At Home with Sarah Beeny Autumn 2015 - 283

| OUTSIDE|

just park it...
... No, not your car. If your garage is standing vacant, why not transform it into that longed-for
office, games room or workshop? You could extend your ground floor into an ideal hang-out

ands up how
many of you
actually use
the garage
you probably
paid a large
premium for?
The idea of parking the car in the
garage each night is appealing, but
isn't it easier to leave it out on the
drive ready and waiting for you
to jump into when you next need it?
If your garage and drive was built
for smaller cars than yours, you
could be putting the paintwork
at risk each time you park!
The fact is, many garages go
unused for their main purpose and
have become junk yards - places
to stuff things people don't
remember they have. If this sounds
familiar, maybe it's time you gave
your garage a new lease of life...

BUILD ON A DREAM

Turning the garage into something
new is achievable and inexpensive
It's all very well to visualise your
garage being transformed into
a lovely useful new room, but
how practical is this dream? Most
garages are dark, cold and dirty:
everything you don't want. What
you need is a specialist conversion
company that can handle light,
heating, building materials and
even planning regulations - but
do pick one that's a member of
construction-industry associations.
The big advantage of garage
conversions over attic or basement
ones is that the entire structure is
already there, so it's often cheaper.

DUAL PURPOSE:
GARAGES AREN'T
ONLY FOR CARS

WORDS: SALLY ANDERSON | PHOTOGRAPHS: GETTY IMAGES

Games room

With fewer young people able to
afford their own home, a games
room will give them a great space
in which to entertain their pals.
Rather than hang around your
living room, they can enjoy a game
of pool, table football or pinball.
And, if funds allow, you could even
get a classic jukebox. (Joking? OK,
but however much that might cost,
it would still be cheaper than
helping them buy their own home.)
Beware, though. You may find
that it's not only your children who
decide it's too good a space to miss
out on! It could inspire other plans...

OFFICE
With more and more people now
working from home, the garage
can provide an ideal office space
away from the noise of regular
family life. Not only will you
be able to get on with your work
in peace and quiet, but having
a dedicated space makes it easier
to work well without the distraction
of household chores. Before you
decorate, also consider the position
of phone and internet lines. >

Extra living space

Extending your sitting room into the
garage space might be the answer
if moving to a bigger home is too
costly. It will work better, of course,
if the garage is attached to the house.
You'll simply need to get it plastered,
maybe change the door, get adequate
heating and lighting installed and
put down proper flooring.
www.athomemagazine.co.uk NOVEMBER 2015 | 283

At Home with Sarah Beeny Autumn 2015

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