A Brighter Basement – The Brante-Glen:
This home, the Brante-Glen (E-3754) has THE basement you want. With a light, bright, walk-out, open space, there won’t be creepy anything down here. With this great floor plan by Frank Snodgrass, of Living Concepts Home Plans, of 4 bedrooms, 4 full and 2 half baths, and over 3700 square feet, you’ve just found the best of everything.
Piggybacking on the blog about the Kipling plan, I too, grew up in a house with a basement that wasn’t so enticing. While I would play down in the basement, hitting tennis balls against the walls when it was too warm or too cool to be outside, sliding down the steps in the refrigerator box, (and a very foolish thing to do, as the floor was concrete), or sleeping on a cot to stay cool during hot summer nights, the basement wasn’t a place to hang out in.
Luckily, for you, the Brante-Glen is here for light, fun, warmth, and loads of great memories to be made in the lower level.
A Brighter Basement – The Brante-Glen
Curb Appeal and Porch
This house, at first glance, grabs your attention. It is quintessential Craftsman. Tapered box columns fronting a wide porch, natural materials on the exterior, multi-paned windows, low pitched rooflines, and wide overhangs highlight this architectural style perfectly. This porch is perfect for rocking chairs and lemonade. Don’t forget to notice the charming cupola over the garage and the dormers that add warm charm to the exterior. However, the basement is what I want to highlight here, so let’s start there.
A Brighter Basement – The Brante-Glen
Isn’t this great? Look at this non-scary space that you will enjoy spending time around. Whether you come down the staircase from the main floor level or through the door from your covered terrace outside, this space is multi-purpose, multi-fantastic. From the staircase, there is a powder room to your left and a wet bar that opens to a large rec room with a centered fireplace. Your girls’ day/night get-togethers, men watching sports, and teens alike will want to claim this area. So, settle in, host parties, watch movies, play games, or just enjoy a sunny day, this basement is just right.
There are two suites down here each with a bathroom with shower and walk-in closet. This is ideal for an older teen or when your college student comes home to visit. Have you always wanted a hot yoga room? Put in a heated floor and stretch away. Does scrapbooking or painting need its own space? Bring it on down. Do you want a quiet space to hunker in while you work remotely or work on writing? Sit and stay here. It’s perfect.
Another plus in this space is all the room you have for mechanical needs and storage. There are two sections available for storage with external entries into, as well as doors from the rec room or to the right of the stairwell down from the main level. There is no wasted space here.
The covered terrace outdoors has just the right spots for a grill, sink, and prep area. With the addition of a dining table and chairs, your al fresco dining is set – rain or no rain.
A Brighter Basement – The Brante-Glen
Main level foyer, Dining Room & the Necessary Smaller Spaces
Standing inside your front door, your foyer opens to several rooms. To your left is a dining room, shaped like a baseball field’s home plate. This makes sense, as the dining room is a home run. It is space for eating anytime but is very open on two sides for an open, welcoming feel.
To the left of the foyer is your stairwell leading to your light, bright, delightful lower level or you can head up to a second story with space for storage/office/bonus room and an additional bath and walk-in closet.
Walk past your dining room and to the left, where you find your laundry room with a special space for your pooch or feline friends. A powder room and closet are here too. This is also where you use a back door out to your three-car garage (with a storage room), and a door that leads to a smaller entry porch.
A Brighter Basement – The Brante-Glen
Kitchen, Breakfast area & Family Room
Your functional kitchen is easily accessed from the back hall area of the laundry room etc. or the family room. Your kitchen has decent counter space and a nice walk-in pantry. The ‘island’ that holds your sink and raised bar area face a very large eating area. While it is called ‘breakfast’ space, it should be called “ all meal, homework doing, game night, cookie decorating and more” area. This dining table is in a bay window which will bring in more light and an open feel to the space.
A large opening to the beautiful coffered-ceiling family room ushers you into warmth, coziness, entertaining thoughts, and plenty of space to move. A fireplace sits centered on a far wall for enjoyment from the kitchen as well as the family room. Imagine holiday garland draped on a wide mantel. A large Christmas tree in the family room at the edge where the family room opens wide to the foyer would be lovely.
With so many windows on the backside of this home, your terrace, long and very functional, would be a fun spot to have lights wrapped around a railing all year. There is a fireplace tucked in a curve of this terrace that will surely have you enjoying more chilly nights outside than in. Think of what you can cook on a stick over the fire flames, warm blankets, warm drinks, and engaging conversations with good friends right here. Adding pots of plants, maybe hibiscus, edible fig, a cypress, or an olive tree for charm, and your outdoor space will compete with the inside.
A Brighter Basement – The Brante-Glen
Master Retreat and Exercise Spot
Finally – your daily hello and nighttime rest, your master suite welcomes you with open space and calm. The back wall is bay-shaped, so take advantage of the light that will come in by putting a chaise and small table here. Imagine colors of calm blues and beige. Maybe you need a pop of color with a coral pink or sunflower yellow that can come from accent pillows or a great piece of art on the wall.
Your master bath has separate sinks and vanities, so no teeth-brushing, elbow bumping will happen. A tub and separate shower and a private space for your commode, offer you all you need. A large walk-in closet sits in the front corner of the house. A nice surprise added to this space is an exercise area that also opens to your terrace. This is where adding a private jacuzzi spa for after work-out soreness is ideal.
Now, when you think light, bright, basement, fun, and function I hope you’ll think Brante-Glen by Living Concepts. No more dark, dank basements for you, this is the home of main floor function and lower-level play.
Make this your own. Welcome Home.