Office Facelifts

Project: In 2003, Sharon and husband Bruce decided against moving and instead remodeled their basement office to create more space for their eight employees.

Method: The company temporarily set up shop in the Bellamys' living room during the four-month, $100,000 project, which they scheduled for the relatively slow winter months.

Lesson learned: Bellamy kept a foreman on the job full time, which turned out to be a good move. “If we had done it any other way, it would have taken forever,” she says.

Bonus: With 1,300 square feet, they now have room to grow.

Project: Fast recently left functional-but-bland rented space to move his five-person staff into a newly purchased and renovated showroom and office.

Method: Fast's crew completed the four-month renovation of the former barbershop and grocery store “in our spare time.”

Lesson learned: “Moving was the best thing we ever did,” Fast says. “I never want to go back.”

Bonus: The new digs are just minutes from Fast's home and bottom right, Compoa closer to the neighborhoods where he does most of his work.

Project: In 2000, Heaney bought an 8,000 square-foot building for his residential and commercial construction business. bottom left, courtesy Rockland Inc.;

Method: Heaney's 10-person staff designed and remodeled the space, which includes a design center. “We managed the project mostly on off-hours,” he says.