Basements are often the much-maligned eyesores of a house. We throw our accumulated stacks of National Geographic magazines, old baby clothes and fondue sets we snagged as wedding gifts into the inky depths of our basements where they sit for years, taunting us every time we descend to do laundry.

But as many homeowners have come to discover, basements can be more than just dumping grounds for cast-offs and canned goods - they can be goldmines of additional space. The area below our homes usually spans the same square footage as an entire floor of the house, making it a huge, untapped space just waiting to be turned into a family room, game room or exercise room.  

One local couple looked to their basement in order to meet the needs of their growing family. With two active children and a host of hobbies and interests, the family's Victorian-style home was feeling a bit cramped. The family loved their house and didn't want to move, but did not want to commit the time or money to a major remodel. Luckily they didn't need to.

The family were fortunate enough to have a 1,200 square foot unfinished basement, which could easily provide the space needed for a new family room, home theatre area, craft room and storage area.