Project Sunset: A Playful & Functional Family Basement

Emerson, NJ 

THE STARTING POINT

When Kaitlyn reached out, she explained that it had been two years since moving into their home—and their finished basement still wasn’t the play area they had envisioned. With a young son, two working parents, and weekends already full, she finally decided to bring in an expert to help.

Their dream? A colorful, playful, and inviting space where their toddler could feel inspired—and where mom and dad could finally enjoy family time instead of weekend DIY projects. The basement had great potential, but they felt stuck and uninspired. That’s where I came in.

Living room with two large flat-screen TVs, toys on the floor, a blue couch with an acoustic guitar, and wooden flooring.
A living room with wooden flooring, a large flat-screen TV on a wooden stand, a gold balloon, a blue couch with a guitar, a small bike, and children's toys near a staircase.

THE TRANSFORMATION

The space came with a few challenges: rustic gray/brown LVP floors and a heavy, rustic bar area that were staying. Kaitlyn wanted bright and colorful, so I needed to find a way to balance the existing finishes with her vision.

Here’s how we transformed it:

  • Walls: A fresh coat of soft white paint instantly lightened the room, softening the gray tones in the floor and creating a clean canvas.

  • Seating: A modular sofa was the star piece—perfect for the narrow basement entry, performance-friendly for kids and snacks, and sourced from an American-made company with tons of fabric options.

  • Storage Wall: The back wall had tricky dimensions, but it became a huge asset thanks to a custom built-in designed to hold the TV and all the toys. Big thanks to Josh from JT Custom Wood Works for bringing this design to life beautifully!

  • Creative Corner: For the most fun touch, I sourced dinosaur-themed peel-and-stick wallpaper from Spoonflower—playful, modern, and easy to apply. We paired it with a round table and chairs, vertical organizers, and a washable rug to create the ultimate kid zone.

  • Accents: Pops of color came in with ottomans, wall-mounted shelves, and smart toy storage from West Elm that made the space stylish and family-friendly.

Every inch of this long, narrow basement was used with intention—balancing play, storage, and comfort for everyone.

A young boy sitting on a beige carpet, playing with a toy drum and drumsticks in a living room. There are various pillows on a light-colored sofa behind him.
A children's dining nook with a round white table, two black chairs with wooden legs, a white circular rug with black letters, a wall with dinosaur and bird illustrations, a wooden wall organizer with small books and decorations, string lights, and c
Close-up of a black wooden shelf with colorful books, a glass jar with a woven holder, a framed family photo, and decorative items.
A light gray sofa with a multicolored striped blanket draped over the armrest in front of a wall with the words 'PLAY all day' in large black letters. Above the sofa, there are two white shelves filled with children's books against a wood-paneled wal
A cozy living room with a light-colored sectional sofa, wooden flooring, and a patterned rug. There are shelves with books and a TV, a large floor lamp, a basket with children's toys, a leather ottoman, and some children's stools. Wall decor includes
Cozy living room with a light gray sofa decorated with orange and tan pillows. A multicolored striped blanket is draped over the sofa arm. On the wall behind is a large black sign saying 'PLAY all day.' There are white wall-mounted shelves with books
A cute kids' corner with a small round white table, two black chairs, a round rug with black writing, star and bicycle decorations, artwork, hanging string lights, and dinosaur wallpaper.
A cozy living room with a patterned carpet, a gray sofa with a striped blanket, wall shelves with books, and a large wall decal saying 'PLAY all day'.
Living room with a light gray couch, orange pillows, a round leather ottoman, patterned ottomans, and a checkered rug. In the background, there is a black shelf with framed photos, a bar area with orange stools, and string lights.
A cozy living room with built-in shelves, a large TV, a small window above the TV, an orange guitar, and a wall sign that says 'PLAY all day.' There is a coffee table, a patterned ottoman, a gray sofa with a striped blanket, and a patterned rug.
A children's play area featuring a white round table with two black chairs, a circular rug with alphabet letters, a wooden pegboard wall with shelves and drawings of ladybug and star, string lights hanging above, and wall with dinosaur illustrations.
A young boy sitting at a white table drawing in a coloring book, in a room with dinosaur-themed wallpaper. There is a pegboard with shelves and signs labeled 'Ladybug' and 'Star' on the wall behind him. The scene is set in a cozy, playful space with

THE REVEAL

The reveal moment was priceless—I’m not sure who was more excited, Kaitlyn or her son! He ran straight to his creative corner to color and check out the newly organized LEGO station, while mom and dad were thrilled with how light, functional, and joyful the basement felt.

Weeks later, Kaitlyn texted me after hosting a playgroup and noted how many compliments she got from other moms who fell in love with the playroom!  She was so excited and proud of the space and thanked me for helping her get to the finish line.

“From our first phone consult to install day, it was a seamless and easy process. Katie did all the hard work, energy, and time I knew I didn’t have as a new mom to make our dream playroom. We knew this investment would be worth it for our growing family, and she exceeded our expectations. She was a pleasure to work with and we can’t wait for her to design another space for us in the future!”

Hearing that makes my heart so full. Project Sunset is now a place where this family can gather, host, and play together—a colorful and functional space they’ll enjoy for years to come.

“ When we moved into our house a few years ago, we had big plans for our basement. 2 years later it was never touch. I knew I needed to bring in an expert to complete the project fully. And KRI was everything we could have asked for and more. From our first phone consult to install day, it was a seamless and easy process. Katie did all the hard work, energy and time I knew I didn’t have as a new mom to make our dream playroom. We knew this investment would be worth it for our growing family, and she exceeded our expectations. She was a pleasure to work with and we can’t wait for her design another space for us in the future!”

– Kaitlyn

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