Marcel's 1940s Milwaukee home, which he shares with his boyfriend, Ben, fell into that first category of being an unfinished space for storing almost entirely forgotten stuff. "It had cinder block walls with chipping paint and some old wood paneling that had been roughly cut out at the bottom from the previous owners installing a drain," Marcel says. "It was cold and full of spiderwebs when we first moved in, and not a place we ever wanted to hang out."
As we approach the holidays, family may be coming to town. Accommodating for situations like these has become a frequent remodel request: Can we design a place for family and friends to stay and be comfortable for an extended period? And it's more than just a spare bedroom. Clients are looking for a bedroom with access to its own bathroom, and a kitchenette with a small fridge, cabinets, a coffee maker, and a microwave. In a perfect world, it would also have a separate entrance.