Acclaim Renovations & Design can help you embrace your basement

By Patricia Nugent

Bears, bees and snakes aren’t the only ones that hibernate. As soon as old man winter knocks on our door with his fierce, frozen fist, we humans escape to the warm comfort of home and hunker down in the great indoors.

Not surprisingly, now is a busy time for home remodelers to renovate family rooms and basements into hibernation-worthy havens.

According to Bob Gallese, founder of Acclaim Renovations & Design, if you start planning now, they can have you all settled in before the first blizzard hits.

“Basements provide the perfect extension of your home, a sanctuary for people to escape to for a little peace and quiet,” he says.

“Although finished basements have been around for decades, over the past few years people have been going all out, with granite counters in the kitchen or kitchenette, and luxury vinyl flooring that repels water yet looks like beautiful hardwood.”

Basements can be dark and dungeon-y, so he reports designing the optimum lighting is a major component of a renovation.

“What we’re seeing today is LED, LED, LED,” he says. “In the past you’d have recessed cans every few feet, now the effects are much more sophisticated. The best combination of lighting can really open up a room.”

In addition to the luxurious details, he says people are opting to install home theaters in their basements as well, ideal for watching movies or the big game.

Adding a bedroom in the basement has also become popular, as it’s the perfect private space for when company stays over.

With family rooms, he says they are masters at updating the configuration.

“Mostly, our carpenters create an inviting surround for the fireplace or television with cabinetry that adds loads of space and character to the room,” he says.

Whatever your budget or the scope of your job, Bob and his trusty crew come up with ways to update your living space and increase its functionality in a streamlined manner.

Acclaim’s Five-Step Process, which includes an in-home consultation, project design and review, is all coordinated through a communications portal that keeps every party in the loop 24/7.

Acclaim Renovations & Design powered by One Man and a Hammer is located at 8550 East Avenue in Mentor. The company has been honored with the NARI Contractor of the Year Award, the Guild Master Award for Service Excellence and the Best of Houzz award, just to name a few. Call 440-974-8082 or visit AcclaimReno.com for more information.