How One Sacramento Home’s Dilapidated Garage Became a Do-It-All Pool House

Seattle designer Hayley Francis and her father, Ken, embarked on a project to convert a 480-square-foot shed into a functional and stylish guest house to accommodate family visitors at their beach home on Washington's South Puget Sound. The goal was to create a space where multiple guests could sleep, relax, work, cook, and shower without the need for additional construction or expansion of the main house. The resulting "tiny home" is a testament to efficient design, incorporating multifunctional furniture, high-end kitchen amenities, and an innovative bathroom layout. Hayley, who spent her childhood summers and weekends at the family beach house, shared a special connection to the property with her late mother, Laurie, also a designer. The conversion project was driven by a desire to preserve family gatherings and create more space for her sister, nieces, and nephew, making it a personally significant endeavor. The original garage, primarily used for tool storage, was transformed into living quarters, while the existing carport was simultaneously converted into a new garage for practical purposes. Collaborating with Seattle architect/designer Seth Grizzle of Graypants, Hayley integrated a private bedroom, an efficient yet elegant kitchen, and a compact but luxurious bathroom. The design prioritized an open and airy feel, achieved through vaulted ceilings, the replacement of garage doors with French doors, and ample windows. The interior design blends budget-friendly secondhand furniture and open shelving with decorative elements such as brass plumbing fixtures and statement lighting. For entertainment, a built-in projector above the sleeper sofa and a pull-down screen over the window seat provide a cozy movie night experience. The window seat also serves as a breakfast nook and a remote workspace for Hayley's design business, Neon Doves, complemented by an expandable family table and built-in storage niches for stools. The kitchen, designed as a "wall kitchen" rather than a corner unit, enhances the sense of openness. It boasts a sophisticated aesthetic with a wall-mount brass faucet, matching sconces, and a single slab of soapstone for the backsplash, chosen for its "rocky" texture that subtly evokes the beach environment. A box beam conceals electrical wiring and upgrades the ceiling's appearance. To maintain a clean, uncluttered look, appliances like the refrigerator and microwave are cleverly hidden behind wood panels and within a pantry cabinet. Each room benefits from the vaulted ceilings, contributing to a spacious feel. The bedroom features vintage burled-wood nightstands, a caned headboard, and window trim all in harmonious tones, grounding the space. A side door provides access to private areas, including the bedroom, bathroom, and a loft reachable via a rolling ladder, with a linen closet situated opposite the bathroom. The bathroom adopts a European-inspired wet room concept, with hexagonal ceramic tiles covering all surfaces, eliminating the need for a separate shower stall and saving space. A heated floor adds a touch of luxury to this small area. Up in the loft, a custom cushion fills a berth in the highest section of the ceiling, with a wall sconce for reading and a porthole window echoing the beach theme. The tiny home’s layout is a masterclass in space optimization, with a flexible living room furniture arrangement, shallow back-to-back closets for accessible storage, and a floating wall that consolidates plumbing while preventing the room from feeling cramped. Lofted nooks above the kitchen and bathroom further expand the usable area, demonstrating that thoughtful design can maximize comfort and utility in a compact dwelling. #TinyHome #GarageConversion #GuestHouse #SmallSpaceDesign #EfficientLiving #GourmetKitchen #InteriorDesign #HomeMakeover #MultifunctionalFurniture

