See a Dingy Basement Transform Into a Workout Wonderland

February 8, 2019 Emma Yardley

facebook twitter

Successfully creating an at-home gym that also has serious interior design clout is no small feat. On Save My Reno, designer Sabrina Smelko and contractor Sebastian Clovis take a dark basement and turn it into a state-of-the-art gym (and laundry room) fit for an Olympian.

A basement home gym with grey floors, red accents and a rack of dumbbells

Save My Reno

See a Dingy Basement Transform Into a Workout Wonderland

February 8, 2019 Emma Yardley

Spot Me

1/10

Spot Me
1/10
Photo Credit: HGTV Canada

After living in their new house for only three months, first-time homeowners Natalie and Adam decided they needed a designated spot to do their squats, plus a place to air out their piles of smelly hockey equipment. <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/save-my-reno/videos/sebastian-clovis-shares-his-workout-tips-1423659075583/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Former CFL football star and Save My Reno host Sebastian Clovis shares his workout tips. </a>

Save My RenoSee a Dingy Basement Transform Into a Workout Wonderland

Spot Me

PHOTO 1 of 10

READ LESS -

After living in their new house for only three months, first-time homeowners Natalie and Adam decided they needed a designated spot to do their squats, plus a place to air out their piles of smelly hockey equipment. <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/save-my-reno/videos/sebastian-clovis-shares-his-workout-tips-1423659075583/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Former CFL football star and Save My Reno host Sebastian Clovis shares his workout tips. </a>

Photo Credit: HGTV Canada
If You've Got It

2/10

If You've Got It
2/10
Photo Credit: HGTV Canada

Since Natalie is an Olympic athlete — she was part of the Canadian hockey team that took home the gold at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi — tastefully displaying hockey-career memorabilia was important to the couple.

Save My RenoSee a Dingy Basement Transform Into a Workout Wonderland

If You've Got It

PHOTO 2 of 10

READ LESS -

Since Natalie is an Olympic athlete — she was part of the Canadian hockey team that took home the gold at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi — tastefully displaying hockey-career memorabilia was important to the couple.

Photo Credit: HGTV Canada
Ground Zero

3/10

Ground Zero
3/10
Photo Credit: HGTV Canada

Yikes! Before the <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/save-my-reno/">Save My Reno</a> team stepped in, Natalie and Adam’s basement had become a dumping ground for their bags of hockey gear, miscellaneous furniture and tools they could never find due to all the accumulated mess. <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/save-my-reno/videos/this-diy-organization-board-is-something-every-family-could-use-1423658563665/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Sabrina Smelko shows you how to make an organization board that will keep you and your family on track and on trend.</a>

Save My RenoSee a Dingy Basement Transform Into a Workout Wonderland

Ground Zero

PHOTO 3 of 10

READ LESS -

Yikes! Before the <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/save-my-reno/">Save My Reno</a> team stepped in, Natalie and Adam’s basement had become a dumping ground for their bags of hockey gear, miscellaneous furniture and tools they could never find due to all the accumulated mess. <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/save-my-reno/videos/this-diy-organization-board-is-something-every-family-could-use-1423658563665/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Sabrina Smelko shows you how to make an organization board that will keep you and your family on track and on trend.</a>

Photo Credit: HGTV Canada
In the Red Zone

4/10

In the Red Zone
4/10
Photo Credit: HGTV Canada

Sabrina endeavoured to bring order and calm into this new basement gym by installing grey engineered-wood floors, an easy palette of white, grey and red, and defining different zones around the space with activity-specific furnishing and accessories.

Save My RenoSee a Dingy Basement Transform Into a Workout Wonderland

In the Red Zone

PHOTO 4 of 10

READ LESS -

Sabrina endeavoured to bring order and calm into this new basement gym by installing grey engineered-wood floors, an easy palette of white, grey and red, and defining different zones around the space with activity-specific furnishing and accessories.

Photo Credit: HGTV Canada
Sweat Equity

5/10

Sweat Equity
5/10
Photo Credit: HGTV Canada

Since their budget was set at $30,000, the <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/save-my-reno/">Save My Reno</a> team sourced second-hand, state-of-the-art exercise equipment that was still in excellent shape but wouldn’t break the bank. <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/save-my-reno/blog/360-video-tour-sabrina-smelko-on-turning-a-no-go-basement-into-a-family-friendly-refuge-1924126/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">How the Save My Reno team turned this no-go basement into a family-friendly refuge.</a>

Save My RenoSee a Dingy Basement Transform Into a Workout Wonderland

Sweat Equity

PHOTO 5 of 10

READ LESS -

Since their budget was set at $30,000, the <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/save-my-reno/">Save My Reno</a> team sourced second-hand, state-of-the-art exercise equipment that was still in excellent shape but wouldn’t break the bank. <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/save-my-reno/blog/360-video-tour-sabrina-smelko-on-turning-a-no-go-basement-into-a-family-friendly-refuge-1924126/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">How the Save My Reno team turned this no-go basement into a family-friendly refuge.</a>

