Garage makeover winner gets items up and off her new floor

A retired marketing and sales executive who worked for companies like Moore Business Forms, CityCorp and Dell Computers during her lengthy career is now enjoying a totally renovated garage at her Palatine townhouse, thanks to an annual contest, sponsored by Garage Store in East Dundee and the Daily Herald.

Denise Petersen won the coveted home improvement from a field of about 1,100 entries submitted through the Daily Herald and during the 2017 Chicago Auto Show. The improvement she received was worth $5,700, said Jim Melchert, owner of the Garage Store.

The prize allowed Petersen to have her unfinished walls painted a very pale gray; her crumbling garage floor and the wooden steps leading into the residence coated with a multicolored polymer finish; and the addition of three large powder-coated steel cabinets, a wall full of implement hangers mounted on rails and an overhead storage rack for luggage.

After the installation, Petersen was so pleased that she personally paid to add a fourth steel cabinet installed, as well as a second overhead storage rack that she plans to use for holiday decorations.

"I have owned this townhouse since 1989 and the garage walls had never been sanded or painted. It was still raw drywall," Petersen said. "And the floor was crumbling"

"My home is very organized indoors but 'stuff' has morphed into the garage and needs to be better organized for ease of access and peace of mind," she wrote in her entry letter. "The floor has degenerated from natural wear and is crumbling in spots. I sweep it regularly to remove dirt and keep dust to a minimum. It would be nice to have it professionally sealed."

Petersen also wrote that she would like to be able to hold spontaneous get-togethers in a "clean extension" of her home. "I have fond memories of barbecues in my cousin's garage, so it would be fun for me to host casual events," she added.

The active retiree also plans to call Garage Store to install a pulley storage system for the kayak she plans to buy. She is already storing beverages, grilling, gardening and pet supplies and much more in those new cabinets, as well, allowing her to enjoy more organization and cleanliness in her garage than ever before.

"I am an optimist and I always try to put my best foot forward, so I am sincerely grateful to Garage Store and Jim Melchert for awarding me this prize," Petersen said.

Garage Store has been helping homeowners like Petersen reclaim their garages and transform them into another "room" of their house since 2007. The theme for this year's contest was garages for retirees and empty-nesters, Melchert said.

"They generally want to use the garage as a work place or for storage, but want to keep it all organized, too," he said.

Melchert said he still plans to choose one more winner from the entries received this year and will transform their garage this fall.

Garage Store is the place to go when a homeowner wants either a full garage makeover or a minor tweak. Solutions range from $300 for an overhead storage rack to $10,000 for a total garage makeover with a polymer floor, wall system, cabinet system, etc.

"All of our products and services for the garage come a la carte so that homeowners can pick and choose what fits into their budget," Melchert said. "We design, install and help them organize."

For instance, Garage Store carries several lines of cabinets and wall systems, as well as hooks, baskets, specialized sports racks and shelves. In fact, it installs Gladiator GarageWorks powder-coated steel cabinets, made by Whirlpool, which come in silver, red or white. It also carries ceiling-mounted bike pulley systems, SafeRacks and MonsterRax for overhead storage and car lifts for stacking and storing vehicles.

Garage Store can also re-claim unused attic space above garages, adding pull-down ladders and flooring the space above the car bay to add as much as 250 to 300 square feet of storage space to the home, Melchert said.

The application of polymer floors like the one given to Petersen is one of the Garage Store's most popular services.

"Since our staff has years of experience in applying commercial flooring systems to manufacturing facilities, automotive centers and restaurants, they transfer those skill sets to our residential work," he said. "We also use our commercial-grade products with our residential customers, adding superior strength and performance."

For more information about Garage Store, call (847) 428-8862 or visit www.garage-store.com.