Wanningers' Basement

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Jim and Stephanie Sims carry a mattress from the Wanningers' basement.

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Designer Casey Kinyoun chats with Heather Wanninger as they eat before getting work under way.

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Stephanie Sims keeps herself from falling as she and husband Jim carry a mattress from the Wanningers' basement.

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Candles highlight the table.

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

The chalkboard in the Wanningers' finished basement.

Photographer: Robin Scholz

Designer Casey Kinyoun eats her breakfast while surveying the progress.

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Mike Morris and Mike Wanninger carry a hutch from the Sims garage to the Wanningers' house.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Jim Sims uses a level to hang framed photos of one of the Wanninger boys.

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Heather Wanninger and designer Kathi Builta hug.

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Jim and Stephanie Sims get a look at the plans of Kathi Builta.

Photographer: Heather Coit

A view of the Wanningers' basement before renovation.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Another view of the Wanningers' basement before renovation began.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Heather Wanninger shares the good news about their basement with husband Mike via cell phone as son Jake checks things out.

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

With the innovative storage center in the background, designer Kathi Builta sits in the Wanningers' finished basement at 207 Fox Run Drive in Mahomet.

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Kathi Builta and daughter Kara finish a centerpiece.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Designer Kathi Builta takes a call as she puts the finishing touches on the basement with accent pieces.

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Kathi Buita works with Heather and Mike Wanninger on ideas. Xchange designers and families meet for the first time at The News-Gazette on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2006.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Joey Wanninger, 4, right, watches Art Shaw and Jim Sims cut boards in his garage as his brother, Johnny, 2, covers his ears in the arms of grandmother Judy Roberts.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Designer Kathi Builta and Art Shaw examine what will become part of bookshelves.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Designer Kathi Builta looks off to Stephanie Sims as they help Jim Sims hang framed pictures.

Photographer: Heather Coit

The Wanninger family is seen in front of their home on 207 Fox Run Drive in Mahomet.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Designer Kathi Builta measures cabinetry as Art Shaw looks on.

Photographer: Robin Scholz

Mike Morris measures for crown molding in the basement.

Photographer: Heather Coit

An overview of the Wanningers' basement is seen from their staircase.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Heather Wanninger, left, points out her new shelves and cabinets as she looks over her new basement with designer Kathi Builta.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Heather Wanninger asks designer Kathi Builta about her rocking chair as Wanninger's grandmother, Mildred Toya, looks on.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Heather Wanninger, holding son Johnny, 2, gets her first look at her new basement followed by son Joey, 4, her grandmother, Mildred Toya, and mother, Judy Roberts.

Photographer: Robin Scholz

Jim Sims and designer Kathy Builta talk in the garage.

Photographer: Robin Scholz

Kathi Builta and Jim Sims put together cabinetry in the basement.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Stephanie Sims draws Halloween pumpkins and ghosts after listing the Wanninger boys' names on the chalkboard in the basement.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Stephanie Sims finishes assembling a lamp.

Photographer: Robin Scholz

A list of things to do during the renovation of the Wanninger basement.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Kathi Builta, right, and Stephanie Sims go through all the purchased accent pieces.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Designer Kathi Builta cleans off the Wanninger's parchesi board as she tries to find a place for accent pieces.

Photographer: Robin Scholz

Kathi Builta paints a shelf unit black.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Stephanie Sims organizes accent pieces in the Wanningers' basement.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Kathi Builta begins work making a slipcover for Heather Wanninger's chair.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Jim Sims, right, and Art Shaw, who is Stephanie Sims's uncle, continue installing shelves and cabinets in the basement.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Designer Kathi Builta continues work in the Wanningers' basement.

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Designer Kathi Builta and homeowner Stephanie Sims look for design elements at Maggie's Place.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Stephanie Sims gets out the drop cloth before painting the walls of the Wanningers' basement.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Stephanie Sims pulls out part of a lamp as she chats with designer Kathi Builta.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Designer Kathi Builta, center, eagerly awaits the revealing of the Wanninger's basement with her daughter, Kara, left, and Stephanie Sims.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Jim Sims prepares a framed picture for hanging.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Heather Wanninger, far right, gives neighbor Stephanie Sims a big hug as Sims' husband, Jim, holding daughter Elizabeth, 2, enjoys the new basement.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Heather Wanninger, left, marvels at the transformation done to her basement as designer Kathi Builta, right, and Wanninger's babysitter, Tate Hollis, 12, look on.

Photographer: Robin Scholz

Kathi Builta puts trim around the blackboard.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Kathi Builta, foreground, and Stephanie Sims, check out floor lamps at the Lighting Center in Champaign.

Photographer: Robin Scholz

Jim Sims paints the walls of the basement.

Photographer: Robin Scholz

Designer Casey Kinyoun, front, Heather and Joey Wanninger, middle, and contractor Mike Morris all work on the walls.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Stephanie Sims takes in all the colorful and funky items at Rebecca's while shopping with designer Kathy Builta.

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Joey Wanninger and baby sitter Tate Hollis check out the new toy storage cabinet.

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

One view of the completed basement.

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Another view of the Wanningers' finished basement.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Designer Kathi Builta helps Jim Sims hang a welcome sign.

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

The Sims crew gets to work unpacking in the Wanningers' garage.