With the pandemic raging and her father’s health worsening, architect Monica Chang decided to move closer to home—much closer. She and her partner, Antony Tran, left their apartment in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles for her parents’ garage in Torrance, California. Enlisting the help of friends and making creative use of materials, she converted it into a live/work space for $2,695—all in less than two months.

$570 Planting	$165 Hardscape	$415 Misc. Landscaping
$45 Cabinet Paint & Stain	$200 Birch Plywood	$250 Cabinet Hardware
$475 Loft Lumber	$365 Ladder & Track	$210 Loft Hardware
Grand Total: $2,695

The move wasn’t the easiest decision, but it’s allowed Monica to accompany her father on most of his doctor’s appointments and help with cooking, cleaning, and other errands. Their daily conversations help with his memory loss, and have proved an invaluable part of living so close to home.

The initial challenge was transitioning from a 650-square-foot apartment to a 170-square-foot garage. Monica, who runs the architecture practice Antonym, and Antony, whose job is in tech, both work from home, so she lofted their bed to separate business from leisure. A sliding ladder leads to the upper level.

“At first, we thought it was the greatest thing because it would keep the cat from going upstairs,” says Monica. “A few months ago, she learned how to climb it, and now she sleeps with us—it turned out to be really cute, so we actually love it now.”

In downsizing, they donated much of their furniture, but Monica also deconstructed pieces they already had to adapt for the new space: Ikea bed slats make up the guardrail for the loft, for instance, and a bookcase was turned into a wardrobe with some new plywood and hardware.

Monica and her partner also brought on some friends, many of whom they’d met through their climbing gym, to help with the build and cut the need for specialty work. “I think there’s a correlation between people who climb and people who like to problem-solve,” says Monica.

A friend in lighting design installed dimmable LEDs to the underside of the loft, which blocked the only lighting fixture in the garage. That ceiling pendant, in turn, was converted into a much-needed power outlet.

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It’s not all about practicality, however. Cheerful details—like a hammock that swings out when it’s time to relax and a climber’s hanging ledge under the loft—make sure that the space truly feels like home.

Though there was an adjustment period—at first, Monica’s parents would be disappointed each time the couple decided not to join them for dinner—living at home has been a really special experience during a tumultuous time. For one, Monica’s gotten the perk of learning her parents’ recipes, which are even more delicious than she remembered.

Monica and Antony have just passed the one-year mark of living in the converted garage. Loving their loft, the outdoor space, and proximity to family, they’re not rushing back to the city as it begins to reopen.

“We converted my dad’s minivan into a camper van, so we take trips and work out of it when we need to stretch our legs,” says Monica. “I think our lifestyle is becoming more mobile, and the loft will act as a home base.”

More Budget Breakdown:

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Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Monica Chang, Antonym / @antonym.us

Landscape Design: Hannah Pae / @pae.hannah