The purpose of this renovation was clear from the get-go: Build a space where the homeowner could play, record and listen to music, and relax with the people he cares about – a home that honours his retirement and opens the door to more joy, connection and creativity.
The space is a 1,559-sq-ft. basement in a bungalow. The goal was to transform an underused lower level into a fully active extension of daily living and entertaining for the client, a recently retired musician, vinyl record collector and lifelong classic-rock devotee. He wanted a place where music wasn’t just heard, but lived. His dream was to create a multi-functional basement that could serve as a professional-grade music studio, a listening lounge, an exercise area and a comfortable guest space. And at the centre of it all, he wanted a bathroom that paid tribute to the music and artists that shaped his life.
Vision
In this home, the basement plays an essential role in everyday living.
It’s not hidden away – it’s a continuation of the main floor lifestyle, the ideal space to house a studio, lounge, gym, guest accommodations, bathroom and storage – all within one footprint.
That meant thoughtful zoning, acoustical planning and a layout that keeps each area purposeful, without closing in the basement. Balancing acoustics with visual comfort was one challenge. Designing a unique and exciting bathroom that could also withstand humidity and frequent use was another. But these constraints ultimately pushed the creativity further, resulting in a dream come true.
Four main zones
The sound-proof music studio is a dedicated space for playing, recording and rehearsing. Acoustic panels, proper insulation and strategically placed speakers allow the client to play freely without disrupting the rest of the home.
A listening lounge was designed for immersive music enjoyment, with acoustic treatments, comfortable seating, integrated speakers and display space for an extensive vinyl album collection. The original furniture was kept, offering up a relaxed, lived-in atmosphere of a favourite jam-night hangout.
Previously, the workout area was situated in an unfinished space. The renovation combined exercise equipment with an attractive, mirrored wall to support workouts, a sleeper sofa and a discreet pocket door to allow the room to convert effortlessly into a private guest room.
Perhaps the crowning glory in the basement, however, and the one most challenging to design, was the bathroom. Located between the recording zone and the guest bedroom, it needed to comfortably support use by many people during jam sessions and daily functions for overnight guests.
Measuring 6 ft. by 18 ft., it was expanded from the original 6 ft. by 10 ft.
The long, galley-like layout was the perfect template for what the client envisioned – a natural canvas to support an album-cover installation. Every surface, including the walls, floor, ceiling, lighting and fixtures were reimagined to turn the narrow proportions into a strength rather than a limitation.
Never intended to look like a typical bathroom, it was designed as a defining chapter in the homeowner’s larger story – to be a room that carried personal history and design intention in equal measure.
“I’ve loved music passionately since I was nine or 10 years old,” says the homeowner. “When I renovated my basement washroom, I wanted to create something unique, a tribute to the music and the artists that have meant so much to me for so long.” That authenticity became the guiding force behind every decision.
A tribute to rock and roll
The client’s vision centred on one powerful idea: Turning album covers into architecture. Not wallpaper. Not framed graphics, but permanent, tactile surfaces. He wanted the space transformed into a gallery of his favourite album covers, mounted on ceramic tiles. The result is 192 individual custom ceramic tiles on the bathroom walls and the shower surround. Each tile is unique, but together, they carry a strong visual presence.
To balance it out, the fixtures and finishes were intentionally restrained. A walk-in shower with bench seating was selected to accommodate users of all ages. A floating wall-mounted vanity in a deep charcoal provides grounding weight without visually crowding the room. The integrated rectangular sink keeps the look clean and architectural. A back-lit mirror delivers even illumination, while recessed ceiling lighting ensures practical brightness without overpowering the album art. Matte black plumbing fixtures echo the darker tones found throughout the basement and visually connect to the recording equipment nearby. Large-format charcoal porcelain tiles run continuously through the entire basement for visual continuity and repeat the flooring from the main level.
Across the walls now live a litany of some of the most influential albums in rock history, but for the homeowner, the display represents far more than music. “These artists weren’t just musicians, they were cultural icons. Their music and their personas reflect the huge social changes of the 60s and 70s.”
Point of pride
What stands out most in this renovation is the personality infused into every corner. It’s not a generic basement – it’s a space that reflects the client’s story, passions and lifestyle. The LP-cover tiled bathroom is a true showstopper, but so is the cohesive energy of the entire lower level. The basement is bold, musical, social and full of life. For the client, the renovation celebrates more than albums. It gives voice to friendship, creativity and the next chapter of his retirement. For the designer, the pride comes from creating a space that feels entirely as the homeowner envisioned, “a backstage pass to joy.”