They Transformed a Basement with Dirt Floors into the Chicest 330-Square-Foot Studio
“In 2022 the basement in this Boston house, built in 1885, was nothing more than dirt floors and one big open space. Today it’s an unbelievably chic, fully finished mother-in-law suite for Shardé Marchewski and her husband, Jens Marchewski, who live in the 3,600-square-foot house above with their three kids.
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Shardé Marchewski is the founder of Muse & Kin, a recently launched home decor brand built to “surface artisans and tastemakers the big retailers overlook, so you can create a home that stands out.” Before that, she spent a decade at Wayfair, where she most recently served as Global Head of Inclusion.
While the plan had always been to work on the completely unfinished basement, it was an unexpected disaster that expedited the design plans. “Our house actually caught fire six weeks after we purchased it,” Shardé begins.
“We’d always planned to finish the basement eventually, but the fire became a silver lining. Since we were forced to live out of the house for repairs, we decided to pull the renovation timeline forward and took the opportunity to build out the basement while everything else was being restored.”
Shardé explains that the basement project took just three months from start to finish — a remarkable turnaround, considering the space started with literal dirt floors. The couple worked with an architect and contractor on the project, but designed every aspect of the 330-square-foot space themselves, from picking out the stunning bathroom tiles to choosing statement-making fixtures, art, and furniture that fits the small space perfectly. The project cost $80,000 to complete.
“The original vision was always to create a proper in-law suite, not just a spare room,” Shardé explains. “My husband’s family is from Germany, so when they visit, they stay for extended periods and we wanted them to be comfortable and have their own fully private space. The studio is completely sectioned off from our home and has its own separate entrance, so guests can come and go independently.”
Once it was finished, the couple realized the design had even more potential. Because it wouldn’t be occupied by family year-round, the separate entrance and private layout made it a natural fit for Airbnb.”
This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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