The Starmer family, residing in Jacksonville, Florida, undertook a significant home renovation project to support their son, Lyman, in his entrepreneurial endeavors. Lyman, upon graduating high school in 2022, aimed to launch his AI-driven house-hunting startup, Deli. His mother, Christina Starmer, recognized the financial burden of rent in their area post-pandemic and the need for Lyman to allocate his limited funds to his startup rather than housing costs. This concern prompted Christina and her husband, Jeff, who own CenterBeam Construction, a company specializing in renovating historic homes, to consider converting their detached 378-square-foot garage into a studio apartment for Lyman to live rent-free. This solution not only provided Lyman with affordable housing but also presented the family with a potential future income stream through Airbnb rentals once Lyman moved out. The renovation began in November 2022 with an initial budget of $48,000. Leveraging their expertise in construction, Christina and Jeff acted as their own contractors, performing most of the labor themselves and outsourcing only specialized work like electrical and plumbing modifications. Their daughter, Chloe, contributed to the design and layout, while Lyman assisted with physical tasks such as tiling and framing. The project commenced by enclosing one of the two existing garage doors, maintaining the other for potential future reversion to a garage. The primary goal was to create a functional and spacious studio apartment within the limited area, featuring a kitchen with bar seating, a refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, and a cleverly designed built-in pantry to maximize storage. A notable design element was the integration of an internal window, crafted from an antique glass door, to bring more natural light into the living area, which otherwise had only one glass door and one window. Challenges included optimizing the layout of the small space and ensuring it felt open and inviting rather than cramped. The garage's original hip roof resulted in higher ceilings, approximately 11 feet, which significantly contributed to the apartment's spacious feel, enhanced by exposed beams. The apartment also includes a full-size stacked washer and dryer. Due to existing plumbing, the bathroom was elevated by seven inches, creating a subtle separation from the rest of the space, a design choice Christina found practical despite a minor regret about the dryer's height. The renovation concluded in March 2023, costing approximately $69,000, exceeding the initial budget but still representing substantial savings compared to hiring a general contractor. Lyman resided in the apartment until he moved to New York City, crediting the rent-free living situation with providing him the financial runway to invest in his startup, Deli. He emphasized the balance of independence and family support the arrangement offered, facilitating late-night coding sessions and investor meetings while maintaining close family connections. The Starmer family documented their renovation journey on social media, where their videos garnered millions of views on TikTok. This unexpected viral attention led them to develop a side business, Her Home Reno, offering plans for garage conversions and an online course to guide others through similar projects. They have sold hundreds of plans, aiming to empower individuals to optimize their living spaces. #GarageConversion #StudioApartment #HomeRenovation #RentFreeLiving #StartupSupport #FamilyProject #SmallSpaceDesign #DIYHomeImprovement #RealEstateInvestment

Lynn and Ted Turner's century-old Victorian farmhouse in Whitefish Bay has undergone a series of significant renovations over the past three decades, transforming it into a personalized and functional living space. The most recent and extensive project involved installing an Endless Pool in their basement. Initially intended as an above-ground resistance pool for Lynn's hip replacement recovery, the low ceiling height necessitated a change of plans. This led to a major undertaking: a two-foot-deep excavation into the concrete basement floor to partially submerge the pool. The renovation, which took a year of planning and another year of construction, involved a team of five workers and extensive dirt removal, culminating in their first swim in December 2013. The basement, once a storage area for forgotten items, was transformed into a spa-like oasis. Original brickwork was left exposed, and neutral stone tile now surrounds the pool. A former doorway was converted into an alcove for a Buddha statue, and a new bathroom was added conveniently near the pool. Beyond the pool area, the basement now features an additional family room, which the Turners use for watching football games and playing cards. A storage closet was cleverly repurposed into a climate-controlled wine cellar, housing bottles from their travels and waiting for special occasions. A pantry area was also incorporated, providing extra refrigeration and storage for infrequently used kitchen appliances. The Turners, who celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary, have meticulously curated their belongings throughout their home, blending inherited pieces, travel finds, and art fair acquisitions. Approximately 90% of their furniture holds a family connection, reflecting a blend of old and new, modern and classic styles. Their renovation journey began 15 years ago, initially addressing hazardous winder stairs in the basement. This project expanded to include a family room addition off the kitchen and a tiled mudroom. Subsequent renovations involved converting a sun porch into a master bathroom with a steam shower and whirlpool tub, updating the main floor powder room, and tackling the home's four bedrooms, living room, and dining room. Lynn demonstrates a keen eye for maximizing space, incorporating pocket doors to separate rooms like the dining room and kitchen, and installing a hidden Zoom-Bed in her office cabinetry. The couple has worked with Bob Prindeville from Design Group Three for nearly all their renovation projects. While extensive, certain areas remain on their future renovation list, including replacing the home's siding and renovating the attic, which is described as a beautiful space as large as the entire house. When asked about design ideas, Lynn mentions Houzz as a valuable resource. The article concludes with an invitation for readers to submit their own unique living spaces to be featured in the 'At Home' series. #HomeRenovation #BasementRemodel #PoolInstallation #VictorianFarmhouse #InteriorDesign #HomeImprovement #FamilyHome #WineCellar #SpaceMaximization