The basement at my mamaw's house in Virginia has that smell. Immediately after cracking open the door, you’re hit with a whiff of pure, unadulterated basement. It’s a specific scent a lot of basements seem to share, along with (in my mind, at least) scenes of cement, plywood, and exposed pipes. This aesthetic many of us associate with basements isn’t exactly flattering, but the potential is beautiful!
Our experts have curated a tone of basement images over the years. Here, we gaze upon the sort of things that give me flashbacks to my mamaw's basement: electric meters, bricks, cement, various cylinders and machines I can’t identify. Ahead, our designers share 4 reasons to love the subterranean house feature, musty stench and all!