It used to be that a lower level was either an afterthought or, at the very least, an overflow from the main living area. But as more homeowners desire to have their homes reflect the “live, work and play” ethos, having that additional room has become even more important. If not for working or making everyday meals, it’s a special space set aside to entertain guests in style or to serve as an in-home destination for family relaxation.

With this in mind, Patrick Willis of Willis Homes envisioned this winning Artisan submission. He went with his popular Clydesdale model and worked with frequent collaborator Betsy Judd of Judd Designs. Betsy added the details and finishing touches to round out the home’s sophisticated contemporary-industrial personality.

“The Artisan Home Tour is an opportunity to showcase something special, either to try something we’ve never done before or to implement a culmination of ideas,” Patrick says. “This is probably the most exciting version of the Clydesdale we’ve done in terms of focusing on entertainment throughout the home. This model was already designed that way, but I think here we expanded on that idea quite a bit, especially in this lower level.”