basement bathroom was built with a vanity, toilet, custom tile shower, open linen shelving, LVP flooring, lighting, exhaust fan, and finish accessories.

The bathroom walls were painted Sherwin-Williams Dorian Gray, and the vanity and linen shelving were finished in Iron Ore. The bathroom countertop used Quartz Niagara Series 1 with an eased edge and a white rectangular undermount sink. 

The bathroom layout was coordinated around existing basement plumbing conditions, with adjustments made to support the final shower, vanity, toilet, and storage plan.

Custom Tile Shower

The bathroom shower became one of the most detailed finish areas in the project.

The shower included a mud-bed shower pan, Schluter curb, site-built niche, Schluter shower bench, black 1×1 tile on the shower pan, Heritage Snow hexagon wall tile to the ceiling, black shower drain, charcoal grout, and greige jolly trim. The shower niche used matching black field tile on the back wall. 

The combination of white hexagon wall tile, black shower floor, black drain, bench, niche, and darker bathroom finishes creates a clean but bold bathroom design.

Plumbing and Mechanical Updates

The project included important plumbing and mechanical work behind the finished surfaces.

The bathroom footprint required cutting concrete and relocating plumbing under the slab so the backwater valve and 3-inch stack could be moved out of the proposed plan. The existing backflow prevention was moved under the linen cabinet, the shower drain was relocated, and new hot and cold water lines were roughed in for the shower, vanity, toilet, and bar sink. 

Mechanical work included moving a line set for fireplace clearance, connecting the bathroom exhaust vent, adding a supply vent to the new bathroom, and adding hi-low pass-through grilles for the basement bedrooms. 

These updates helped the basement function as a finished living level rather than just a cosmetic renovation.

Electrical and Lighting

The basement received a substantial electrical package.

The living area included a dedicated 20-amp circuit for the entertainment center, outlets, mini lights, 6-inch LED puck lights, wall sconces, a fireplace outlet, and dimmer switching. The bar and desk area included two dedicated 20-amp circuits, LED puck lighting, outlets, garbage disposal wiring, wall sconces, and an outlet near the brick wall and floating shelf. 

The bathroom, bedrooms, closets, ceiling fan boxes, general-use outlets, and specialty lighting were also included in the electrical plan. Bedroom 2 included bed sconces, and Bedroom 1 included a desk light and ceiling fan box. 

The finished basement has layered lighting for entertainment, daily use, bathroom function, bar use, and bedroom comfort.

Insulation, Drywall and Ceiling Texture

The basement was insulated and finished with drywall to create a comfortable finished envelope.

Exterior walls were insulated with R-11 batt insulation, and the ceiling received R-19 batt insulation except in the utility room. Drywall was installed on walls and ceilings, including under-stair sections, arch details, and beam areas. 

The basement walls were smooth finished, and the ceilings received knockdown texture. The living room ceiling was painted Dovetail to match the living and bar walls, while the remaining finished basement ceilings were painted flat white. 

Paint and Stain

The basement uses a warm, darker finish palette that supports the entertainment-focused design.

The living room and bar walls were painted Sherwin-Williams Dovetail. The bathroom and bedrooms were painted Sherwin-Williams Dorian Gray. The custom desk, shelves, Murphy door, entertainment center cabinetry, bar cabinetry, bathroom vanity, and linen shelves were finished in Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore. 

Rustic Hickory elements, including the beam, mantel, and floating shelves, were stained and clear coated for a natural wood look. This gives the basement warmth against the darker gray and black-painted elements.

Flooring

The basement used a mix of carpet and LVP to define different zones.

The living area and stairs received Opulent Carflo polished patterned carpet with a heavy rubber carpet pad. The bar and office area, bathroom, hallway, bedrooms, and under-stair area received Discovery Ridge Baywood Brown LVP flooring over a vapor barrier. 

This flooring plan makes sense for the way the basement is used. Carpet softens the theater and living area, while LVP gives the bar, bathroom, hallway, and bedrooms a durable finished surface.

Trim Carpentry and Custom Built-Ins

Finish carpentry was one of the biggest parts of the project.

The scope included entertainment cabinetry, projector cabinet, faux beam, fireplace mantel, desk area, Murphy door, bookshelf, bar cabinets, bar front paneling, floating shelves, bathroom vanity, bathroom open shelving, bedroom doors, sliding closet doors, barn door, casing, baseboards, crown molding, and customer-provided hardware and accessories. 

The amount of built-in work gives this basement its custom identity. The finished space does not feel like a generic basement; it feels planned around the homeowners’ entertainment, storage, guest, work, and design goals.

Exterior Fireplace Flue and Siding Repair

Because the gas fireplace required exterior venting, the project included limited exterior siding work.

