Need design help. Build my Man Cave

[Quads]

OK Peeps, I think this is what I may be working with as far as a general play and layout. I have a few requirements, and otherwise, it's open space.

http://www.pcpotato.com/uploader/files/1/basement.gif

I don't have the exact dimensions but it's roughly 2500 to 2800 SF. This is the walkout with two floors above. The box in the middle, just off the stairs is a rock / double sided fire place. There is a stem wall shooting off it, I'd assume for support.

I'm looking for general ideas on layout, general flow of the area, etc.
The general requirements are:
Full bar / wine cellar attached or close to bar.
Full kitchen
Half bath
Office / Den area / full bath
Kids play area
Open area for pool table and poker table.
Home theater
Sitting area / perhaps around / close to the bar.

Go nuts! I'm terrible at mocking this stuff up, so I'm looking for ideas that I can then take to an architect / contractor to say "make it so".

All the walls are currently furred / dry walled. The utility area is already closed off. Have no idea where the plumbing is, so assume we'll saw cut the slab to join any needed kitchen plumbing.

[SevenDeuceOffsuit]

Wow, that's a big man cave. On an even bigger house. This oughta be good.

[Trann]

No scale or measures so I'm assuming a roughly 3' wide stairwell, as below. Is this a fair representation of the overall space?

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/PokerTrann/PMC/basement-grid.jpg

I love these projects. Always wanted to be an architect...

[Quads]

yes, that's a safe assumption.
For the sake of this exercise, I'm more worried about general area and layout, than 12 X 20 v. 13.5 X 19

[Trann]

yes, that's a safe assumption.
For the sake of this exercise, I'm more worried about general area and layout, than 12 X 20 v. 13.5 X 19

Oh, I know; but my brain needs to work this way. It's good to know the scale of the space before making rooms in that space: a cozy 8x8 can become a massive 12x12 if there's no sense of scale.

I'm headed home for the evening so someone else may beat me to the punch but I'll probably stab at this next week. Enjoy the wait. 8)

[Hirize]

Ya gotta give us the diemensions dude!
Along the walls and across each way.

You said the utility is already closed off but it available to use or is it to be left for storage?
What about the small utility and storage areas?

You will need some storage, how much?

And where the sliding glass doors are can you place a deck outside in that corner?
Is everything else windows not doors?

Aloha, Pete

[Quads]

Ya gotta give us the diemensions dude!
Along the walls and across each way.

You said the utility is already closed off but it available to use or is it to be left for storage?
What about the small utility and storage areas?

You will need some storage, how much?

And where the sliding glass doors are can you place a deck outside in that corner?
Is everything else windows not doors?

Aloha, Pete

Can't jump a 2500 mile flight just yet with my tape measure, but I'll see what I can estimate. Trann's grid is a fair staring point of general measurements.

Utility is walled off. Will double as storage space. None other storage space is needed.
Small util / storage area, leave them as it. They need to stay there for other mechanical equip. (water pump, plumbing, etc. )
The sliding glass doors walk out to ground level. (left side)
Everything else is windows.

[Hirize]

OK,

I gotta print it out and stare at it for a couple days. Maybe Monday, this weekend is jammed but I will be thinking about it while having sex with the wifey, my best thoughts come then..............

Aloha, Pete

[IgotDANUTZ]

Wow talk about potential!!! That room could/is gonna be awesome!!

[waymac]

I don't know much about design, but I am willing to live in your utility room and be your gopher bitch cause that room is gonna be kick ass!

[BTSyndrome]

How high is the joists above the floor (ceiling height)? Assuming from your picture there is no posts supporting
the floors above placed anywhere.
If there is it would make a difference where walls are placed as to hide the posts.

[Quads]

9' ceilings
no worries to the floors above
no posts. there is a beam that runs the length with the floor joists above which span the width.

[Trann]

I wish I knew more about the existing space but here's a first stab at it...

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/PokerTrann/PMC/Quads-draft1.jpg

Full bar / wine cellar attached or close to bar. Wine rack against wall; full height; any width (up to kitchen fridge).
Full kitchen Dining nook added to give separation
Half bath Uses awkward corner space; include storage in the weird angles.
Office / Den area / full bath Those windows had to be used in a room and not just lost so I built an office with access to the storage in the corner; Office: 8x12; Bath: 9x9
Kids play area Anywhere open
Open area for pool table and poker table. This is tight but possible
Home theater Long for many seats, perhaps concession/storage at back
Sitting area / perhaps around / close to the bar. Done near sliding doors to give view and access to other partiers. Access from other sliding doors didn't seem wide enough for a room proper and traffic needs to move through here anyway so it became bar patron seating.

...

Addendum: In looking at the plan, I realized the theatre and half-bath could be done a bit different: close up the theatre door, change the bath door to a hallway entrance to the theatre; add a north-facing doorway to the half-bath just before the turn to the theatre and a new door to the theatre at the end of the hall; this puts the bath access closer to the theatre access and removes two doors from the open space.

[Trann]

I should add: you should walk around and tape/chalk the floor with the future planned spaces and see if things "fit." Even furniture.

It helps.

