Basement serves double duty as teen’s refuge, family room

Michael is an energetic 15-year-old who loves hockey, video games, heavy metal music and hanging out with his friends. He lives with his parents and younger sister in a beautiful two-bedroom house; but with only two bedrooms, Michael has had to share a room with little sis for the better part of his life. He recently got the green light to move into the basement, and even though he was enjoying his independence in his new lair, he didn't know how to make the cold, barren space his own.

So, he wrote me a letter asking for my help in giving his new pad some style, function and much-needed privacy. But there was one "catch," or should I say challenge: The space had to double as a family room for the whole family, which meant the décor could not consist of hockey sticks and music posters. So, I gathered my crew together and got set to create a space that would be cool and hip enough for Michael in the short term and comfortable enough for the rest of the family -- now and when Michael leaves the nest.

I decided to keep the wood laminate floors that were recently put down by mom and dad, but scrap almost everything else. I got started by replacing the ceiling tiles. The existing waffle-style squares were a bit too busy for me, so I swapped them with new streamlined tiles that give the ceiling a more contemporary look.

I then got to work on dividing the space into two zones: the bedroom and the family room. I wanted to give Michael all of the privacy he craved, but his parents asked me not to build any walls. Instead, I chose large, floor-to-ceiling canvas panels that look more like an art installation than a room divider. Because Michael and his parents have different tastes, I used a different image on each side of the divider: a close-up of ice crystals (to give Michael the feeling of an ice rink) on the bedroom side and a funky graphic on the family room side.

In Michael's room, I made the bed the focal point. This 6-foot teen had been sleeping on a single bed for too long, so I brought in a new queen-sized bed with a gorgeous taupe-colored, tufted headboard and footboard, and a variety of comfy pillows -- all in hard-wearing, masculine shades of brown, blue and black. I then installed two vertical bedside tables and one very cool closet with sliding doors in several tones of metallic paint.

In the adjacent family room, I created a big media area that incorporates a wall of dark cabinetry with shelving, a desk for homework, a beverage fridge and a big-screen TV. The room also features cozy, oversized furniture, including a pull-out couch for Michael's friends when they need a place to crash. For an added bit of fun I put in a three-in-one game system featuring foosball, hockey and pool.

To brighten things up, I installed a track lighting system, some drop pendants and a variety of lamps. And, at the room's small windows, I put up some dramatic layered drapes: striped sheers with icy blue backing flanked by black crushed velvet dummy panels.

After some final accents and accessories, the two-in-one basement was complete. This previously chilly space got a makeover that is cool enough for a teenager, but still warm enough for the whole family. Now it is ready for hockey, heavy metal and hanging out. How 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.