Photo Credit: HGTV Canada
Canadian Yogi

6/10

Canadian Yogi
6/10
Photo Credit: HGTV Canada

A strong Canadian theme runs throughout the space, evident here in the maple leaf water bottle and red square poufs, paying homage to the country Natalie has now represented twice at the Winter Olympics. <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/save-my-reno/photos/entertaining-kitchen-1924299/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Check out this masculine makeover of a simple-Simon semi.</a>

Save My RenoSee a Dingy Basement Transform Into a Workout Wonderland

Canadian Yogi

PHOTO 6 of 10

READ LESS -

A strong Canadian theme runs throughout the space, evident here in the maple leaf water bottle and red square poufs, paying homage to the country Natalie has now represented twice at the Winter Olympics. <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/save-my-reno/photos/entertaining-kitchen-1924299/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Check out this masculine makeover of a simple-Simon semi.</a>

Photo Credit: HGTV Canada
Stick It to ’Em

7/10

Stick It to ’Em
7/10
Photo Credit: HGTV Canada

To pay homage to their preferred sport, Sabrina thought it would be fun to incorporate old hockey sticks into this custom-made double hockey locker, designed to hold Natalie and Adam’s gear when they’re off the ice.

Save My RenoSee a Dingy Basement Transform Into a Workout Wonderland

Stick It to ’Em

PHOTO 7 of 10

READ LESS -

To pay homage to their preferred sport, Sabrina thought it would be fun to incorporate old hockey sticks into this custom-made double hockey locker, designed to hold Natalie and Adam’s gear when they’re off the ice.

Photo Credit: HGTV Canada
Dark Days

8/10

Dark Days
8/10
Photo Credit: HGTV Canada

The exposed HVAC unit, washer-dryer set and 1970s wood veneer panelling all helped to make this large basement feel dark and boxed in. Rather than moving the ductwork, Sebastian was able to construct a wall around it as part of the new laundry room.

Save My RenoSee a Dingy Basement Transform Into a Workout Wonderland

Dark Days

PHOTO 8 of 10

READ LESS -

The exposed HVAC unit, washer-dryer set and 1970s wood veneer panelling all helped to make this large basement feel dark and boxed in. Rather than moving the ductwork, Sebastian was able to construct a wall around it as part of the new laundry room.

Photo Credit: HGTV Canada
All in One

9/10

All in One
9/10
Photo Credit: HGTV Canada

Since the original washer and dryer were in good shape, Sabrina decided to keep them and incorporate them into a design scheme that included white shaker cabinets with gold hardware, a handy wall drying rack and rail, and a gorgeous, cost-efficient butcherblock counter.

Save My RenoSee a Dingy Basement Transform Into a Workout Wonderland

All in One

PHOTO 9 of 10

READ LESS -

Since the original washer and dryer were in good shape, Sabrina decided to keep them and incorporate them into a design scheme that included white shaker cabinets with gold hardware, a handy wall drying rack and rail, and a gorgeous, cost-efficient butcherblock counter.

Photo Credit: HGTV Canada
Sink Into It

10/10

Sink Into It
10/10
Photo Credit: HGTV Canada

It’s almost sacrilegious to imagine soaking dirty gloves and socks in this gorgeous white farmhouse sink, but even the most fashionable features of this laundry room have a necessary function, which is the hallmark of truly smart design. <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/save-my-reno/episodes/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Watch the full episodes of Save My Reno.</a>

Save My RenoSee a Dingy Basement Transform Into a Workout Wonderland

Sink Into It

PHOTO 10 of 10

READ LESS -

It’s almost sacrilegious to imagine soaking dirty gloves and socks in this gorgeous white farmhouse sink, but even the most fashionable features of this laundry room have a necessary function, which is the hallmark of truly smart design. <a href="https://www.hgtv.ca/shows/save-my-reno/episodes/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Watch the full episodes of Save My Reno.</a>

Photo Credit: HGTV Canada

See a Dingy Basement Transform Into a Workout Wonderland

February 8, 2019 Emma Yardley

See a Dingy Basement Transform Into a Workout Wonderland

Spot Me

Spot Me

Spot Me

If You've Got It

If You've Got It

If You've Got It

Ground Zero

Ground Zero

Ground Zero

In the Red Zone

In the Red Zone

In the Red Zone

Sweat Equity

Sweat Equity

Sweat Equity

Canadian Yogi

Canadian Yogi

Canadian Yogi

Stick It to ’Em

Stick It to ’Em

Stick It to ’Em

Dark Days

Dark Days

Dark Days

All in One

All in One

All in One

Sink Into It

Sink Into It

Sink Into It