Up to eight pieces of 12-inch Hardie siding were installed on the east side of the house due to the line move and fireplace flue. The new siding was caulked and painted with color-matched paint as closely as possible. 

This helped the basement fireplace function properly while keeping the exterior looking clean.

Design and Finish Details

This project has a transitional basement style with modern rustic, industrial, and entertainment-focused details.

The Dovetail walls, Iron Ore cabinetry, Rustic Hickory shelves and beam, stone veneer, brick veneer, arched opening, patterned carpet, and projector wall create a warm lower-level lounge feel.

The bar area adds a hospitality layer with dark cabinetry, quartz countertops, farmhouse sink, brick wall, and floating shelves. The bathroom adds contrast with white hexagon shower tile, black shower floor, Iron Ore vanity, and Dorian Gray walls.

The overall design is darker and moodier than many main-floor remodels, which works well for a basement designed around entertainment, movies, fireplace use, and evening gathering.

Construction Story

This project began with an unfinished basement and a highly detailed vision.

The early work focused on layout and framing. The team created the living area, bedrooms, bathroom, bar zone, archway, fireplace area, Murphy door opening, and custom storage locations. From there, the basement moved through mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fireplace, insulation, and drywall work.

The finish phase brought the design to life. Stone veneer, brick veneer, tile shower work, cabinetry, floating shelves, trim, LVP, carpet, paint, sconces, and lighting all had to be sequenced carefully so the basement could move from a construction zone into a polished lower-level living space.

The final weeks focused on refinement. Crews completed cabinet and wall touch-ups, finish electrical, finish plumbing, fireplace stone, barn door and sliding door installation, cleaning, inspections, and final photo preparation. The final inspection passed in September 2023, and post-construction closeout was scheduled afterward. 

The completed Blackstone basement shows how an unfinished lower level can become one of the most used and memorable areas of a home.

Project Coordination Highlights

Entertainment-Focused Basement Layout

The basement was designed around a projector wall, entertainment cabinetry, fireplace, seating area, dimmable lighting, sconces, and custom finishes.

Custom Bar and Kitchenette

The wraparound bar includes Iron Ore cabinetry, Quartz Niagara countertops, farmhouse sink, brick veneer wall, floating shelves, and lighting for entertaining.

Architectural Character

The arched opening, stone-wrapped post bases, fireplace stone, brick wall, Rustic Hickory beam, and mantel give the basement a strong custom-built feel.

Bathroom and Shower Upgrade

The bathroom includes a custom tile shower with bench, niche, black shower floor tile, Heritage Snow hex wall tile, vanity, quartz countertop, open linen storage, and updated fixtures.

Flexible Bedrooms and Built-Ins

Two bedrooms were finished, including a detailed Bedroom 1 reading nook and desk area, plus a Bedroom 2 barn door and finished closet space.

Finish-Stage Refinement

The final phase included paint touch-ups, cabinet touch-ups, finish electrical, finish plumbing, door installation, shelving, caulking, cleaning, and inspection coordination so the finished basement felt complete and ready for use.

The Finished Result

The finished Blackstone basement gives the homeowners a complete lower-level living environment.

The living area now works as a theater-style entertainment room with a projector wall, fireplace, stone features, built-in cabinetry, sconces, and comfortable carpet. The bar area adds a true hosting space with dark cabinetry, quartz countertops, brick veneer, floating shelves, and a farmhouse sink.

The basement also includes two finished bedrooms, a bathroom with a custom tile shower, storage, desk space, reading nook details, and finished stairs.

The result is a custom basement finish that adds entertainment value, guest space, storage, bathroom function, and everyday flexibility.

Why This Project Matters for Future Basement Finish Clients

This project is a strong example for homeowners who want a finished basement that feels custom from the beginning.

A basement finish can be much more than drywall, carpet, and a bathroom. With the right design, it can include a theater room, bar, fireplace, stone and brick details, hidden doors, guest bedrooms, custom work areas, storage, and a bathroom that feels as finished as the rest of the home.

For homeowners near Wichita, Goddard, Maize, Andale, Derby, Andover, Bel Aire, and surrounding communities, this project shows how Wichita Home Works can coordinate a detailed basement finish from layout planning through final closeout.

Thinking About a Similar Basement Finish?

If you are planning a basement finish, basement bar, home theater, projector wall, basement bathroom, custom tile shower, fireplace feature, guest bedroom build-out, or lower-level entertainment space near Wichita, Wichita Home Works can help you think through the full project.

That includes layout, framing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, fireplace planning, bar design, bathroom layout, shower tile, cabinetry, flooring, lighting, paint, trim, built-ins, timeline expectations, and final finish details.

A basement finish has many connected decisions. The right design-build team helps organize those decisions into a clear, manageable process from planning through completion.

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