Table of Contents
Introduction 7
What Makes a Hardworking Home? 9
Section 1 Adapting Space 13
Tips and Solutions for Any Room 14
Home Office Décor 16
Dining and Living Rooms 22
Kitchens 24
Family Rooms 26
Bedrooms 28
Section 2 Creating Space 30
Renovating a Spare Room 32
Lighting Improvements 34
Creating an Office or "Recess Area" in a Basement 46
Is Your Basement Livable? 48
Basement Humidity 48
Basement Space 49
Basement Building Codes 50
Controlling Basement Moisture 54
Furred-Out Basement Walls 56
Upgrading Basement Ventilation 60
Replacing Basement Windows 63
Basement Floors 64
Basement Ceilings 70
Installing Direct-Mounted Basement Ceiling Panels 78
Closet Offices 80
Closet Office Conversion 82
Creating Living Space in a Garage 84
Garage Renovation Potential 85
The Garage Door 88
Improving Garage Lighting 90
Rehabbing a Garage Floor 96
Interior Garage Walls 100
Garage Windows and Skylights 104
Making a Shed Habitable 106
Shed Requirements 107
Getting Power to a Shed 108
Shed Lighting 110
Shed Wails and Ceilings 111
Shed Ventilation 112
Shed Heating and Cooling 113
Shed Floors 114
Section 3 Easy DIY Projects for the Hardworking Home 116
Privacy Barriers & Room Dividers 118
Folding Room Dividers 120
Kneewalls 128
Partition Walls 132
Doors 140
Door Types 141
Bookcase Room Dividers 146
Built-In Room-Divider Bookcase 147
Desks, Shelving, and Storage 152
Foldaway Wall Bench/Desk 152
Mnderstairs Solutions 158
Finishing an Understairs Area 160
Utility Shelves 162
Pegboard Storage 164
Custom Storage Loft 166
Special-Purpose Carts 168
Adjustable Shelves 170
Photo Credits 172
Metric Conversion Charts 173
Index 174
