A Waukesha Family Turned Their Basement Into a Log Cabin-Inspired Man Cave

 

“While the rest of their house is more traditional, our inspiration down here was an ‘up North’ cabin,” Bovee says. “He is a big-time fisherman and wanted it to feel rustic and outdoorsy.”The pale wood walls contrast with the dark slate fireplace at the end of the room, drawing the eye to the latter. There are two separate seating areas defined by the furniture: one alongside the fireplace and one for watching TV and playing video games. The leather armchairs are arranged around a playful coffee table featuring a recumbent black bear topped with a sheet of glass. It’s a great example of the basement’s relaxed design.

 

The strong diagonal line of the staircase divides stone and logs, railings and wine rack. The hickory cabinets have a simple, rustic style, with unfussy doors and drawers. The countertop is granite.

The plan reveals how the spaces relate to one another. Closets include storage for fishing gear, a sump pump and a place in which to tuck away a treadmill. A special closet (visible in the lower-right corner of the plan) is equipped with French doors and custom lighting, providing extensive storage for the husband’s collection of handmade muskie fishing lures.

Custom French doors also lead to an office. The owner is a catch-and-release fisherman; the trophies are replicas made to remind him of his triumphs.