Parents turn garage into studio apartment for son to live rent-free while starting his business

Christina and Jeff Starmer found a unique way to offer startup support to their son by turning their garage into a rent-free studio apartment.

The move allowed him to focus on launching his business right after high school.

But what began as a show of parental support quickly turned into something more—the garage makeover sparked a new income stream for the family, turning their act of love into a profitable side hustle.

A personal way to provide startup support at home

Christina and Jeff, who run a home renovation business in Jacksonville, Florida, were searching for a way to support their son Lyman as he graduated in 2022.

Lyman was ready to move out and focus on building his startup, Deli—an AI-powered home search tool. However, with high rent costs, his mother worried the expenses would eat into his early funding.

“He was having to figure out how to get programmers and stuff like that, and I was like, ‘You don’t have any money and any money that people do put into your company, you don’t want to spend that on housing,’” Christina told Business Insider.

Parents convert garage apartment to give their son a head start

The family decided to convert their 378-square-foot garage, once used for storage, into a fully functioning tiny apartment for Lyman to live in rent-free.

With their background in renovations, Christina and Jeff took on the bulk of the project themselves.

Their daughter Chloe contributed her design skills, while Lyman joined in with tiling and framing.

Smart renovations turn a garage into a tiny apartment

The remodel included a full kitchen with bar seating, a refrigerator, stove, and dishwasher. One clever addition was a built-in pantry carved out from an unused gap inside the wall.

“I put wallpaper in the back and a couple of shelves, and now all of a sudden, you have a pantry for canned foods,” Christina shared.

The space also featured a cozy living area, a private bedroom, and a full bathroom.

To solve lighting issues, the family installed a reclaimed 1900s glass door as an interior window between rooms, brightening the apartment without altering the layout.

Startup support and thoughtful design create a lasting impact

One standout feature was the raised ceiling.

The garage’s original hip roof allowed for nearly 11-foot ceilings, giving the tiny apartment an open, airy feel. Exposed beams added character and warmth.

The bathroom was elevated slightly to work with existing plumbing. A stacked washer-dryer setup in the hallway helped maximize every inch of space.

Christina said the most challenging part was getting the layout just right.

“We wanted a really good flow in a super tiny space and for someone to not feel boxed in,” she explained. She avoided cramped layouts and focused on creating a single-level, open, inviting home.

Rent-free living gave this teen founder a financial runway

By March 2023, the garage conversion was complete. Lyman moved in just as he finished high school and ramped up his business.

“My parents turning their garage into a studio apartment gave me the one thing first-time founders never have enough of — runway,” he said.

Living rent-free saved him $1,500 a month. That money went straight into Deli, helping cover cloud services and developer salaries—critical costs for a startup in its early stages.

The setup gave him privacy for coding and meetings while still staying connected to family.

Mornings often began with coffee in the main house, and dinners brought everyone back together.

How startup support turned into a family business

Though the project exceeded its original $48,000 budget, doing most of the labor themselves saved tens of thousands.

The renovation cost about $69,000 and took about four months to complete. Christina said hiring out the same job could have easily cost $120,000.

The Starmers didn’t just create a home for their son—they sparked a viral trend. Their garage conversion story took off on TikTok, attracting millions of views.

In response, the family launched a website, Her Home Reno, offering blueprints and tutorials. In June, they added an online course to teach others how to complete similar projects.

Christina said they’ve already sold hundreds of plans and hope others feel inspired to explore the potential of unused spaces.

Watch the video tour of the Starmers’ garage conversion and see how creative startup support turned a tiny apartment into a launchpad for big dreams: