Photos by Wing Ho
When Roderick and Sia Varh of Minneapolis architecture, design, and build firm Simple Finesse began a full basement finish for a client in Newport, they had no idea how far the project would stretch beyond its original scope. When the homeowner first approached the husband-and-wife duo, her goal was to create a contemporary, intentional basement—one where she could effortlessly entertain family and friends. But during their initial walk-through, the team saw a unique opportunity to leverage an awkward, unused space backing the furnace by adding a dedicated space for the children—and from that moment on, the homeowner’s three girls (aged 5, 2, and 1) became the clients instead. “The playroom wasn’t even part of the [original] design,” Sia explains. “[The homeowner] didn’t think she could use that space. She thought it would just be storage.”
Being it was a spontaneous addition, the pair took the lead on conceptualizing a design that would function well for the three young girls, even as they grew. (Fortunately, that evolution can be tracked to a T with a Tree Growth Chart on the back wall!) They also knew they needed a statement piece that would anchor the room—something colorful and creative, but most importantly, timeless. Enter the storybook wallpaper, which wraps along all four walls and “guides you inside,” as Sia describes.
Every additional element was carefully selected to be refined, yet childlike and functional. The soft pink, modular sofa, for instance, can be configured for various occasions, whether spread out for sleepovers or pushed together for watching movies. Plus, built-in storage throughout the room keeps the clutter at bay and serves as a cozy home for the girls’ beloved toys.
And even though it was out of their normal scope of work, Sia and Roderick look back on this project and beam with pride, knowing they crafted a core memory the kiddos can cherish forever. Sia says, “It really brought out the child in us.”
Layer Up the Light
Creating a playroom in a dark corner of the basement didn’t come without its challenges—especially when considering the lack of natural light. With no windows in sight, Roderick and Sia had to get creative with artificial lighting. “We studied [light conditions] in 3D models and did artificial and natural light studies with our software,” Roderick explains. The solution? Ambient lighting was carefully layered in to brighten the space and visually connect it with the rest of the basement. And according to the team, it was these lighting choices that truly brought everything together.
