This renovation has been such a journey, and I am SO excited to finally share another reveal with you…our basement kitchen is DONE!
What started as a practical space completely transformed into one of my favorite corners of the house. We didn’t need a full second kitchen, but with five boys, lots of entertaining, and a love for thoughtful design, we knew this space could be so much more than just storage or a snack zone.
The goal was to make it feel elevated, functional, and full of charm, and I think we nailed it!
Today I’m walking you through all the details: the design inspiration (hi again, Billiard Room Kitchenette!), the cabinet and counter choices, and all the little touches that made this space come to life. Whether you’re designing a kitchenette, finishing your basement, or just love a good before-and-after, I hope this post gives you a little inspiration for your next project.
the goal for our basement kitcheNETTE
If you’ve ever lived through a whole-house renovation, you know the struggle. We were living downstairs full-time while everything else was being worked on, and we quickly realized we needed a space to prep snacks, store groceries, and escape the chaos.
This kitchenette was our chance to bring in some of that charm and personality we loved from our previous home’s billiard room and reimagine it in a totally fresh way.
Are You Ready For The Final Basement Kitchen Reveal?
LAYING THE GROUNDWORK
This space didn’t come together overnight. In fact, if you followed along on Instagram, you probably remember the chaos phase of this renovation. This wasn’t just a weekend project or a little styling refresh. We tore this basement down to the bones and started from scratch.
We began by completely removing the original basement flooring and ceiling. Since the rest of our house has hardwood floors, I wanted to find something that felt cohesive but was better suited for a basement environment. I landed on Luxury Vinyl Plank in Dusk Cherry (22 mil), and I love it.
I’ve used this so many times, and let me tell you, it has never disappointed. It’s water-resistant, super durable, and the warm tone made the entire space feel instantly more inviting.
The Countertops
I made a bold choice and went with soapstone in this space! To be honest, it’s notoriously hard to maintain but I was up for the challenge knowing we don’t use this space as much as our main kitchen. I just loved the color and paired with ogee edge….I couldn’t say no!
The stone was sourced and fabricated from Southern Stone in Nashville!
The Mirrored Backsplash
The mirrored backsplash was an idea I had in-store. I went shopping for tile not knowing exactly what I was looking for. When it caught my eye, I took a few home to play around with them and I knew they were perfect against the soapstone.
It’s called Smolder Antique Mirror from Floor and Decor!
TIME FOR THE FUN PART: CABINETS AND DETAILS!
One of the most satisfying days? Craig and I installing the crown molding and coordinating corner pieces. If you caught those stories, you know it was a two-person job with lots of labor. But once they were up, the room instantly felt taller, more finished, and way more custom.
We used RTA cabinets for this space, and like every other time we’ve worked with them, I couldn’t be happier. I love that they’re budget-friendly but still allow for a high-end, custom look, especially when you build and install them yourself (which we did!). The process can sometimes be a bit of a puzzle, but honestly, that’s part of the fun for me. We chose Florence Midnight Blue from RTA and I’m still so in love with how much character it adds.
We matched the paint color of the cabinets to match the ceiling. Here are those details:
If you’re curious about RTA cabinets or thinking of trying them in your own home, I put together a step-by-step tutorial here!
Design Inspiration: Bringing the Billiard Room Back To Life
When I pictured this basement kitchen, I kept going back to the billiard room kitchenette from The Monarch Revival. I loved everything about that room: the deep colors, open shelves, and thoughtful details. We knew we had to recreate a room with the same cozy vibe down here.
See the resemblance?? Haha!
To see the Monarch Revival billiard room in detail, check out my post: One Room Challenge: Final Reveal| The Billiard Room!
How We Styled The KitchenETTE (While Still Keeping It Functional!)
Even though it’s not a full-sized kitchen, we wanted it to function just like one and have EVERYTHING we needed for fun down here. We added deep drawers, hidden trash bins, carved out the perfect nook for the microwave, and created organizing zones for snacks and drinks.
One of my favorite little corners? The soda bar! Complete with candy bowls for the kids (and me!), it adds just the right amount of playfulness to balance out the moody, speakeasy vibe of the kitchen. And let’s be real, it’s also a hit with guests.
Another one of my favorite little additions is our ice maker! Once you have one you simply cannot go back. Whether we’re hosting or just grabbing drinks during movie night, having ice on hand downstairs has been so convenient. It’s a fun element that people seem to always enjoy.
And because I can’t help myself when it comes to organizing, I made sure our drawer and cabinet space was just as polished as the rest of the kitchen. I used drawer dividers, plastic snack containers, and wicker storage baskets to keep everything feeling tidy behind those cabinet doors!
You can shop all of my favorite pantry organizers here!
Basement Kitchen Sources
Basement Kitchen Cabinets And Appliances:
Basement KitchenETTE Decor:
- Amber Soap Dispensers
- Popcorn Buckets
- Syrup Bottles
- Gold Pumps
- Custom Labels
- Gold Foil
- My Laser Printer
- Sticker Paper for Labels
- Laminator
- Clear Sticker Paper
To learn how to make your own Soda Bar like mine, check out my post about it here!
A KitchenETTE That Feels Like Us
This little basement kitchen might not be the biggest space in our home, but it’s one of the most functional, and we had so much fun making it feel special. When we started renovating, this project wasn’t just about adding function, it was about creating comfort during a pretty chaotic time.
So many of the design choices came straight from our old home’s billiard room kitchenette—one of my favorite spaces. I’ve always loved how that room felt: moody but warm, stylish but approachable. Reimagining those elements in this kitchen made it feel instantly familiar, and I love how the cabinetry, finishes, and layout all match that vibe.
Now that it’s finished, this kitchen feels like such a sweet part of our home. It’s functional and beautiful, but more than that, it’s personal. It reminds me how far we’ve come in this renovation and how the smallest spaces can still make the biggest impact.
Have questions or want advice on your basement kitchen? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear from you!
This looks like such a fun space! We’ve been trying to decide if we want to add something like this in our basement and I think you finally convinced me. I would love something where we can make little treats or entertain when we have guests over with a small bar. I am definitely going to need to check out the ice maker you included because there is nothing better than a good ice maker. Thanks so much for sharing!
So happy you enjoyed it! A little basement bar or treat space is seriously fun and makes entertaining so easy. And yes — a good ice maker is a total game-changer. Thanks for being here!