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This Private Lounge Turns a Basement Into the Ultimate Luxury Escape

This sophisticated lower-level retreat in King City, Ontario transforms a traditional basement into a moody sanctuary for entertaining, wellness, and escape.

By Vuya Maqubela | June 28, 2026 | Category interiors/house-tours

Tucked beneath a family home in King City, Ontario, this private lounge challenges everything we think a basement should be. Designed by interior designer Lisa Worth, the lower level has been transformed into a moody retreat that feels more similar to an exclusive members’ club than a conventional residential space.

The vision was simple yet ambitious: create a destination within the home where entertaining, wellness, and relaxation exist in perfect harmony. 

The result is a richly layered sanctuary complete with a sophisticated bar, temperature-controlled wine room, hidden cinema, gym, sauna and steam room – all woven together through a carefully designed open-plan layout.

The social heart of the lower level, where relaxed seating and a bespoke pool table create a sophisticated setting for gathering and play.

At the heart of the design sits the bar, which acts as the social hub of the space. From here, guests move effortlessly between intimate seating areas, a pool table zone, and the wellness suite beyond. 

While visually connected through glass enclosures, the gym and spa spaces remain acoustically separated, ensuring a sense of calm even when the lounge is buzzing with activity.

Timber finishes, marble surfaces and atmospheric lighting transform the kitchen into an elegant extension of the lounge.

One of the most intriguing details is the concealed theatre room, discreetly hidden behind a touch-latch door integrated into the bar's joinery.

Inspired by the calm glamour of luxury hotels, the interiors evoke the feeling of slipping away from everyday life. Instead of embracing bright, open volumes, the design leans into the atmosphere. Black-stained timber panelling envelops the rooms, creating a cocoon-like setting where light and shadow become part of the experience. The effect is cinematic, intimate, and irresistibly inviting.

A seamless fusion of wellness and hospitality, featuring a spa-inspired sauna together with a luxurious bar designed for indulgent evenings at home.

The palette is intentionally restrained, built around deep, saturated tones that lend the space a sense of sophistication. Dramatic marble surfaces introduce movement and contrast, their bold streaks and warm undertones softening the darker backdrop. 

Throughout, texture becomes the centre of the space. Rift-cut white oak, leather-clad wine storage, and smoky mirrored surfaces replace conventional drywall – creating an environment that feels tactile, layered, and deeply luxurious.

Softly sculpted arches introduce a sense of flow and elegance, balancing the lounge's bold materials with graceful architectural detail.

What makes the project particularly compelling is its balance. Sculptural natural stone and rich materials bring drama, while disciplined detailing keeps the spaces feeling timeless. Every bespoke element, from the integrated wine displays to the custom bar finishes, contributes to the lounge's refined identity.

Completed over nine months, the renovation transforms a once-overlooked lower level into a destination dedicated to both connection and restoration. It's a space designed for relaxing over cocktails one evening, and retreating to a spa-like sanctuary the next – proof that the most memorable rooms in a home don't always need a view.

Moody marble, refined finishes, and ambient lighting elevate the bathroom into a serene sanctuary inspired by the world's finest boutique hotels.

Credits

Interior design: Worth Interior Design, Instagram @worth_interior_design

Photos: Lauren Miller, Instagram @lomillerphoto

Production: Karine Monié, Instagram @karinemonie