Garage envy, summertime, doors open, etc

[Kevin54]

Sitting here on the computer the last couple of day and going through all of the posted pics of garages got me to thinking about preferences. What is your idea of the style of garage that you like or favor? Is it a working garage, showplace garage, or a garage to hangout in? Do you always have your doors open or closed? Are you embarrassed to have people drive by and look in or are you proud to show it off? I was raised in a working garage. I'd be afraid to guess as to how many cars were painted in that garage, how many cabinets built, and how many people stopped just to see what was going on. This was my fathers garage. When I got older and married, I lived in an apartment that had no garage, moved to a larger apartment that had no garage, then finally bought a house and built a garage., Moved to another and built another garage, and finally moved to where am at now and built yet another garage. I have painted cars in mine, worked on cars in mine, and just hung out in mine. After the recent surgeries that I have had and seeing what painting has done to the health of my father, I am now leaning for a garage just to hang out in and give up on painting, other than the occasional little stuff. I still want a working garage, and I have a house garage and a garage of my own that is seperate from the house. So I can still make one side of mine a working garage, maybe with a lift for oil changes, etc. But I am now just kind of leaning towards just kicking back and enjoying life a little. With that being said, if you could start from a clean slate, what kind of garage would you lean towards? For me, two garages have come to mind in the last few days of all of the hundreds of fantastic garages on this site. One is Gunslingers domain and the other is JGABL's place. These two places just seem like an "Uber Cool" place to hang out. Kind of like an extension of the house, but yet having the tools to work with.
No matter what, it is still winter here, so I have a few months to change, change, and change my mind again before summer. But my wife and I are the type that in the summer the doors are always open on the garages (and the beer is always cold. LOL!!!) I just have to start getting a game plan together, get all of my garage items together as far as signs, gas pumps, diecast cars, etc. and see what I can come up with. There are so many nice, well layed out, designer garages on here that it makes your head spin, but for some reason these two just stick in my mind. I'd love to have the loft garage with the gameroom, mother-in-law room, media room, but those are in another category that I don't think I'll ever obtain. But then again, I can always change my mind

 

[BigChevy80]

I like that second pic the best. It looks like a nice combination between working garage and hangout.

I like a working garage that can be cleaned up and used as a hangout. The garages that are super clean and carpeted etc are very cool, but I would go nuts worrying about getting it dirty...

 

[LATJ]

I'm building mine trying to find a combination...probably about 80% working, 20% hangout. I have a nice barn I keep stuff in so don't need the garage for storage and I don't keep the cars in there, soon as maintenance or project is complete it goes outside or to the barn. I have plans for one corner to have fridge, dartboard, flatscreen with satellite, and a stand up arcade with room for a tiny little corner bar. Still trying to decide if I want to stick a carpet remnant in that one corner.

 

[sam 8]

Combo is what I am after, about 70% work, 30% hangout.

 

[rinker1]

I'm hoping to end up with a hang out shop that can be turned to a work shop when needed. Something like the second picture on this thread. CANT WAIT FOR WARM WEATHER!!

 

[rickairmedic]

I live in my arage year round durring the summer the big door is open if I am home and not asleep, in the winter all my freinds and neighbors who hang out know I am out here and the man door on the back of the garage is open ( Most will bang on the big door on their way around LOL ). I have a working/hangout garage but within reason peaple who come to hang out know they may need eye protection and sometimes a welding hood is a good idea I have extras . The first picture looks like a rec room in a basement no longer a garage the second pic looks like a hangout ( garage ) .


Rick

 

[Moto44]

Ideally, I'd like for it to be all three. If a Jiffy Lube goes out of business, I just might have to buy the property and turn it into my garage.

 

[krooser]

It's hard enough for me to find time to work on my stuff without making my shop comfy and inviting for my buddies to come over and BS and steal my beer.

I took the $$$ I could have used for neat stuff and bought tools and equipment...

 

[G-force]

My last garage was sort of the working hangout garage

Here's one of my old 3-car...

