Batting Cage Centerpiece, Cont’d
The batting cage, pictured here, is padded with vinyl. Custom-made light covers protect from flyballs and the color palette matches the homeowner’s favorite team: the Yankees.
Cost: $250,000
For more information: DiSalvo Interiors, Oyster Bay, NY.
Photo courtesy of DiSalvo Interiors
Multi-Functional Basement
Turning the basement into a multi-functional space is the latest trend in remodeling, says William Fadul, co-owner of MOSAIC Group Architects and Remodelers in Atlanta. In this project, the homeowner wanted an open floor plan that combined a laundry area, painting studio, wet bar and wine cellar. The gym took up about a fourth of the space.
Creating usable space in an area that was never meant to be used as living space was the greatest challenge of the remodel, says Fadul. “There was a great deal of wiring, plumbing, and HVAC duct work that needed to be moved and organized to create a clear ceiling height,” he says.
The gym includes dedicated space for yoga workouts as well as a steam bath, treadmill, stationary bike, and free weights. The concrete block ceiling was painted black and had track lighting installed. For the flooring, Fadul selected Florz carpet tiles because they are easily replaced if damaged. Wainscoting was used on the lower part of the wall to brighten the room by reflecting light from the windows.
Cost: $45,000
For more information: MOSAIC Group.
Photo courtesy of MOSAIC Group
Professional Gym Feel
As busy professionals, the clients of Interior Designer Susan Cozzi’s wanted the ease of a home work-out space without having to sacrifice the practicality of a professional gym. And because they often had houseguests, they wanted a gym that could easily accommodate more than one person at a time.
Fortunately for the clients, the basement foundation was solid — no structural work was needed to support the heavy workout equipment, which included an elliptical machine, treadmill, exercise bike, three weight training stations, free weights and space for an exercise ball and ab roller. Recessed lighting and surround-sound speakers were also installed, and full-wall mirror added to the “real gym” feel. A wet bar, flat screen TV and DVD player were also included.
Cozzi selected cork flooring, which would not leave an indentation if machinery were moved around and is naturally mold and mildew resistant. For the walls, she used Benjamin Moore 1564 Beach Glass in flat finish. “Studies have shown that blue creates a sense of coolness—an important feature when you’re trying to stay cool while working out,” Cozzi says.
Cost: $30,000
For more information: Susan Cozzi Design Studio, Boca Raton, Fla., scozzi@cozzidesign.com
Photo courtesy of Susan Cozzi
A Swim Workout, Without the Pool
For this at-home gym, the homeowner wanted to combine his love of the water with his desire to stay fit. The AFS Underwater Gym by Dimension One Spas became the centerpiece of the new home gym annex he had added to his house. Because the Underwater Gym allowed him to run resistance train and swim, it cut down on the number of pieces of gym equipment he required.
In addition to the Underwater Gym, this fitness retreat includes a flat screen TV, shower, rowing kit and free weights. A separate air conditioning unit was added to decrease humidity.
Cost: $250,000
For more information: D1 Spas.
Photo courtesy of D1 Spas
Batting Cage Centerpiece
For his baseball enthusiast client, Interior Designer Keith Mazzei of DiSalvo Interiors was charged with creating a gym space personalized to his clients’ interests and their personal trainer’s recommendations. The result was a batting cage that fed the homeowner’s love of baseball and a universal weight machine, elliptical machine, his and her treadmills and free weights with a bench. A sound system and flat screen TVs help workout time fly by.
The home gym was crafted in Mazzei’s dream space: a completely empty, bare-walled lower level. “The homeowners’ request was to be able to see into both spaces with no obstructions,” Mazzei said. He accomplished this by using shatter-proof glass on the batting cage.
For the flooring, he selected heavy-duty rubber mats on top of the concrete slab. The color palette matched that of the homeowner’s favorite team: the Yankees. The batting cage and some walls were padded with vinyl. One of the challenges was creating enough light while ensuring that glass LED bulbs were protected from flyballs, a problem solved with custom-made light covers.
(See images of batting cage in the next slide)
Cost: $250,000
For more information: DiSalvo Interiors, Oyster Bay, NY.
Photo courtesy of DiSalvo Interiors
Watching the Kids While Working Out
Interior Designer Syntha Harris’ clients had one main goal for their fitness room: They wanted a safe, private space where they could work out while also keeping an eye on their kids. The solution was a closed-off workout room in the basement adjacent to the children’s playroom. A picture window between the two rooms meant Mom and Dad could work out without worrying what the kids were getting into.
