Attic Family Room

Manhattanites Chris and Deborah Gagnon took a grand leap across the river to the suburb of Weehawken, N.J., after they found their dream house to raise their family. This century-old, three-story home came with the hidden treasure of an unused attic that seemed perfect to transform into a family room on a budget of $30,000.

After looking over the designers' plans, the Gagnons choose Tom Conway to create a fun family room with lots of great colors. The pachinko (a Japanese game) machines fit nicely into a custom cabinet and there's plenty of storage and multifunctional furniture. The kitchenette provides the essentials so that they won't have to keep running downstairs to the main kitchen. The Gagnons are thrilled with how Conway turned the odd space into a colorful, kid-friendly room that feels like a weekend retreat.