“The clients have family in the area and spend a lot of time together watching football. When they first moved into the house, they installed a kegerator and makeshift pub in their basement where they would host these gatherings. When they decided it was time to give the space a facelift, I was excited to give it a den-like, moody vibe that was different from the coastal decor found throughout the rest of the house. We took inspiration from elements already in the basement, like the dark wood paneling, to lean into that old Hollywood feel.

“I produced 3D renderings for the clients and presented mood boards to help them see the space come to life in a new way. Lucky for me, they were completely on board with my vision and eager to make the improvements I suggested. I worked with a contractor I’ve used before on the construction, and we partnered with a local cabinet company through Ware-Butler Building Supply to construct the cabinets and supply the counters. 

“One of the coolest parts of the pub, in my opinion, is the mirrored backsplash. We used an antique-looking tile that ended up influencing the whole space, bringing in the glam factor we were looking for. We went back and forth about whether or not to paint the existing wood paneling, but once we decided on the mirrored tile—which has this brown veining throughout—keeping the dark wood made sense to help accentuate the antique feeling of the backsplash and pull out certain tones in the room.

“The space had this huge, unfinished concrete fireplace with a giant mantel that had so much potential, but we struggled to figure out the best way to finish it. Ultimately, we decided on a large-scale tile for the hearth, which gives it a polished, upscale look. Matt Spera from Transit Design and Installation is a magician with tile and I really leaned on him to get the fireplace and backsplash right. 

“I used glass upper cabinets with down lighting to display some of the clients’ eclectic glassware, and we added a variety of different lighting options; in addition to table lamps, we used battery-operated candlelight to give the space a moody flair. The countertops are quartz, with more brown veining, which is super durable for a wet space and a family with young kids. All the furnishings are new—we focused on bringing in texture in the rug and pillows to give the sitting area a cozy feel against some of the more glam elements like the tile and candlelight.”

—Liz Kirby, principal and founder of Surf Road Interior Design