Northwoods Theme Makes This Project Enchantingly Woodsy

Working within the height and structural confines of a basement means employing clever tricks to work around supports. The cabinetry for the home theater and entertainment center had to work around a support beam for an upper floor. The custom-built cabinetry houses all of the electronic system's components but is angled on the left side to hide the column. In other areas of the basement, post beams were added to the ceiling for an architectural effect. With the lighting, David Rodrigues opted for flush mounts instead of cans where necessary because of flash runs and wiring. He also pulled apart and rewired the pendant fixtures above the bar and in the bathroom to ensure they worked with the basement's ceiling height.

For David and Ann Rodrigues, president and vice president of David & Goliath Builders, the project that launched their remodeling division had to be featured in the local home improvement showcase and had to really demonstrate the company's craftsmanship - so, why not remodel their own home?

In less than 90 days, the couple transformed their more than 2,000-square-foot basement into an ode to the Northwoods of Wisconsin. They used slices of tree bark - including walnut, red elm, hickory and silver maple - to cover support beams (rather than box them out with drywall) and mask structural components such as a plumbing stack that protruded from the wall. To give the illusion that the kitchen bar top was one solid piece, they chose and placed wood pieces so the grains would run together and then cut the support posts in the kitchen so the wood countertop could slide between the top and bottom pieces.

Hand-painted wall murals enhanced the nature theme. In one of the basement's corners, a tree was painted around an actual sliver of cherry tree, and a real bird's nest was added to a ledge to give the appearance that it sits on one of the branches. The Rodrigueses also incorporated rustic stone around the mantel and bar front to give the space a lodgelike feel.

The project cost $150,000.

"From a remodeling perspective, if you're looking for extra space, basements are an excellent investment and less expensive to finish off than an addition," says Ann Rodrigues.

Company: DG Remodeling, Pewaukee, Wis.

Location of project: Pewaukee

Age of home: 1 year

Scope of work: full kitchen with bar; bathroom; family room/theater; exercise area; game room; bedroom, all in previously unfinished basement

Light fixtures: Kalco Wood tree planks: Kettle Moraine Hardwoods Fireplace: Heat-N-Glo Windows & patio doors: Andersen

Basement