DANCE FLOOR: Dancing the Evening Away

Ted and Mary Ott love swing dancing. When they decided to renovate their 3,100-square-foot basement, a vinyl dance floor was at the top of the list.

Now, five years later, they enjoy what they describe as the “party basement,” an entertainment underground complete with a karaoke machine, full bar, Bose speakers, a subwoofer for surround-sound effect and a projector that bounces movies off an entire wall. It cost them a little more than $80,000 to complete.

And despite all the bells and whistles in their Broomfield basement, it’s that square vinyl floor that gets the couple talking.

“We probably dance down there about two to three times a month, and when we have parties, we have a lot of people on that dance floor,” says Ted, manager of a Colorado Tech Center software company.

Ted designed the basement, then hired local contractor Jeff Bruce of Bruce Construction after numerous interviews with basement specialists.

It took nearly four months to complete; a period Mary remembers well as she worried the construction wouldn’t be ready in time for a big Super Bowl bash they planned on hosting.

But it was finished in time for the game, Bud Light on tap and all.

“That’s not my beer,” notes Ted. “I drink Coronas and Avalanche that are stocked in the refrigerator under the stairs.”

Mary also uses their massive new living space for business meetings and cocktails after, while Ted gets a lot of use out of the tony bar with his golf buddies following a round on the links.

The bar, complete with a wine cooler, stainless steel shakers in every corner and any kind of liquor you could possibly want, has been a popular hangout. It sits parallel to the 108-inch projection-screen movie room, separated by wide ceiling arches and columns.

“We entertain someone at least once a week,” he says. “It’s great for watching any sports event.”

Aside from hosting golf buddies, throwing parties where guests sing and dance, or relaxing on the comfortable bar stools in front of a hanging flat screen, the Otts remodeled for another reason as well.

Mary’s son and his family lived with them for a while and gave them extra motivation to have guest rooms and two bathrooms added. They designed the layout so the grandkids could sleep quietly in one of two side bedrooms, separated from a party that goes well into the night.

But most of the time, it’s just Ted sitting at the bar sipping a beer, watching golf or Mary relaxing nearby on the couch, exactly what they envisioned before they started the project.

“We generally watch movies down here at night and hang out at the bar. I drink Avalanche, and Mary drinks Bud Light,” says Ted.