When homeowners think about ways to improve how their house functions day to day, the basement is often overlooked. Whether unfinished or partially complete, the lower level offers significant opportunity. With intentional planning and a thoughtful design build process, a basement remodel can add meaningful living space without expanding the home’s footprint.
At Synergy, basements are approached with the same care as any other remodel, emphasizing adaptability, comfort, and long-term use. Because of their flexibility, basements can support a wide range of needs, making them one of the most versatile areas in a home. Below are seven ways homeowners can thoughtfully transform their basements into a space that truly supports the way they live.
1. A Comfortable Family Room or Secondary Living Area
When the main level of a home is balancing work, school, entertaining, and everyday life, having an additional living space can make a noticeable difference. A basement family room creates room to spread out, whether that means hosting movie nights, welcoming guests, or giving kids a place to relax.
Key design elements include:
Layered lighting to brighten the lower level
Comfortable, durable seating options
Built-in storage for media and electronics
Sound control for movies or music
Warm materials that make the space feel inviting
A well-designed basement living area enhances everyday comfort while helping preserve the main living spaces upstairs.
Goatz Sports Cards in Herndon (photo courtesy of Bryan Janick)
A store selling increasingly-popular cardboard collectibles plans to open in Herndon early next year.
Scheduled for a grand opening on Saturday, Jan. 3, Goatz Sports Cards replaced a former chiropractor’s office in the strip of businesses at 208 Elden Street.
A Christmas tree stands in the central open space at Fairfax Corner (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Va. Could Remove Allegedly Ineligible Voters — “The U.S. Department of Justice has sent a confidential draft agreement to more than a dozen states that would require election officials to remove any alleged ineligible voters identified during a federal review of their voter rolls … The states [acting voting section chief Eric] Neff identified are led by Republicans — Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Tennessee, Utah and Virginia.” [Virginia Mercury]
Some N. Va. See Success as Kennedy Center Struggles — “Leaders of local groups say that it’s difficult to tell whether they’ve directly benefited from this year’s upheaval across the Potomac … But while Kennedy Center audiences have dwindled amid artists’ and theatergoers’ boycotts of the venue whose board elected Trump as chair in February, several Arlington organizations pulled off a strong year.” [ARLnow]
Virginia ICE Facility Over Capacity — “One of Virginia’s two U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities is over capacity, while the other is getting very close, according to the most recent data from ICE and TRAC Immigration … As of Nov. 28, the Caroline Detention Center has surpassed its maximum capacity — and the Farmville Detention Center is less than two dozen detainees away from doing the same.” [WRIC]
Mutual Aid Groups Respond to ICE Detentions — “Throughout the commonwealth, a wave of mutual aid has come from community foundations, grassroots organizations and neighbors who quietly built their own support systems for families caught in detention and deportation proceedings.” [VPM News]
Reston Contractor Makes Big Acquisition — “CACI International Inc., one of Greater Washington’s largest federal IT contractors, is buying defense technology company ARKA Group LP for $2.6 billion cash in what would be the Reston company’s largest acquisition to date.” Connecticut-based ARKA’s fighter plane sensors would help CACI “expand its tech capabilities on existing and future contracts with the U.S. Space Force and other defense and national security agencies.” [Washington Business Journal]
License Plate Readers Used to Find Missing People — “Since the launch of the department’s expanded LPR program in November 2022, both Flock Safety and Axon Fleet 3 LPR technology have directly assisted in locating 50 missing persons across Fairfax County and the surrounding region.” The 50th person was located on Dec. 19 when they drove past a reader, alerting an officer at Route 50 and Galesbury Lane in Chantilly. [FCPD]
Library Hosts Free Signed Books Giveaway — Fairfax County Public Library is holding a drawing for 14 different free signed books. Through Jan. 16, patrons can enter by filling out a form and sharing how much money they’ve saved by checking out materials from their local library. Winners will be chosen on Jan. 20. [FCPL]
Publishing Pause for Holidays — FFXnow will be taking a break from publishing tomorrow (Wednesday) and on Christmas. Barring breaking news, we’ll be back with more reporting on Friday (Dec. 26). Merry Christmas to those who celebrate, and to those who don’t, we hope you’re still able to enjoy some time to relax before the new year.
It’s Tuesday — Rain is possible, mostly before 9am, followed by cloudy skies that will gradually clear up to become mostly sunny. The high will be around 53 degrees. The chance of precipitation stands at 30%. Tuesday night will be mostly clear with a low temperature around 39 degrees. [NWS]
Wind Turbine Installation Vessel Charybdis works to install generators for the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project near Hampton Roads (via Dominion Energy)
The Trump administration on Monday suspended leases for five large-scale offshore wind projects under construction along the East Coast due to what it said were national security risks identified by the Pentagon.