[BTSyndrome]

This is all I could get done in the hour of free time I had today....hopefully you can make out what every thing is.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9da32b3127ccec68e9b47eb7100000040O00GcNWjlu1Yg9 vPh4/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/

Full bar / wine cellar attached or close to bar. Check
Full kitchen Check
Half bath Check
Office / Den area / full bath Check
Kids play area Check
Open area for pool table and poker table. Check
Home theater Check
Sitting area / perhaps around / close to the bar.Check

[Quads]

I like both of those....
I'm liking BTS's more than Trann's for some reason.
Other than the fact that there is not a true wine cellar, rather a closet used for wine storage.

When I say wine cellar, think along these lines:
http://winewriter.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/wine-cellar-my-favorite.jpg
http://www.musicintheabstract.org/rush-oddities/images/geddy-wine-cellar.jpg

Something in the 10X12 or 14' range.

The other other consideration I'd have would be to move the office / bedroom (and subsequently, the bathrooms) to the area / corner where the sliding glass doors are which would allow the bed room it's own private access to and from, and would allow natural light in.

The other thing would be a round poker table, and then an oval. (rather than two ovals)

Otherwise, I like..... A lot.

[Quads]

here is another example of a wine cellar that caught my eye:
http://www.pcpotato.com/uploader/files/1/wine_cellar.JPG

[BTSyndrome]

Moved things around per request, but done really fast . Needs more fine tunning.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9da32b3127ccec68e4b1e6a7000000040O00GcNWjlu1Yg9 vPh4/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/

Additional things: Fridge recessed into Utility area to free up bar space.
xtra room in back of theater for popcorn and soda machine.
more chairs need/can be placed around fireplace area.

Damn, forgot to put a door into the utility room between the bar and table in pool area.

Thats it for today it's late.

[Quads]

:wood:

[Hirize]

Quads,

Sorry have not gotten to it.
Got a call last night about a huge monkey pod tree being cut today.
Spent the whole day playing lumberjack and I'm beat up right now, eat and then sleep......

[Quads]

No rush Pete.
I'm chewing on different ideas as these roll in, so it's no rush at all.

[huge1s]

BTS, what are you using for the drawings? Visio?

[Quads]

I was about to ask the same question.
However I recently leeched some home design software suite which I hope to install and tinker with.

[huge1s]

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9da32b3127ccec68e4b1e6a7000000040O00GcNWjlu1Yg9 vPh4/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/

Couple things i thought of:
Don't put a wall near the pool table. That space looks like it is well suited for a pool cue rack and a place for Quads to display all his participation trophies

Might want to put a wall in the theatre room so you can store equipment behind it and have easy access.

Don't put the wall in the theatre room next to the foundation....again, the little nook can be converted to a cabinet for storage of media/participation trophies.

Do you really want all that glass in the kids play area? There is a lot of glass for balls, barbies etc to go through.

I am glad i didn't have to pour this foundation....yikes.

Just a few thoughts. Also, do you care at all about re-sale? If so, you may want to put a closet in the office/den so it can be a bedroom as well. Wait....if this house is really 6000+ square feet....you don't need another bedroom.

[huge1s]

I was about to ask the same question.
However I recently leeched some home design software suite which I hope to install and tinker with.

I used Visio for my basement and it was kind of a pain in the ass. It worked, but a lot of little quirks that made if difficult. I looked for some free software but didn't have much luck (really didn't look that hard).

[BTSyndrome]

This is what I have been using http://www.homedesignersoftware.com/products/homedesignersuite/
My version is about 3 years old now.
I mainly use it for when remodling. So I can see what it will look like before I even start.
When we (wife and I) bought our houses, past and present, we got them with unfinished basements.
So I use the software to make endless designs to choose from.
Finish the basement while living there.
Then sell it for the extra money, buy another, and start all over again.

[Quads]

OK, playing with Home Design Studio, (this is wildly addicting btw..)
I took BTS's basic layout and made some tweaks to it.

Comments?

http://www.pcpotato.com/uploader/files/1/Quads-draft_01.jpg

[Drock]

^^^ I like. Wish we had basements in California...

[huge1s]

- yes on second bathroom! Plus removing the door to the other bathroom from the fireplace area makes for a nice little "hallway" behind the chairs into the theatre.
- the stub wall in the utility room next to the recessed fridget seem like it doesn't need to be there. If you took that wall out, it would make the utility room seem bigger
- kids play area idea: dual pocket doors. this will allow you to hide the mess and still have a nice open entry
- dishwasher in the bar area.

[SevenDeuceOffsuit]

Where is the stripper pole?

[Quads]

Where is the stripper pole?

In the kids play area.

[Extraholes]

I am supprised that you have no rough ins for bathrooms. Next time you are down there look for any pipe coming up from the floor or any thin black plastic covers. It is way easier to put water some ware than it is to vent it and take it away. But having the bar/kitchen next to the utility room should help. The main drain should be there some wear.

[chuckerin]

I just sold my old house last month and my 6 year old home theater was by far the biggest selling point. (I included it in the sale.) The very first day it went on sale, it had 3 viewings and 2 offers. Not too bad in this economy.

http://chuckerin.googlepages.com/DSCF0010.JPG

Some things I'm going to consider for my new theater.
Avoid a room with any windows. Sunlight is not a movie theater's friend.
2 rows of 4 chairs is more accommodating, than 2 rows of 3. (I wish I would have eliminated an aisle and done that with my old.)
Consider having a couple of the chairs loveseat style for "snuggle" time with Swanky.

That's all I can think of for right now.

[Quads]

OK, going to look at the house again next week. (as well a couple others)
Should have some more info after that on this 'project' coming together.