Read Full Feature in Nesting Newbies Magazine, Fall ‘09 >>

Most of us look at an empty, unfinished space and wonder where to begin to make it livable, attractive, and inviting. But interior designer Shelly Amoroso can walk into a room and instantly imagine the possibilities. In this San Francisco home, she transformed a dreary garage basement into valuable family living space. “When we started this project, there was one baby in the family,” she says. “Now there are three! So, it was important to use every spare inch of real estate for their growing needs.”

One of the many things Shelly is good at is listening to her clients. “I asked them to write down every single solitary thing they wanted and felt was missing from their home.” The answer was tons of storage, an entry, laundry room, extra fridge and pantry, full bath, family room, and office. Shelly delivered—and then some.

Her first genius move was to make sure to use the existing structural elements to help define each living area and keep construction costs down. Shelly kept an open floor plan so there’s an illusion of space and painted the walls in Benjamin Moore Alexandria Beige. The ceiling was done in Kelly Moore Swiss Coffee to be consistent with what the homeowners had already done upstairs. Rather than wall-to-wall carpeting, Shelly chose travertine throughout to withstand the wear and tear of children at play. It’s beautiful, easy to maintain and will stand the test of time.

There is no longer clutter or chaos anywhere thanks to the built-in cabinetry in the hallway, laundry room, and office. The cabinetry is a minimalist design in a sophisticated glossy gray in the office and hallway and bright white in the laundry room. There is finally a place for everything this active family had formerly stashed in their garage—bikes, athletic gear, camping equipment. And you’d never know that the children use this new space as their playground, too.

Money was spent wisely. “I chose furniture and accessories off-the-rack for durability and cost effectiveness,” says Shelly. “More money was spent on materials, such as the flooring, custom built-ins, and plumbing fixtures.” According to Shelly, it’s important to focus the budget on the room’s bones and to buy the best you can afford, as these are the things that need to last the longest. Also, choose classic materials with a hint of modernity, and they will be timeless. Don’t go for anything too trendy or you will timestamp your home and want to re-do it in just a few years.

The sofa, coffee table, Eames chair, slipper chairs, and entry table came from Room & Board. The upholstered pieces are comfortable and covered in stain-resistant fabrics. Shelly brought in texture with organic elements in a reclaimed wood entertainment center and mirror. “Keeping the furnishings neutral also adds to the feeling of spaciousness. And the homeowners can spice things up with a few chosen pops of color.” In this case, it’s green in a large potted plant and two cream-and-green lumbar pillows on the side chairs. Bursts of orange also stand out in the artwork and the occasional blooms that find their way indoors. A couple of zebra-striped pillows on the sofa add vivacious spirit and personality.