A Durable, Dog-Friendly Den

In its existing state, the basement was covered in wall-to-wall carpet, had poor lighting and was used as a place for things that seemed to accumulate over time.

Josh Landers and Josh Williams embarked on a basement remodel to create a space where they could work from home several days a week while tending to their puppy, Bentley. Changes included using only dog-friendly, durable and easy-to-clean materials, from the vinyl plank flooring and vinyl crocodile wallcovering to steel furniture and custom draperies made from indoor/outdoor fabric.

Determined to put dead space to good use, the homeowners had custom-built bookshelves installed behind the basement's spiral staircase. To keep this portion of the project budget-friendly, the couple opted to have the shelves built from stain-grade plywood at $28 per 4-by-8-foot sheet, then use 1-by-2-inch poplar trim as the fascia for the front at $1.12 per linear foot.

To keep the den clutter-free, Landers and Williams use a modern 1960s console to house all of Bentley's needs as well as their own office supplies. Atop the console sits a pair of modern lamps that light the corner, and on the wall is an old pet supply storefront sign that was picked up at an antique market.