Material Choice Matters—Especially Below Ground

From This:

To This!

Here’s a story many of us can relate to about finances, living arrangements, family support, leaps of faith, interior design and PureBond(R) hardwood plywood...

Ryookyung Kim and partner Phil Chan had been together for over a decade, moving from place to place with their dog and two cats. In 2020, they bought a condo while interest rates were low and the real estate market looked good.

However, their mortgage payments kept increasing and so did maintenance costs. Kim joked about moving into their parents’ Richmond Hill basement, but the parents responded with a serious offer to move in.

They sold their condo and decided to use the profits to renovate the 1,200 square feet unfinished basement. The first step was enlisting the help of architecture firm One:1 Designs to create a warm, colorful, and minimalist living space.

Basements pose unique design challenges: limited natural light, lower ceilings, and the psychological weight of being below ground. Especially when adding color and warmth are goals, it’s key to counterbalance the concrete floors and utilitarian bones of the basement.

Wood, specifically hardwood plywood, can be a fantastic way to do this.

The architect used Columbia’s Birch-faced PureBond hardwood plywood throughout, brightening things up with a light, pleasantly-grained wood to create visual depth. Green hardware and accents add color and whimsy to the space.

To see the “full story” behind this amazing “before and after” story, click here: This couple transformed a basement suite into a colourful paradise - Toronto Life