Budget Breakdown: Four Minnesota Housemates Turn Their Dingy Garage Into a Workspace for $26K

The friends scoured Facebook Marketplace and local salvage centers—locating such treasures as decades-old Douglas fir flooring from a decommissioned munitions plant—to remake the 600-square-foot space into a homey creative commons.

Mar 14, 2022 - 21:34

Budget Breakdown: Four Minnesota Housemates Turn Their Dingy Garage Into a Workspace for $26K

The friends scoured Facebook Marketplace and local salvage centers—locating such treasures as decades-old Douglas fir flooring from a decommissioned munitions plant—to remake the 600-square-foot space into a homey creative commons.

In turning the second level of the garage behind their duplex into a multifunctional workspace without breaking the bank, Kyle Huberty relied on friends, family, and the community at large.

Kyle Huberty’s enthusiasm is contagious. "He’s really good at making unfun situations fun," says David Rollyn Powell, his closest childhood friend and surf buddy. A people person if ever there was one, Kyle, an architect at Minnesota firm RoehrSchmitt, along with his wife, Elsie, a clothing designer, purchased a 112-year-old Saint Paul duplex in 2017, set on bringing that same energy to communal living.

Around a hearth made of black bricks and a Jøtul stove found on Facebook Marketplace are vintage leather loungers that a friend pulled out of storage and an Iranian rug given to Kyle and his wife, Elsie, by another friend. The light fixtures are vintage finds from <span style="font-family: Theinhardt, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif;">Bauer Brothers Salvage</span><span style="font-family: Theinhardt, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif;">.</span> — In turning the second level of the garage behind their duplex into a multifunctional workspace without breaking the bank, Kyle Huberty relied on friends, family, and the community at large.
Photo: Kyle Huberty

Fast forward to today and theirs is a full house—and still growing. Best pal David, an illustrator and graphic designer, moved in, along with his wife, Morna, a clothing maker and product designer who also happens to be Elsie’s younger sister, as well as their Australian cattle dog, Trout. In October 2020, the Hubertys welcomed a daughter, Birdie Lou. The Powells are expecting their first child this spring.

Elsie’s grandmother crafted the wool wall art that hangs at the end of the space, where Elsie stashes her fabrics and Birdie Lou, the couple’s daughter, plays with toys. — Elsie’s grandmother crafted the wool wall art that hangs at the end of the space, where Elsie stashes her fabrics and Birdie Lou, her and Kyle’s daughter, plays with toys.
Photo: Kyle Huberty

Before the pandemic hit, the Powells were often van-living on the West Coast, where David does a lot of his work (and, of course, surfing). But suddenly they were all home full-time, working, and one of them pregnant. So Kyle decided to retrofit the garage behind the house into a "creative escape" that would help the cohabitants set healthier work/life boundaries.