Everyone needs their own space at home, even the man of the house. In thinking about men and their spaces, we spoke with Jenny Ochotnicky, owner of JPO Interiors in Chamblee, about two projects featuring spaces primarily for the man of the house – a basement and an outdoor patio with a grilling area.
The Basement Project
Jenny says the clients wanted a space where the man of the house felt comfortable while watching sports and hanging out, but they also wanted an area where the family could gather and everyone could enjoy age-appropriate activities. They wanted a casual space where they could entertain guests. “They wanted to include some sports memorabilia, but they also wanted to incorporate their travels, where they’re from, and to be able to share their art,” Jenny says.
The basement was finished, so Jenny says the layout of the space was clear. This project was more about picking finishes for the flooring and cabinetry to capture an overall atmosphere and feel for the space that the clients had in mind – warm and comfortable with a masculine feel, but where family and guests could also feel comfortable spending time. The size of the space is enhanced with doors that lead to a patio making it great for indoor and outdoor entertaining.
The Design Features of the Project
Jenny worked with a contractor on this project and says everything down to the execution went smoothly. “And that doesn’t happen often,” she says.
For flooring, they went with a luxury vinyl tile in a blond color. “We went with that for a couple of different reasons,” Jenny says. “It’s a basement on a slab. So anytime you have a slab, you have to go with engineered hardwood or luxury vinyl tile because of settling,” She added that the tile has texture and depth making it durable to things like dirt, dogs, and cleats. And it can also be cleaned easily.
Jenny explains that she used dark, charcoal-colored cabinets with cream accents and floating shelves, and the space is accented with a cedar wood beam across the ceiling and on the wall to create a finished look in the bar area. This gives the space an older, lived-in look as opposed to looking like a brand-new space.
A gaming center is set off of the main area where kids and adults can take a timeout for a game or two. The kids also have a dedicated area in a nook underneath the stairs.
Tips you can use
If you’re thinking about creating a similar space, Jenny says consider how you want to use the space. “Thinking about how you want to use the space now and in the future is really important,” she says. “You know how your family functions. Know what you want and be very specific.” Then contact a contractor and a design professional for opinions to see whether or not the idea is feasible for your space and your budget. And Jenny says with any project, it’s always good to have a 10% contingency amount in the budget for any unexpected expenses or for furnishings.
Jenny adds that while you probably don’t want to take any chances when it comes to designing the main living areas, a basement that’s off the beaten path is a space where you can experiment and have fun.
Outdoor Patio and Grilling Area Project
Jenny says the clients love to entertain and the man of the house loves to grill out. They had a great patio, but much of the space was unusable due to its shape. “They wanted to expand to create a larger footprint with more usable space on the patio,” Jenny says. “The clients also own a home in Colorado, and they wanted a space that reminded them of Colorado and that would be comfortable and easy to maintain.” And lastly, the original grilling equipment didn’t work properly, so the clients wanted a better setup for grilling and entertaining.
The Design Features of the Project
Permits were involved, so Jenny worked with both an architect and a contractor.
As you might expect, when working on an outdoor space, even a covered space, the big concern is the weather - wind, rain, pollen, and more. With that in mind, Jenny looked for hardy outdoor finishes. Limestone was selected for the flooring. “We used a lighter stone because it looks better with the brick on the house. And because of the size of the patio, we didn’t want it to feel dark or cumbersome,” Jenny says.
A benefit of this renovation is the fully functional outdoor kitchen. Jenny created a space with better storage, a sink for washing hands and plates so there’s less running in and out of the house, and better grilling accommodations. “He could really make a full dinner outside if he wanted to,” Jenny says, talking about the man of the house who is also the griller of the family. “So it makes cooking and entertaining on the patio a lot easier.”
Tips You Can Use
When taking on a renovation outdoors, Jenny suggests keeping a realistic timeline in mind, as inclement weather can cause delays. Also, renovations can be messy, so you may not have access to the area during the construction. And keep in mind how the renovation will affect the sunlight on your landscaping and other areas of the home.
Finally, Jenny says to listen to what matters to the man of the house. “I hear it all the time,” she says. “The wife will say, 'I didn’t realize that my husband has a really strong feeling about…(Fill in the blank).' Whether it’s a man cave, office, or an outdoor space, …it’s important to listen and to incorporate the things he wants most in his space.”
For more information, visit jpointeriors.com.
“Thinking about how you want to use the space now and in the future is really important." Jenny Ochotnicky, owner and primary designer, JPO Interiors
"It’s important to listen and to incorporate the things he wants most in his space.” Jenny Ochotnicky, JPO Interiors
