How to Create a Basement Kitchenette Suitable for Teenagers

Q. My husband and I want to finish our basement so our teenagers can hang out there with their friends. I would love for them to have their own kitchen area but I don’t have a clue where to start. Does it need a lot of space? Should we include a stove? What do you think?

A. Actually, none of us have this option but luckily, we knew that Jacob Laws of CURE Design Group (188 Roxbury, 636-294-2343, curedesigngroup.com) recently dealt with this dilemma. He took the corner of a basement and transformed it into a fab kitchenette. He says:

“It was a totally unfinished space in newer construction project that left very little to the imagination due to major support beams that were scattered throughout the entire basement. I brought in my engineer and had the supports that were problematic moved. That gave us a lot more space to work with (with the exception of having to work around the HVAC and humidifier systems).

“Since entertaining for both the parents and the kids was the main goal of how the space was going to be utilized, a well-equipped kitchen/prep area was necessary but we had to maximize the corner where we built due to existing plumbing. However, it was also a request to design a functional area without the fuss of building out a FULL kitchen. We stuck to the essentials: a full-sized fridge, a dishwasher to avoid schlepping dishes up and down stairs and a convection microwave for easy prep hors d’oeuvres. Since comfort and ease within the over design was important we didn’t want any pieces that anyone would be nervous about using, so the 126-inch long trestle table was perfect knowing that it would patina with use and only age with more character.

“Stylistically, my choices were simple… Since all of the public areas are pretty much open to one another I went monochromatic so that the eye moves effortlessly. I used uncomplicated molding and trim for a streamlined aesthetic as opposed to a basic builder-grade ‘finished lower level,’ and used a tonal-patterned, cement on charcoal commercial grade carpet to suggest a more contemporary but sophisticated palate. I matched the kitchen area’s floor to the tones in the carpet with a 12-by 24-inch charcoal porcelain tile laid in a brick pattern and mimicked that with the classic and almost industrial white ceramic subway tile with contrasting charcoal grey grout. So the kitchen corner didn’t feel cold, however, I had custom cabinets stained a deep ebony so they had depth and mixed those with white lacquered, glass front accent cabinets on either side of the sink so there was more of a thoughtful assemblage of wood tones. In keeping with a clean approach to my design, I opted for a more cost effective alternative to Caesarstone which is Hanex, a solid surface material used a lot in commercial applications for it’s durability. The pendent over the kitchen sink is an uncomplicated shape but is a polished nickel which adds a little bit of what I like to call ‘jewelry’ to a mostly utilitarian/functional space.”