basement

In remodeling my 1945 home, I wanted to create a multi-functional space I could use for guests, exercise and an additional office area. My sidekick and I have always been enamored with murphy beds and their ability to add versatility to a space. It seemed like the perfect time to introduce the concept in our own home. So I bought a $299 murphy bed mechanism, which came with plans and instructions for building a simple wall bed frame. I hired a cabinet crew to build and install the frame, attach the mechanism and flank it with bookcases. Construction costs came to about $700, including materials and labor.

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Katos got a very custom look for a bargain on this media wall. She arranged five storage elements from Ikea and had the builder paint them to match, put them in place and add finished pieces in between. She hung shelf paper behind the shelves to add dimension. The wall has a custom built-in look but cost only about $2,000.

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