Garnell and Frances Pace’s comfortable basement has been a hub of activity, even before it was finished.
The lowest level of their Ellenwood home shows off their hard work, whether building a bar or game table, or adding columns to match the look of the upstairs. The expansive basement also includes a billiards area, theater, exercise room, and cozy seating area with a fireplace. For the finished space, they found deals on furniture from Craigslist, Garden Ridge and American Signature Furniture.
Birthday parties, bridal showers and other family gatherings are held in the basement, but Frances Pace often makes her way downstairs to watch TV and enjoys seeing items they designed and built.
“It’s a getaway for me,” said Frances, a licensed practical nurse.
Snapshot
Residents: Garnell and Frances Pace
Location: Ellenwood
Size: About 6,000 square feet, five bedrooms, five baths
Year built and bought: 2006
Builder: Ryland Homes
Architectural style: Modern contemporary
Favorite architectural elements: Columns inside the home and a towering window with a half-moon design at the top, in the family room
Interior design style: Contemporary
Favorite interior design elements: Custom drapes throughout, some made by homeowner Frances Pace and others by Linda Covington, in the family room and kitchen.
Favorite outdoor features: Magnolia trees and the front entrance, which has brick and stucco elements.
Resources: Furniture from Haverty's, American Signature Furniture and Rooms To Go; accessories from Pier 1 Imports and Garden Ridge; other furniture and accessories from stores along the Interstate 85 access road of Jimmy Carter Boulevard in Norcross; artwork from stores at The Mall at Stonecrest and The Gallery at South DeKalb (formerly South DeKalb Mall).
Decor tip: Use draperies, accent walls, artwork and floral arrangements to make color pop out in a home. "I love burgundy and chocolate and colors like that, so we played with that," Frances said.
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