Custom Home in BAsking Ridge, NJ
A lower-level sanctuary designed with warmth, detail, and long-term purpose in mind.
Length of Construction: Approx. 11 Months
Location: Basking Ridge, New Jersey
Project Summary
Executed a highly detailed lower-level remodel with 3 bathrooms, all with refined finishes and technical craftsmanship.
Included a kitchenette for the homeowner’s parents to use during extended visits.
Designed the space to function as a yoga studio and home gym, complete with rubber flooring, radiant heat, and acoustic considerations.
A Refined and Grounded Sanctuary
This lower-level remodel was designed to be a refined and grounded sanctuary. Our client came to us with a strong aesthetic vision and a need for technical excellence. From existing slab to ceiling trim, every inch of the space was built with intention, calm, and care.
The Challenge
The design was quiet and restrained, but that didn’t mean simple. Our client wanted the basement to feel warm and functional, a place for daily workouts, reflection, and privacy when hosting extended family. Achieving that level of seamlessness required creative solutions for things like ceiling utilities, server room access, and floor material transitions.
The Approach
This was a true design-build partnership. Mike worked closely with the client from day one, weighing detailed decisions around trim details, materials, and layout. Our team maintained adaptability throughout the project, ensuring every choice aligned with the original vision and the client's desired experience of the space.
The Journey
This lower-level remodel was about creating a space that served function and feeling. Our clients wanted a retreat where extended family could stay comfortably without it feeling like a basement. They also wanted areas that supported their active lifestyle, including a gym and yoga studio with the same level of care and finish as any main living space.
Our team sourced natural oak finishes, built custom trim packages, and coordinated flush-to-wall doors and inset lighting, making everything look smooth and clean.
Some of the most challenging elements were also the most subtle: aligning reveals across materials, managing floor height transitions, and installing a range of tile with carefully coordinated layout.
By the final walk-through, the space reflected the care that went into every decision. It was calm, well-executed, and built to support our client’s daily life with style.
The Result
The finished lower level is modern yet timeless, an expression of quiet craftsmanship. It’s made to look good and feel good to be in. Carefully placed ceiling lights, designed to mimic natural light, make the space feel open and inviting, despite being below ground, with every material and transition feeling intentional.
What We Loved Most
We were incredibly proud of the level of detail and how well everything came together. It’s still a basement, which meant there were real constraints, utilities to conceal, server rooms to keep accessible and operational for our client’s business, but the finish quality didn’t suffer. Even the smallest elements took thought, like how to resolve the transition between thicker wood flooring and thin yoga mat rubber without leaving an unfinished edge.
“That might sound stupid,” Mike said, “but it’s so important for us to get every detail right.”
That’s the kind of care that Dudonis bakes into every inch of every project.