Finished Basement with Kitchenette and Full Bathroom — Alexandria, VA 22310
Project Overview
Location:
Alexandria, VA
Project Type:
Full Basement Finish — Living Space, Kitchenette, Full Bathroom, Laundry Room
Service:
Basement Finishing
Contractor:
Vale Construction
Features:
Luxury vinyl plank flooring, full bathroom with walk-in shower, white kitchenette with marble countertop, recessed lighting, carpeted staircase
The Client's Challenge
This Alexandria homeowner had an unfinished basement taking up square footage that wasn't doing anything useful. Like a lot of basements in Northern Virginia — especially in homes built in the 80s and 90s — the space had good bones but needed everything: framing, insulation, drywall, flooring, electrical, plumbing, and a layout that actually made sense for how the family wanted to use it.
The goal was to turn it into functional living space without it feeling like a basement. That meant real finishes — not builder-spec stuff — and a layout that included a full bathroom, a kitchenette for entertaining or guests, and a dedicated laundry room. All of it needed to connect cleanly to the existing staircase and feel like a natural extension of the home above.
Basements in Alexandria also come with their own set of considerations: low ceiling heights that require careful planning, egress requirements, and in some cases moisture management depending on how the foundation sits. We mapped all of it out before a wall went up.
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The Renovation Process
The project started with framing and MEP rough-in — plumbing for the bathroom and kitchenette, electrical for the recessed lighting layout and outlets throughout, and HVAC extensions to keep the space comfortable year-round. Getting the plumbing in right the first time matters a lot in basement work; it's the hardest thing to fix later.
Once the rough-in passed inspection, we closed up the walls and moved into finishes. Luxury vinyl plank flooring went in across the entire basement — the open living area, the hallway, the bathroom, and through to the kitchenette. It's a practical choice for below-grade spaces where moisture is always a background variable, and this particular profile reads closer to real hardwood than most LVP you'll find at a big-box store.
The bathroom was built from scratch: gray shaker vanity with a marble countertop, brushed nickel fixtures, white subway tile walk-in shower with a sliding glass enclosure and built-in shelving, and a toilet tucked efficiently into the layout. The staircase got new carpet in a neutral gray-beige pattern with a wood balustrade and wall-mounted handrail — clean and safe.
The kitchenette came together with white shaker lower cabinets, a marble-look countertop, undermount sink, and a stainless appliance — enough to make the space genuinely functional for a guest suite or secondary entertaining area without overcrowding the floor plan.
Recessed lighting was laid out throughout to keep the ceiling clean and the space well-lit without relying on lamps or overhead fixtures that eat into the already-modest ceiling height.
Project Features
Basements
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Luxury vinyl plank flooring throughout — living area, hallway, bathroom, and kitchenette
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Full bathroom: gray shaker vanity, marble countertop, brushed nickel fixtures, walk-in shower with white subway tile and sliding glass door
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Built-in shower shelving and recessed lighting in shower
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Kitchenette: white shaker cabinets, marble countertop, undermount sink, stainless appliance
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Carpeted staircase with wood balustrade and wall-mounted handrail
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Dedicated laundry room
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Recessed lighting throughout
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Full framing, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC from unfinished state
