Our Projects

Our cellar conversions, retrofits and new build basements have transformed many homes, creating valuable extra space — even in areas where extending traditionally would be impossible.

Interested in finding out more about how we work? Arrange a visit, contact us to find out more on 01727 323411 or hello@stalbansbasement.co.uk.

Basement Construction – Richmond, London

  • Lounge
  • The kids get their own playroom.
  • The space under the stairway is utilised as an office space.
  • The kitchen now has a glass extension and roof lights, providing a bright, spacious open-plan family area.

This family home has doubled in size, with the addition of a light, bright and spacious subterranean floor. The use of lightwells and ceiling windows has transformed this period property into a large modern home.

Hidden underground is an amazing 100m² of additional living space. With a ceiling height of 2.6m, floor to ceiling windows ensure natural light floods in. It is hard to believe that this area has been created underneath the original property. We were appointed to create a new living area to include an office space, family bathroom, media room, playroom, utility room, a guest bedroom and a storage area to house additional utilities.

Above-ground, the ceiling of the original hallway has been replaced with roof light windows, creating a sense of space and airiness. Light streams in from the hallway, through the glass staircase and enhances the already-bright basement area, which has plenty of natural light provided by its lightwells. The kitchen now has a glass extension and roof lights, providing a bright and spacious open-plan family area. Upstairs, we refurbished the family bathroom and added a newly-created ensuite.

Type Info
Project Whole house refurbishment, ground floor extension, basement construction comprising: office space, bathroom, media room, playroom, utility room, guest bedroom and storage area.
Area 100m²
Project Time 8 months

A Tranquil Basement Space with Rear Sunken Terrace – St Albans

  • View out to rear garden sunken terrrace space
  • View out to rear garden sunken terrrace space
  • View of from the sunken terrace looking at the bed and living space
  • The new basement’s bedroom space

Working from home with children, our clients needed to make the most of their existing property. St Albans Basement was appointed to create a calm and tranquil space with access to a rear sunken terrace in what was a previously unusable area of the property.

The new basement is linked into the main house by a dedicated staircase and has plenty of room for an oversized bed alongside an area to work and relax.

Enlarged glass doors create the feeling of the indoor and outdoor spaces being one and the same, whilst providing direct access to the rear garden. Addition of the terrace provides a secondary means of entry to the garden, and gives the existing property a new dynamic living space. The new room is bright, airy, and welcoming. The mid-century design favoured by our client works well to create the perfect environment for a relaxing space.

What our client said…

“We were so pleased with the whole company. We’d had a really bad experience with the previous builders and you all restored our faith!”

Type Info
Project Multifunctional living space, sunken terrace, rear garden access
Area 40m²
Project Time 4 months

Cellar Conversion – St Albans’ Old Conservation Area

  •  Access to the space was greatly improved with a new modern timber staircase blending the new space into the interior of the property.
  •  The head height is increased to 2.3 metres and the existing lightwell has been renovated, enhancing natural light entering the space.
  • As the existing lightwell could not be altered to provide a separate means of escape, a Plumis Fire Suppression System ensured the space could be classified as habitable.
  • Our clients required space to integrate a home office within their property, making use of the existing space within the cellar created the perfect opportunity.

Our clients required space to integrate a home office within their property in St Albans’ Cathedral Conservation Area. Making use of the existing space within the cellar created the perfect opportunity.

Access was greatly improved by the removal of an uneven, unsightly brick staircase and its replacement with a modern timber staircase featuring a contemporary hand rail and balustrades. The staircase blends in with the interior of the property, whilst greatly improving the access to the new space, compliant with Building Regulations.

The head height was increased to provide 2.3 metres and the existing lightwell renovated to enhance the natural light entering the space. The existing lightwell could not be altered to provide a separate means of escape, however the integration of a Plumis Fire Suppression System ensured the space could be classified as habitable, allowing us to achieve the perfect home office for our client.

What our client said…

Before the renovations, we had lots of problems with damp. The ceiling collapsed and we were unable to use the cellar, it was far from a usable space. Living and working from home was challenging and we knew the cellar was wasted space in a house which didn't have a lot of space to begin with. We needed a solution to create additional living space.

The changes that came with the COVID pandemic, meant that the space has given us a third bedroom which doubles up as the home office. The space has proved invaluable as a comfortable place to work within the home, benefiting from peace and quiet of being on a different floor to the bustle of family life.

Type Info
Project Home office
Area 15m²
Project Time 12 weeks

Cellar Conversion – St Albans

  • Our client has now added a media room, home office, play area and family bathroom.
  • The home office area is now located in the new basement, far away from the high traffic areas of the hous.
  • Relocating the bathroom to the basement has provided increased space in bedrooms upstairs.
  • Our client has maximised the space with bespoke joinery, adding plenty of storage and allowing the space to function as a multi-use area.

Our client required a multifunction area to add valuable living and working space beneath their centrally-located Victorian cottage. The property is located within one of St Albans’ conservation areas, limiting the possibilities of extending above ground.