Harris’ other goal was to bring in as much light as possible. “Because many home gyms are located in the basement, they can have a closed in and dark feel,” Harris says. “In addition to recessed lighting, we added large French doors with no panes that could potentially break the view to the outside.”
Commercial grade rubber flooring from Eco Surfaces had the durability necessary to handle the heavy workout equipment, which included an elliptical machine, free weights, Nautilus system and BOSU balls.
Cost: $20,000
For more information: Storybook Rooms, Potomac, Md..
Photo courtesy of Syntha Harris
Year Round Workouts
When you live in Telluride, Colo., being active outdoors is easy – except for when the cold weather really begins to bite. And when your house is situated at 9,000 feet above sea level, an at-home workout can be much more appealing than braving the elements.
So when asked by her client to convert a mother-in-law apartment to a home gym, Interior Designer Sefra Maples created a space that capitalized on the view of the outdoors while providing enough space for a home gym system, exercise bike, weight bench and free weights. The room also included a media center complete with stereo system and TV, bathroom, shower and a sauna.
Cost: $100,000
For more information: Sefra Maples Interior Design and Consulting, Telluride, Colo.
Photo courtesy of Sefra Maples
Meditation Space
Interior Designer Rachel James was tasked with designing a space that would help a retired Army specialist rebuild her life after losing her husband in a helicopter accident in Iraq. “Her home gym represented a place for her to unwind and meditate, but also, see private clients for her new career as an instructor in both Pilates and yoga,” James says.
To create a tranquil feel, James used bamboo flooring, a Shoji screen pocket door and a lighted fountain with waterfall. The decorative painting mimicked sea grass. James added space for yoga workouts and relocated fitness equipment the client already owned, including a Stairmaster, elliptical machine and Pilates equipment. A powder room features a waterfall faucet and river rock tile flooring.
Cost: $30,000
For more information: Rachel James Interiors of Vienna, Va.
A Home Gym Hide-Away
The client, a native Brit, wanted to bring the aesthetics of his home country to his Ohio home. Neal’s Design Remodel was tasked with creating an English pub and sitting room in the basement. But the client also wanted a fitness room, which didn’t quite fit in with the English aesthetic. Until he had an idea right out of a British spy novel: Could they hide the in-home gym behind a bookcase styled as a hideaway door?
No problem, said Neal’s president Neal Hendy. “Initially we just built a doorway, but the client wanted the exercise stuff hidden away from guests,” Hendy says. “So we found an outfit in California that made the door and built-ins.”
The 14×14 space was small and had to accommodate the swinging bookshelf, but they were able to fit in an elliptical machine and treadmill. The British theme continued with a rug that resembled a Scottish kilt and window panes that mimicked a leadlight design. The home gym helped Neal’s Design Remodel win the National Association of the Remodeling Industry 2010 award for Residential Interior Design.
Cost: $25,000
For more information: Neal’s Design Remodel, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Photo courtesy of Neal’s Design-Remodel
Home Gym Made Affordable
As part of a whole-house remodel, Neil Kelly’s clients asked to convert a mudroom, small den and small bedroom on the home’s lower level into one bedroom and a fitness room. Providing sufficient lighting proved to be the biggest challenge of the job, says Designer Janie Boyl. “The existing low ceiling, with ductwork further reducing the height in a part of the room, necessitated creative light solutions,” she says. “A large mirror maximizes natural light from the large window and glass door.” She also installed multi-source, adjustable lighting.
The gym includes a Stairclimber, treadmill, universal gym, free weights, weight bench, yoga mat and space to store accessories and a portable media system. To keep costs down, the client installed the cork flooring himself, did the paint work and used existing gym equipment. The design helped make Neil Kelly the winner of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry regional award for entire house remodel.
Cost: $10,000
For more information: Neil Kelly Company, Portland, Oregon.
Photo courtesy of Neil Kelly Company
Fitting Home Gym into a Small Space
Fitting a large and bulky gym into a small space can be a challenge, says Interior Designer Heidi Pribell. For this space on the second floor of a Boston home, she converted a 13×13 bedroom into a dedicated gym. She used Communist-era posters, selected by the client, as the basis for the decor. The Farrow and Ball wallpaper uses a woodblock print instead of lithography. “That process gives it a timeless character,” Pribell says. Green was chosen to balance out the blue and white done in nearby bedrooms.
The room includes an elliptical machine, rowing machine and home gym unit.
Cost: $4,000 (without equipment)
For more information: Heidi Pribell, Cambridge, Mass.
Photo courtesy of Heidi Pribell