The building had a lot going for it: a solid structure, a good footprint, and a spot on a beautiful lot. Inside, though, it was split into two very different halves. One side was an unfinished garage with exposed framing, open rafters, and shop lights. The other side was a small finished studio. Neither one was a space you'd want to live in day to day.

As a design-build firm, we start every project with a plan before a single wall comes down. Our design team sketched out a completely new layout that fits within the existing footprint: an open living room with a kitchen, a separate bedroom, and a full bathroom. The goal was a space that works on its own as a comfortable place to live.

With the plan approved, the work began. We took the space down to the studs, handled the site work, and framed new interior walls to create each room. We also framed new window openings, which made the biggest difference of all, bringing natural light into what used to be a dark garage.

Here's where it all comes together. On the outside, new windows replace the old garage look and give the building a fresh face. Inside, the old garage side is now a bright, open living room, with ductless mini-split heating and cooling for year-round comfort.

Drag the slider to compare

From garage to living room

The rest of the new home includes a kitchen open to the living area, a quiet bedroom, and a full bathroom, all in a space that used to hold storage boxes and tools.