Basement mans up for home’s sole guy

Neil knows a thing or two about women. He should, since he lives with five of them. Neil, his wife, Lolet, his daughter, Kristina, his mother, Brenda, and his two dogs (both female, of course) all live happily in their cozy, two-story house in the suburbs. Yet, while all of the feminine energy was generally a positive force in the home, Neil was feeling a bit outnumbered when it came to the décor.

Living in a house full of pink shades and delicate touches, Neil longed for a space of his own where he could get away and relax, watch sports on television and just be a man doing manly things. He wanted to turn the home's dingy basement (complete with dusty-rose carpeting and dog-chewed furniture) into a room with a publike atmosphere, but Lolet had other ideas. She wanted the space to be stylish and multifunctional -- a room the whole family could enjoy.

So I gathered my crew together and geared up to create a masculine retreat for Neil, and blend in some sleek and stylish touches for Lolet. No battle of the sexes here. I wanted to make a room that had something for everyone.

I started by getting rid of the carpet and replacing it with new walnut-toned hardwood flooring. Then I tore down the popcorn stucco ceiling, removed the room's bulky brick fireplace hearth, and painted the space in a light shade of almond.

Next, I divided the room into two main areas: a functional zone and a comfort zone.

In the functional zone, I put in a gorgeous, cream-colored countertop along one whole wall and installed a mixture of dark wooden cabinetry above and below. I put in a small desk for use as a home office, a variety of cupboards for storage and a small bar fridge to keep game-time beverages nice and chilly. I also put up exotic pressed-leaf wallpaper that adds a punch of color and is beautifully offset by the cream counter.

In the comfort zone, I put in a big, dog-friendly, L-shaped sectional in bark brown, two green leather ottomans, a coffee table made of logs and glass, and a big area rug to bring all of the room's colors together. Across from the sectional I put up a huge flat-screen television for Neil. I also installed a new gas fireplace flanked from floor to ceiling with sandstone tiles that have the look of rustic wood grain.

To lighten up the dark basement, I installed lots of recessed lighting and put up some sconces behind the sofa for extra razzle-dazzle.

Lastly, I put in a whole host of accessories -- a lamp, a few throw pillows, lots of artwork and family photos -- and the room was complete.

Before I got my hands on it, this basement wasn't fit for man or woman. So I blended masculine textures with feminine touches and a whole range of gender-neutral colors, fabrics and furnishings and created a room that is as comfortable as it is stylish. Manly? Yes. But the women like it, too. Now that's divine!

Interior decorator Candice Olson is host of HGTV's "Divine Design." For more ideas or information visit www.divinedesign.tv. Her column is syndicated by Scripps Howard News Service.