Far from its humble beginnings as a semi-functional garage, this 550-square foot studio is now a comfortable living space, a pleasant office, and a showcase of alternative building materials and techniques. When Cheryl Heinrichs needed office space, she looked no further than the unsightly box tacked to the front of her ranch-style home. Because a laundry room took up a quarter of the existing garage, there was no room to park a car. The 11-foot ceilings made it a perfect candidate for a two-level living space. Plus, the South-sloping roof was ideal for active solar panels.

Heinrichs undertook much of the construction work herself, experimenting with alternative building materials such as hand-applied interior plaster, stained concrete floors and countertops, in-floor radiant heat and hand-made lighting fixtures. The remodeled garage is full of recycled building materials, including windows, doors and trim; cabinets and appliances; desk tops and shelves. The passive solar design and active solar panels keep the power meter running backward for a large part of the day. In addition, the remodel completely transformed this non-descript, ranch-style home into an appealing, comfortable and functional craftsman-style home/office combo that complements the lot and neighboring homes.