The McDonalds enjoy the extra space afforded by their attic addition.

Sometimes creative constrictions can lead to the best results. These homes make the most out of their previously musty attics and basements.

With a little ingenuity, attics under the eaves can be transformed into bright, light living spaces.

Mike McDonald, an Oakland, California–based builder, faced a common problem for Bay Area homeowners: an aesthetically pleasing, historically significant, but structurally shaky Victorian.