When Joe decided to build a garage next to his home in West St. Paul, Minnesota, he wanted to add as much space as humanly possible without violating the city’s building codes. He wanted some office space for his home-contracting business, a couple of bathrooms, and a room for his kids to play in. His solution was to cleverly tuck in the trusses and add two dormers to his 24x40 garage. The result of his clever design gave him about 700 square feet of heated finished space above his garage.
He not only does his office work up there while his kids play across the hall, he also uses the space to host parties and family gatherings. Joe isn’t alone in his creative use of garage space. In garages across the country, you’ll find people who customize their spaces to play and record music, play video games, build climbing walls, or get groups together to race slot cars, among countless other pursuits.
Creating an in-garage office, game room, or hobby room is a good way to take advantage of the extra space to be found in your garage. You can simply set off the back half of the space with a dividing wall or, again, take advantage of the second floor.
In larger garages, a loft is a great way to create some space to entertain and overlook your collection of Corvette race cars, Triumph Triples, or Scott Flying Squirrel motorcycles.
Kitchens are also nice additions if you intend to entertain in your garage. And even if you don’t want to deal with plumbing a full kitchen, a bar and a refrigerator go a long way toward making your garage more hangout friendly.
From the book, How To Build Your Dream Garage , by Lee Klancher and Motorbooks.
Click the STORY tab above for more details. PHOTOS at right.
One of the easiest ways to make your garage a good place to hang out is to add a garage door screen. This covers your garage door opening to keep bugs out and essentially gives you a two-car screened porch.
Creating an in-garage office, game room, or hobby room is a good way to take advantage of the extra space to be found in your garage. You can simply set off the back half of the space with a dividing wall or, again, take advantage of the second floor.
Like Joe, you can add a second floor to your garage fairly economically, and it’s a great way to add usable space to the structure. Add dormers, and you’ll find half a house worth of space that can be made into a den, hobby room, office, or play room.
In larger garages, a loft is a great way to create some space to entertain and overlook your collection of Corvette race cars, Triumph Triples, or Scott Flying Squirrel motorcycles.
Kitchens are also nice additions if you intend to entertain in your garage. And even if you don’t want to deal with plumbing a full kitchen, a bar and a refrigerator go a long way toward making your garage more hangout friendly.
Gearhead sorts often create spaces to store models, memorabilia, and other goodies they collect that are related to their passion. Some of my favorite garages do this without much planning at all—the owners just cover the walls with goodies that they come across.
If you have a lot of space, a projection screen that hits a big blank white wall and some old couches and chairs can make a great little home theater.
The garage is also a great place to put a hot tub. If you want to go all out, enclose the tub in a cedar-paneled room and add a changing room. Just be sure to allow for adequate ventilation to abate the moisture.
If you have a non-gearhead type spouse or housemate, consider adding a room that caters to their hobby. You can easily add a woodworking shop, sculpture studio, or even a rock-climbing wall to your garage.
By Lee Klancher, from his book How To Build Your Dream Garage , (Motorbooks)
Design Ideas for Your Dream Garage
In larger garages like this converted warehouse, a loft is a great way to create some space to entertain and overlook your collection.
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