Our conversion added a media room, home office, play area and family bathroom, providing the client an additional 35m² of living space in what was a damp, disused cellar. A glass lightwell within the ground floor and a glass balustrade on the stairs leading in add natural light and create a spacious feel, while the basement’s ventilation system circulates fresh air throughout and keeps the bathroom comfortable. The home’s office is now located in the basement, far away from the high traffic areas of the house — providing a tranquil environment for the parents who occasionally work from home.

Relocation of the bathroom to the basement has enabled this growing family to increase bedroom sizes on the first floor, while the basement space has been maximised with bespoke joinery, adding plenty of storage and allowing the space to function well as a multi-use area. Dimmable spotlights enable the light setting to be adjusted to set the scene for a variety of activities, from work to play.

Type Info
Project Multifunction living space, comprises media area, home office, play area & bathroom
Area 35m²
Project Time 8 weeks

Basement Construction – St Albans

  • The basement stairway has bespoke built-in storage to maximise storage solutions.
  • The newly-created basement provides a family bathroom with plenty of natural light.
  • The upper floor benefited from the addition of a shower room.
  • The lightwell at the front of the house brings plenty of natural light into the master bedroom.

Located within a conservation area, this Victorian cottage required refurbishment and extension to turn it in to an open plan home, perfectly suited to modern family living.

The once-cramped two-storey cottage was extended both above and below ground, adding a new basement with family bathroom, utility room and a master bedroom with bespoke cabinetry. Upstairs, the ground floor was opened, creating a spacious family friendly living area, open plan kitchen and dining room. On the upper floor, a new shower room was added.

Type Info
Project Whole house refurbishment, ground floor extension, basement construction comprising master bedroom and family bathroom.
Area 25m²
Project Time 24 weeks

Basement Construction – Hammersmith, London

  • Refurbished kitchen with family dining area.
  • View of the stairs from the bedroom
  • Bathroom doorway
  • Bathroom

With a growing family, our client needed additional space. We were appointed to create a new basement which added over 35m² of additional living space to the home.

The new basement provides a master bedroom, walk-in wardrobe and large bathroom. We constructed a full-height light well that blends seamlessly with the property’s façade, provides ample natural light and creates an airy feel in the space. To ensure the space stays dry and damp-free we waterproofed the basement with a pump system and Delta’s Membrane System.

The newly refurbished kitchen now has space to dine and provides a sociable place for the whole family, whilst giving access to the newly created basement.

Type Info
Project Kitchen refurbishment, basement construction, comprising: master bedroom, spacious luxury ensuite bathroom.
Area 35m²
Project Time 16 weeks

Cellar Conversion – Harpenden

  • Entertainment Hub
  • Entertainment Hub
  • Entertainment Hub
  • Entertainment Hub

This Harpenden property featured a redundant cellar, locked within the center of the property. We removed large concrete obstacles taking up valuable floor space and underpinned the perimeter walls to create a good-sized room detached from the wider living space above. 

Serving as an entertainment hub for two growing teenagers, this cellar incorporates a 3-mode lighting system, perfect for everything from watching your latest blockbuster to playing pool with friends. We even managed to squeeze in a wine cabinet for the adults! Of particular note is our bespoke ventilation system installation which fills the space with fresh air and will keep it fresh and dry for many years to come.

Type Info
Project Entertainment Hub
Area 18m²
Project Time 6 weeks

Basement Construction – Primrose Hill, North London

We were commissioned to construct the basement structure beneath a three-storey Victorian Town House within a conservation area.

We added underpinning to the property and constructed a basement below the house and rear garden with a light well to create a beautiful, light-filled space.

Type Info
Project Gym, Nanny Quarters, Wine Cellar, Living Room
Area 200m²
Project Time 52 weeks

Basement Construction – Ware, Hertfordshire

  • This smart new wet room is the centrepiece of our client’s newly converted basement.
  • An additional 35m² of space can make all the difference to family life.
  • Natural daylight floods into our client’s new basement room.
  • Our architectural partner Leefran Design made the most of every available inch of space. Bespoke joinery provides plenty of storage.

Our brief asked for a flexible living space in place of a damp, disused cellar to give our client’s family room to grow.

We converted the existing cellar, adding a family-sized wet room and two double bedrooms—an additional 35m² of space for the home. As well as the main bedroom, the new basement has been given a versatile room that can be used as either a TV room or bedroom.

Our architectural partner, Leefran Design, helped us make the most of every available inch of space and bespoke joinery provides plenty of wardrobes and storage. The use of lightwells make so much difference to the space, it is hard to believe you are below ground level when the room is so bright and airy. The home’s new wet room is fitted with high-quality fixtures and fittings and with its fresh air ventilation system installed, it’s both functional and fabulous.

Type Info
Project Bedrooms, TV Room, Storage Area, Wet Room
Area 35m²
Project Time 12 weeks