Photography by Nolasco Studios

When Christine Jahan was tapped to design a subterranean entertaining space for a family she met through her husband, she was thrilled. “When I won the Luxe RED Award, my awesome husband was telling everyone,” says Jahan. Little did she know, her husband’s pride in her achievement would not fall on deaf ears—her clients learned of her design prowess through the husband’s little brother—a good friend of Jahan’s who grew up next door to him. And the rest is history. 

Photography by Nolasco Studios

“The clients had been thinking about how to transform the basement into a bar for almost 20 years—they knew they wanted a fully decked-out hang-out space for friends and family, but they couldn’t figure out a plan to make the space work for them,” explains Jahan. To get a better understanding of their dream design, the designer asked for the clients’ wish list. A lengthy list ensued, including space for both the husband and wife, more than one TV, multiple seating areas for gatherings, an Icemaker, dishwasher, keg, full sink, wine unit, beverage center, poker table, and cove lighting, among them. Despite the couple’s extensive list, Jahan managed to fit it all in—only having to knock down a small closet to accommodate it all.

Photography by Nolasco Studios

Directly to the left of the stairs leading down to the basement, a cozy seating area consisting of a plush, red leather couch the designer had custom made dazzles against a brick wall, while a TV allows for up-to-the-minute sports updates, and a True Residential Wine Columnin Stainless Steel pops against the deep blue stained walls—adding a bit of sparkle to the room. Fluted custom cabinetry stylishly hides a water heater. “The whole basement bar is very old school,” says Jahan. “They’re both Notre Dame alumni, so I used rich, dark colors to create a timeless, warm space that feels alive and like it’s been there since when the 1920s Craftsman house was built.” A framed university jacket over the couch commemorates the husband’s father—who was always the life of the party yet sadly passed during the construction of the project. 

Photography by Nolasco Studios

Above the bar, gorgeous pendant lights add eye-catching illumination “Finding these pendant lights was a labor of love on the part of my clients. We were all so picky—they had two or three lists of varying lights, yet when they found these particular designs online, we immediately knew these were it,” explains Jahan. On the opposite side of the room, the designer managed to fit in a custom, oval poker table that can double as a dining table—a design feat she took from concept to fruition—along with chairs that can easily convert into a banquette and an additional custom leather couch and TV. The clients loved it so much they started entertaining friends before the space was even fully finished. 

As for the Wine Column? “I consider it the jewelry of the space,” laughs Jahan. “When I stopped by Snyder Diamond, I said ‘I want your biggest wine fridge—and it has to look nice.’” They showed her True Residential and that was that. “During the design phase, the color palette changed so much that True’s flexibility with color choices made things so much easier. The True team was also so easy to work with, and the Wine Column is really so beautiful—my clients fell in love with it as well.”