This Entryway Makeover Created an Entirely New Living Space Out of Thin Air
You know those memes where people post a random nook or cranny in their home, crowdsource design ideas, and get AI-generated ideas? Some are sincere, like cozy book nooks, beautiful Christmas tree vignettes, and cat towers, and others are more, well, creative.
See: giant gold statues of celebs, slushie machines, full-on replicas of Paddy’s Pub from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and super-tall, mega cat towers.
The “before” image above kind of looks like one of those spaces to me; it’s just untapped space in a builder-grade home. It might have gone viral on Twitter or Reddit, had the homeowners done the project about 10 years later. Yes, this week’s Before & After love letter is a real throwback — from 2013! — but this entryway makeover is a fan-favorite at Apartment Therapy.
It’s been viewed millions of times (seriously!), and you might have seen it pop up on Pinterest a time or two, especially if you’re looking for space-savvy ideas for kiddos.
See before, during, and after the renovation.
Homeowner Angie and her husband and father-in-law built a loft in this untapped square footage of their two-story townhouse, and it basically adds a bonus room they didn’t have before. They built a framework, added the necessary flooring and railings, and the “after” is totally kid-friendly loft space.
Angie and her husband use the new loft as a combined workspace and play space for their daughter; it’s complete with a desk and computer for them, and a rug, toy storage, and books storage. (I spy lots of IKEA in there!)
It’s definitely a project for homeowners rather than renters, but it’s a good reminder that untapped space could be used as a home office, a small home gym, or a reading nook — or for perhaps a more avant garde idea you find on Twitter. For more projects that squeeze in shared spaces for kids and adults, check out this bedroom transformation and this playroom-meets-parent TV night spot.