Look to your garage for extra space
The garage is the modern-day barn, but that doesn't mean we can't capture it for extra living space.
Before cars were common, work sheds stored gardening and general household tools, ladders and spillover from the household. Proper barns hosted animals and farm equipment. During the first decades of the automobiles existence, the concept of a household garage was evolving, too.
Once cars were commonplace, the garage began to appear as a simple structure and combination space for more well-heeled neighborhoods. On an estate of the 1920s, a garage held the family automobiles and the space for the chauffeur to live and work. An apartment over the garage was quite common for the affluent.
Today, the garage itself is eyed as a possible expansion for a small home. Many people who want to stay put think about revamping the humble garage and making it into combination space. The typical double-car, tract-home garage is 20-by-20 feet and the door is about 16 feet wide.
When you begin repurposing your garage, know that safety comes first. The garage may have a gas water heater or a gas clothes dryer. It is critical that you remove any sort of potential danger from the area, such as trash, rags, paint and other materials. Regularly check the gas line for leaks and refrain from storing flammable materials nearby.
If you consider your garage a home office, children's playroom or hobby space, rid it of anything toxic. It is also advisable to verify that your hot water heater has earthquake safety straps to prevent accidents. Consider locked storage cabinets or removing household cleaning supplies entirely. You might check in with your local fire department to learn of any recommendations or local restrictions.
Another possible hurdle is parking restrictions on your driveway or street. Check this out first with your homeowners association. If you are free to explore possibilities, then begin with the hottest new thing: glass-panel garage doors!
These doors offer clear and frosted options that create an attractive space. There is a lot that you can do with an extra 400 square feet, from an art studio to a home-based business. One of our neighbors has a huge flat-screen TV in his garage and comfortable sofas. At one time we had a pool table in our garage and have since graduated to a pingpong table.
"Most people go years without using their garage or they simply use it as a storage unit - not seeing the full potential of the space," says Lance Jensen, founder and CEO of Global Garage Flooring & Design. You can improve the storage ability and the function of any garage by investing in better materials.
Begin with the floor. Learn about polyaspartic flooring systems. These epoxy floors require minimal maintenance while offering tremendous durability. Think of adding easily cleaned indoor/outdoor area rugs to warm up the space.
Because most garages are not finished with dry wall, you will likely need to close up the walls, too. While you are at it, mull over the value of adding better insulation to the outside walls to control the inside temperature and create a more pleasant environment.
Perhaps a venting window or small side door can add better ventilation. You may need to think about a ceiling fan, a portable air conditioner or movable heater for winter months.
With the addition of color, the revamped garage can become a whimsical and lively space for your household that is suitable as a game room or family room. It may become a shared space for a home exercise area and shared home office. Your household hobbies might range from fly tying to quilting and this large, open space is perfect to share.
• Christine Brun is a San Diego-based interior designer and the author of "Small Space Living." Send questions and comments to her by email at christinebrun@sbcglobal.net.
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