Tip: For year-round access, use thick cedar treads on the stairs that can handle occasional winter salt. Tip: Create a uniform look using the same materials throughout the space. Here, marble windowsills match the kitchen countertops. Tip: Add character and save money with DIY features. Each flower-shaped cabinet knob in the kitchen was handmade. Tip: Get a built-in look for less. The refrigerator is an inexpensive model with a faux-steel front tucked in a surround made of salvaged cypress. “We cheated the wall a few inches so the fridge would fit almost flush with the countertops,” Tim says. Tip: Tim, a custom builder, recommends having a plan and careful measurements when working with antiques. Make sure the piece fits in the space before you fall in love with it. Tip: A good garage loft idea is to keep horizontal lines consistent. When the tops of doors and windows, the transom line, and the tops of cabinets line up, everything feels more spacious.
