I think that’s ruled out in post #9, though.
Make a second kitchen. That way the primary kitchen is always clean. You obviously aren’t Italian or you wouldn’t be asking what to do with the space.
You are joking (I assume) but there has been a trend in McMansion construction over the last decade to actually build two kitchens; a ‘front kitchen’ with a lot of open space around a big, mostly non-functional granite-topped island to present dishes that have just been cooked, and then a ‘working kitchen’ which is hidden from view where all of the prep work and real mess of cooking is.
Stranger
Recording studio.
etc.
How long until this downsizing happens? When is retirement? Your username is OldOlds so it’s not too clear 
I wouldn’t go doing anything that is too custom or too permanent. I think sometimes it’s easier to sell a big empty dry basement than it is to find the right buyers for a fancy bar or a custom wood shop.
As noted below, the apartment was there when I bought the house, but it is not legally permitted. Also, there’s one exit to the backyard and one into my kitchen. So that’s why it’s family only.
Do you mean a third kitchen? There’s already one down there. We are not going to dismantle the kitchen, but I don’t see us using it much. My wife, who is Italian, did say “It’s every Italian woman’s dream to have a second kitchen”
Retirement is probably 10-12 years away, depending on when my wife decides to bow out. Right now, we need (among other things) easy access to the airport and to my elderly parents. Each is about 15 minutes away. Once we don’t need those, it will be back to NH.
The OldOlds refers to my '67 Oldsmobile.
It’s rather common. For some the main kitchen is a show piece, only to be used for company. If you’re finishing the basement in a typical 3 bedroom house you might as well put a kitchen in too if that’s your style. Even when company is over you can still do most of your prep and cooking in the second kitchen. An extra fridge is always useful and no need to make a mess cleaning up in your pristine farm sink upstairs.
I was certain it was going to be this bowling alley.
Wow. So weird.
It’s almost as though some of you have never had servants.
So I’ve started turning the bedroom into a workshop. For my workbench, I’m using some cheap-o flat pack kitchen cabinets. These will give lots of drawers and cubbies for storage. I glued them up and assembled them, and did a dry layout. I need to get some 3/4" plywood and I’ll put that between them and in strategic spots around the perimeter. The plywood of the cabinets can hold a lot of weight, but aren’t designed to be hammered on and abused, so the plywood will add quite a bit of durability.
Once this is up and running, the first order of business will be to re-do the current sketchy 15A circuit in the room and get me some 20A goodness.
You may notice the shims in the pics. I’m surprised at how much shimming I need on a slab, and it really makes me wonder what’s under that uber-cheap floor.
The images in the post are a little stretched. The three draw cabinets are 30x24 and the smaller ones are 12x24, so the whole thing is 60x36
Link to NYT article from September 2022 about this concept, which they call a back kitchen, dirty kitchen, messy kitchen, prep kitchen, working kitchen, scullery kitchen or “pantry on steroids.”
Me too, and I’m not even the one with the space. But it is a fun thing to think about.
I like the library and bar ideas. If it were me, I’d probably do something food-related - install a dedicated pizza oven (probably not realistic), a nice temperature-controlled wine storage unit, and a table or two with red and white checked table clothes. Then I’d go wild perfecting my pizza-making skills, and make a habit of inviting friends over for pizza- and wine-fests.
No one suggested a snazzy home theater? I’m shocked.