The room looks much better from an adult's point of view, but as a kid, I would have much preferred the before, as the room was all about large toys to play with. I hope these kids have outgrown the toys that have disappeared, and now play only with stuff of a size that fits in those storage cabinets.

The big toy storage can be found here: http://www.ilikebeerandbabies.com/2012/11/the-playroom.html. It is like entering a toy store every time they walk downstairs. They love it.

I agree textiles - I was expecting carpeting and maybe a wall mural or something to give the illusion of "outside". I do notice however, that the toy kitchen is just in the edge of the photo, so perhaps it was moved for the photo and is usually available?

See above.

Yes -- go look at the toy closet! It's too bad that they didn't include a picture of it -- it's very innovative and awesome!

I love the colors but I'm not sure how long adults (or anyone) would want to sit facing each other on hard benches. This does not say "sit and relax" to me. It's something more like "perch here to put on your shoes." I can't imagine sitting for any length of time.

Thanks!

There is another area in the basement for adults. This is just a playroom. The kids love the benches. Adults use the couches on the other side of the basement while the kids play.

@Griffin - I don't think this room is meant to be the family room. I was thinking the same as you, then I looked on the blog and saw that she said she would also post photos of the family room, making me think that this was exclusively a playroom and the family room was a different space altogether.

I ♥ you, Pi!

Wow, amazing transformation! Nice job.

I LOVE the toy closet shown on her blog. Wish AT would've included pics here!

I'd like to suggest, though, hanging your art much lower, and much closer together. This will really warm up the space. It should relate to the furniture below it, not float kind of ramdomly above it.
A good rule of thumb is to hang it so the center of the art piece is 60 inches up from the floor. With the sizes of your frames, I'd hang them maybe 4 inches apart.
Would be nice to see some variation in size of the various groupings, rather than so many similar pieces kind of marching around the walls of the space, but if you're working with what you already have, I think just rehanging them would really help.
Good luck!

Thanks for sharing your space. Again, I think you've done a great job!

Thanks, G. The height of those pics has been an annoyance of mine for a while. Just been to lazy to rehang!

I think it's great! I'm not sure what's up with the obligation people feel to leave negative comments, but it's so much more than most parents are able (or even willing) to do for their kids.

I like the before. With those exposed joists, you could install some cool indoor swings or some gym rings for play. The dropped ceiling is hideous, and it looks unfriendly.

I am beginning to think that the apartments aren't the only things that need therapy around here. Ha.

What?! What's so terrible about the dropped ceiling? I don't get the criticisms. It looks way better than the unfinished ceiling in the 'before'.

Jeez, picky. It's a kids' playroom, not a formal sitting room.

I think I'd like it a bit more if the walls were white.

I am really confused that people actually like the Before room, with what looks like a cold cement floor, exposed wires and a drafty unfinished ceiling - - for KIDS to play in. We are not talking about an adult studio for an artist. It's for little kids! To each his own! I think the After looks terrific.

You really can't fairly call this a dropped ceiling when, without it, you'd be staring at the joists and the subfloor above. This is the ceiling. Ceilings are pretty necessary in the majority of home situations folks.

Thanks, everyone. This is a room for a not-even-one and not-even-three year old to play and go crazy. There is a very large family room directly behind where the photo is taken. We had no budget and leaky plumbing, so a real ceiling wasn't an option. I think the entire basement (over 1,000 sq feet of it) cost us less than 4k to refinish. That included adding two walls, a ceiling, floor, paint, baseboards, chair rail and wallpaper in the family area, artwork, benches, ottomans and all for the playroom, toy closet and a family room (not pictured here or in the main post).

I think it looks great for the purpose of the room and the amount of money spent. It is worth clicking on the link to see all the photos. Nice job!

Great space. Boy, it looks a sight better than our basement playroom, I can tell you. (We have more the exposed beams/open electrical thing going on. I bet your kids have a ton of fun down there--and when they build a huge train-track construction, or set up "store" all over the benches, they can leave it out from one day to the next. How nice.

I love your room! I agree with the comment about the artwork, but I am also one that leaves little things unfinished to be done another day... and then another day... and so on. I clicked over to your blog and saw how fabulous your toy closet looks. I would have loved that as a kid! (p.s. I read a few of your other posts, and your blog is really cute. I will have to start following!)

i like the before too.

The after is very rigid, lots of edges and squares, conservative even...the before was a blank canvas that felt more open and creative and fun...minimalist artist lofts aren't just for adults! they can stir the young creative mind as well...also, the ceiling had a cool industrial vibe..i second hanging a swing

consider moving the much-needed toy shelves out to the far end, where the little chairs sit (those can float in front or move to a 'dining area' across from K) as a focal point for that end but also b/c that closet is a "stage' w/costumes hung at the sides behind the curtains. bring back car rug that matches new textiles, add a game/craft table; no one will sit on the benches anyway. paint shows good use of limited funds, dropped ceiling not so much.

also, nice floor choice.

Not only will kids sit on those benches,Im betting a few quick power naps will be had on them.I think the play nook looks just fine,and I much prefer a drop ceiling to those exposed beams,more finished.Not everyones into that open ceiling mid century vibe.The ONLY thing id change would be the rug,this space needs a multi colored pattern to brighten it up,and hide stains.

The "before" folks must be forum trolls. :)) seriously?

We would LOVE a more fun and soft rug. The problem with that is sitting right on top of it... :)