A yard sign in Vienna expressing support for federal workers (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
The number of Fairfax County residents reported as unemployed spiked 24% year-over-year in September jobs data delayed by the federal government shutdown.
A total of 621,315 county residents were counted as employed in the civilian workforce, with 20,897 reported unemployed, according to figures reported Dec. 18 by the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement.
Former South Lakes Seahawks wide receiver Zac Parker at a rookie camp for the Washington Commanders (via NFL, provided by Zac Parker)
A former professional football player is giving back to his hometown of Reston this Christmas.
Zac Parker, who played for the South Lakes Seahawks before graduating in 2013, has been collecting donated food, toys, clothes and other items that he plans to distribute tomorrow (Tuesday) to people in need, including kids and people experiencing homelessness.
A Christmas tree inside the National Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Missing Herndon Man Found Dead — “The body of missing 79-year-old Leonard Thompson was found in Troutville, Va. on Saturday, ending a multi-day search for the Herndon man. Thompson had been missing since Monday, with Virginia State Police putting out a critically missing adult alert the following day.” [DC News Now]
Dozens Charged With Crimes in Fairfax City — “Fairfax City Police recently arrested an 18-year-old man and served nine juvenile suspects a combined total of 24 juvenile petitions in connection to a string of events that started at Fairfax High School’s homecoming football game on Oct. 17, according to authorities.” The incidents included disorderly conduct at the game, a McDonald’s robbery, a gun being discharged at a party and a theft at Wawa. [Patch]
South Run House Fire Under Investigation — “Firefighters in Fairfax County responded to a two-alarm house fire early Saturday morning in the South Run area. The blaze was reported around 4:48 a.m. in the 9300 block of Castle Hill Road, officials said … One resident was taken to the hospital for evaluation.” [WJLA]
New Advanced Academic Center Approved — “The Fairfax County School Board approved a motion on Dec. 18 to create a full-time Advanced Academic Program at Poe Middle School … A phasing option allows third through sixth-grade students currently attending the AAP Center at Canterbury Woods Elementary School to stay there through the sixth grade.” [Annandale Today]
Police Investigate Credit Card Skimmers — “Detectives from our Financial Crimes Unit, with the assistance of the United States Secret Service (USSS), conducted a countywide skimmer-detection operation at more than 100 locations across Fairfax County resulting in the recovery of 20 credit card skimming devices … Skimming devices were located at multiple convenience stores, discount stores, and grocery stores throughout Fairfax County and the Town of Herndon.” [FCPD]
Virginia Dems Highlight Affordability Agenda — “Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger and top Virginia Democrats are aiming to lower costs through programs with little impact on the state budget, they said in a press conference Thursday … Youngkin’s $72 billion budget proposal, released Wednesday, forecast more revenue for the state than predictions released by state legislators.” [VPM News]
Police Investigate Vienna Mailbox — The U.S. Postal Inspector’s Office and Fairfax County police investigated a Postal Service mailbox outside Navy Federal Credit Union’s Vienna branch on Thursday (Dec. 18) after a security officer reported hearing a suspicious noise. “As a precaution, the bank’s branch and the immediate surrounding outdoor area were evacuated. Once it was determined that the noise was coming from a safe device and there was no threat to the public, the bank branch was reopened.” [Vienna Police]
Change in FFXnow’s Newsletter — “ARLnow and its sister sites are about to embark on a significant change: switching to a new email service provider. After 16 years of delivering our daily newsletters from the same email provider we are switching to Beehiiv.” [ARLnow]
It’s Monday — The skies will gradually become cloudy, reaching a high temperature of around 44 degrees, accompanied by a light southwestern wind of about 6 mph during the afternoon. On Monday night, there is a 40% chance of rain and snow occurring from 1 am to 4 am, followed by a possibility of rain after 4 am. With an expected low of 35 degrees, the light south wind will intensify to 5-10 mph later in the evening. [NWS]
George Mason University president Gregory Washington (screenshot via George Mason)
The newest graduates of George Mason University came from 38 states and 87 countries, overcoming obstacles and charting their own paths en route to commencement day.
After some delays, the frozen desserts shop began serving customers in the South Lakes Village Shopping Center (11130-I South Lakes Drive) on Wednesday (Dec. 17) and will celebrate its grand opening tomorrow (Saturday).
The Annandale Immigration Court is housed in an office building at 7619 Little River Turnpike (staff photo by Jared Serre)
By JOSHUA GOODMAN Associated Press
MIAMI (AP) — A U.S. Army Reserve lawyer detailed as a federal immigration judge has been fired barely a month into the job after granting asylum at a high rate out of step with the Trump administration’s mass deportation goals, The Associated Press has learned.
