If you find a bungalow with an unfinished, high-ceiling attic, you know it’s oozing with potential living space. When Amy and Terry Hunley knew they didn’t have to raise the roof, they tackled renovation of the 1910 Victorian themselves. Before they could start on the attic, however, the Hunleys needed to do some work on the main floor. As they transformed one of two bedrooms into a family room and bumped out a breakfast nook, they also extended the back of the house, upstairs and downstairs, by 3 feet and roughed in the plumbing and electric wiring necessary for the impending attic renovation.

The goal was to create a master bedroom, full bath, kid’s bedroom/playroom, and a laundry area while salvaging as much storage space as possible in less than 1,000 square feet.

“It wasn’t difficult to design because the space dictated what was possible,” Amy says. They divided the attic logically, with the children’s room at the front of the house, the parents’ room at the back, and a bathroom in between. Two closets, a hallway, and a laundry facility (behind bi-fold doors) back up to unlivable space beneath the sloped roofline. Although unusable for many activities, the crawlspace provides perfect long-term storage.

Tips for renovating your attic space Consider these important items if you dream of turning your attic into living space. • Roof design Before you call subcontractors, make sure the renovation is realistic. Look around your attic. Do the rafters form an A-shape to support the roof? If so, your attic has potential. If you see W-shape trusses supporting the roof, you may face an unrealistically expensive job. • Ceiling height Check local building codes for requirements. Most codes require that a ceiling be at least 7 1/2 feet high over 50 percent of the floor area. Be sure to include measurements for materials (flooring, drywall, etc.) in your calculations. If you fall short of usable space, consider adding dormers. • Staircases If your attic only has a pull-down ladder, you’ll need to build a standard staircase. Keep in mind that different stairways require different amounts of space. For instance, a straight run of stairs takes up 10-14 square feet of floor space, while a spiral staircase requires only 5 square feet. • Windows Local codes determine the required sizes of windows. If attic space will be used as a bedroom, fire codes may require an egress window. • Floor strength The floor must provide adequate support and, in most cases, that means a floor made of 2x8 or 2x10 joists. • Comfort control Is the available system for heating and cooling adequate for the new space? Get an expert’s opinion, and be sure to insulate.