Couple Spends $100K to Renovate Basement, Then Gives It to Au Pair (Exclusive)

Fallon Noble is a stay-at-home mom from Glen Head, N.Y., balancing the demands of motherhood while growing a career in content creation. 

Between filming, editing and managing collaborations, the 31-year-old’s days are often packed. With her husband commuting to New York City four days a week for work, she often finds herself stretched thin. 

To ease some of the daily pressure, the couple recently decided to welcome an au pair into their home — 23-year-old Nela Prochazkova from the Czech Republic. 

“The au pair wakes up with our daughter on the days that she’s working and acts as a mother’s helper throughout the week,” Noble tells PEOPLE. “I am very much still present throughout the day, but I might run out for errands/events, so it’s nice to have the flexibility to do that with her help.”

The mother of one found Prochazkova through the Culture Care Au Pair agency after deciding that using an au pair would be a more cost-effective option compared to hiring a full-time nanny.

“I was also drawn to the idea of cultural immersion and the opportunity to connect with someone young and like-minded, especially since it’s mostly just me at home,” Noble says. 

Given that it’s the couple’s first time using an au pair, they took their time with the process, setting up several calls before making a final decision. 

“We knew from the first time we watched her video resume on the app that [Prochazkova] was the right fit for us,” Noble reveals. “She was very sweet, soft spoken, polite and had a great energy about her. She has a nephew the same age as our daughter and has a lot of experience with young children. We hit it off from our first chat.”

Once they agreed to have Prochazkova move in with them, Noble and her husband knew they wanted to give her a space that felt like her own — especially since she would be with them for at least a year. 

When the couple first moved into their home, she says the basement was “basically just dirt.” Wanting a space for family movie nights and a playroom for their daughter, the couple invested around $100,000 to transform it, adding flooring, built-ins and other appliances to make it a cozy, functional space. Now, the room features a bar, media center and even has its own bathroom.

Once their au pair entered the picture, the renovated room, which was rarely used at the time, became the perfect solution for a private living area for Prochazkova. 

“I wanted her to feel truly welcomed and at home, especially since she’s coming from a different country and leaving so much behind,” Noble shares. “It was important to me that she has a space where she feels comfortable, has privacy and can really settle in.”

To turn the family room into a private bedroom for Prochazkova, Noble spent around $800 personalizing the space.

“I added a soft, fuzzy rug to warm up the tile floor. I upcycled a dresser I found in the neighborhood, gave it a fresh coat of paint and spray-painted the hardware gold to match the modern, neutral aesthetic,” she explains. 

“To help [Prochazkova] feel both welcomed and at home, I hung a New York print and placed a Prague coffee table book on the shelf, tying in a little piece of where she’s from.”

Noble also included a full-length mirror for outfit checks, candles, fresh flowers and a small bar area with snacks.

She made sure Prochazkova’s mini fridge was stocked with drinks and that the bathroom was filled with skincare products and a blow dryer.

To complete the space, Noble added a stylish hamper and a clothing rack, sourcing most items from Amazon and HomeSense.

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The au pair had a general idea of the space from short video clips she had been sent and FaceTimes she had with Noble, but in reality, it “exceeded her expectations.”

“The space was even bigger and more beautiful than she imagined,” Noble reveals. “She was especially thrilled about the skincare products and the small, thoughtful touches I added just for her.”

Although Prochazkova has only been with Noble and her family for close to two weeks, Noble admits it’s been a “wonderful experience” thus far. 

“We’re gradually getting more comfortable with each other, and our relationship is starting to feel more like a friendship,” she tells PEOPLE.