The attic is the spookiest part of the house. Cobwebs, old steamer trunks, exposed beams, creaky folding staircases and the dark, musty shadows are fertile grounds for ghost stories and things that go bump in the night. When it comes to remodeling, gutting the attic can be just as scary. Dramatic roof pitches, floors and trusses that may not be structurally sound enough for the proposed additions – attic remodels are not for the faint of heart. But that didn’t deter these brave souls who went deep into the abyss to transform their attics into beautiful bedrooms, studies and hideaways.

#1 - Even the pros at This Old House were impressed with this cozy child’s bedroom alcove by design firm CG&S. The eyebrow dormer was built off-site and hauled to the house piece by piece, rafter by rafter, and then weighted into place. It took over a week to complete. Wow, that’s one lucky kid! (more…)

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Italian sports car giant Maserati recently held a contest for auto-enthusiast architects across the globe. The Design Driven Competition objective is rather simple: “To create a space that is as much a shrine to the cars as a place to protect them from the elements.” Thus, the garage fit for a Maserati was born.

The winner, Holger Schubert from Los Angeles, CA, planned his garage with true passion for Maseratis. His goal? To “honor this car as a piece of art.” Through a 1,200-square-foot minimalist design, he surrounded the car with a living area complete with skylight, contemporary furniture, small kitchen, bathroom and a slide-away TV. It’s all about the experience of pulling a Maserati into the garage. And then walking five feet to plop down in front of the flat screen. Men do love their lives.

Holger went one step further and built a ramp inside the garage. It lifts the front end of the car 6 inches so that he can roll out in reverse without pumping fumes into the space. (more…)

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The attic is the last frontier. Most people tap into that space because they can’t build out or they don’t have a basement. But attics are a fun place to create an additional room. Even a small attic has lots of possibilities.

So, what are they? How about converting your attic into a giant lush closet, a bathroom or guest room…

Bathroom ideas

I love the use of space in this cottage attic – a gorgeous bathroom full of light. By adding windows, light colored tile and soft hues on the walls, as well as wainscoting, this bathroom blends with the architectural style of the cottage and gives these homeowners a cozy retreat:

This bathroom is very cozy with its white tile and pale blue walls. The owners added a fan dormer window over the shower for light and venting. (more…)

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