A New York Basement Gets a Traditional London Pub Look

By Becky Harris, Houzz

“This is what I’d call a very sophisticated man cave,” says architect James Crisp. “The owner really had the vision, and the contractor, Jim Muncey of Structure Works, and I were just the conduits for it.”

The owner had spent a lot of time in London and loved the idea of bringing home one of his favorite pieces of it: the traditional London pub. “It’s the greatest thing; he can have up to 50 people over for hors d’oeuvres and drinks, then when the party’s over, climb upstairs, shut the door, and the rest of the house is still pristine,” Crisp says.

Related: Get the Look: English Pub Style

Here’s how they brought the cozy U.K. pub feeling across the pond.

Basement at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with teenagers
Location: Upstate New York
Size: About 45 feet by 20 feet

A dark pub is appropriate for a dark basement, and Bittersweet Chocolate paint on the cabinets as well as chocolate Naugahyde on the custom built-in bench just go with it. Pendant lights and sconces set the right ambience. The floors are painted pine; the beams are boxed in and painted dark to match.

Pendant lights: Kichler; sconces: Millennium Sconce

“This really was my client’s vision; he had photos of everything from seating areas to lighting that he liked,” Crisp says. The custom mahogany bar is complete with a brass foot rail and reclaimed stained glass picked up at Demolition Depot. Fluorescent lighting behind the glass give it the appearance of a window.

A stone wall, an arched wood door and iron detailing mark the wine cellar. The stone veneer is 4 to 6 inches thick, giving it an authentic look. Much of the cozy seating area is composed of reproduction antiques, like pub tables and Windsor chairs.

Related: Complete Your Home Bar With a Wine Rack

Door: ETO Doors

A gas fireplace adds to the cozy factor. The homeowner collected the artwork, mugs and other ephemera.

Credit must be given to photographer Rob Karosis for completing the scene with props like tweed coats, hats and freshly poured quaffs.

The pub also has a pool table, a standing bar area and built-in bookcases. Cabinets underneath hold more games. The owner chose the “Sly Ogre” sign, which was created by U.K. sign painter Graeme Robbins.

Billiards table and light: custom, Blatt Billiards

For those of you wondering about the usual basement details, the house was built in the 1980s, so the unfinished basement ceilings are nice and high, about 8½ feet. An exit door meet safety codes, and a bathroom, gym and sauna are elsewhere in the basement.