The attached garage I'm working on now will be a clean automobilia/toy/tool room that I can store a single car in, while my 6 car detached shop will be for the dirty work.

Here's a pic of my current attached garage still in process...

 

[Lloydthumper]

Those arn't garages they are sports bars with cars in them. LOL. They are nicer than my house on the inside.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Those arn't garages they are sports bars with cars in them. LOL. They are nicer than my house on the inside.

Mr. Thumper, is this more what you had in mind for a workin garage?

 

[e-tek]

It's hard enough for me to find time to work on my stuff without making my shop comfy and inviting for my buddies to come over and BS and steal my beer.

I took the $$$ I could have used for neat stuff and bought tools and equipment...

Besides, the one guy that comes over too often is also the biggest BS'r on the planet...knows everything, does nothing.

Uncle Bucks is my favourite BY FAR!!!

 

[deuces2]

I got a few bucks in my garage and its 80 pct working and 20 pct storage hang-out

My 30 x 40

a little ambience

and future work

 

[bugdust]

I'd love to have a little more of a "finished" garage than I have now. Have a bay for the dirty work on one side and a "man cave" on the other side or above or whatever with a pool table, my toy collection and a few other things and it would be perfect.

I love looking at all the killer garages with the Ferraris & bikes and what not in them but I can't imagine trying to actually work in some of them. I know first hand what weld spatter does to epoxy floor paint. I do like a finished floor though for easy cleanup. My concrete is stained...but each stain is a story and they all add character.

 

[goodfellow]

Buck, you floor looks like mine. No fancy sprinkle paint, and lots of stains from years of "spillage". I like stained floors -- they give the place character.

"Deuces and "Bugdust" -- your places look great!! "I saw the VW palace on another thread and it was "most excellent". Don't change a thing. Working garages have a unique look and smell. Some of those "palaces" probabaly smell like "plug ins" and "pot pourri"

 

[bomber]

Did someone say working garage?

Welcome to the Entropy Lab!

 

[Moto44]

I tend to lean toward showplace simply because it doesn't take me that much time to maintain my vehicles and rarely do I have someone over that wants to hang out in the garage.

Here's an example of what just may be the ultimate "showplace" garage.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Besides, the one guy that comes over too often is also the biggest BS'r on the planet...knows everything, does nothing.

Uncle Bucks is my favourite BY FAR!!!

Hey, thanks. I must admit, I would not mind a bit having about twice as much space as I do though!

I got a few bucks in my garage and its 80 pct working and 20 pct storage hang-out

My 30 x 40

a little ambience

and future work

Yup, I agree yours is more of a worker fer sure. I would kill to have the extra space you have!

Buck, you floor looks like mine. No fancy sprinkle paint, and lots of stains from years of "spillage". I like stained floors -- they give the place character.


"Deuces and "Bugdust" -- your places look great!! "I saw the VW palace on another thread and it was "most excellent". Don't change a thing. Working garages have a unique look and smell. Some of those "palaces" probabaly smell like "plug ins" and "pot pourri"

I have no idea how I would ever get anything done in a shop with a painted or dolled up floor. It would take too much fun out of hitting the shop for me constantly having to worry about damaging the floor. I will never get that, but whatever pulls yer chain!

Did someone say working garage?

Welcome to the Entropy Lab!

Another worker.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I tend to lean toward showplace simply because it doesn't take me that much time to maintain my vehicles and rarely do I have someone over that wants to hang out in the garage.

That just means you need a project to work on! Pick your poison, a car/truck/motorcycle/tractor/ or machine!

The house is made for having friends over watching movies, etc. The garage/shop is for working. I keep a couple of old metal folding chairs for company, but they don't take up much space!

If there is so much room in your garage/shop you have pool tables, overstuffed chairs, bars, etc. that simply means you need to remove that stuff and find a decent used lathe, welder, or machine of your choice because you are farting away your shop space!

 

[krusty the clown]

well to each his own........i have friends whose shops are thier living room. while thats nice it's not my style. mine is half and half. here's just a few pics.

 

[goodfellow]

I tend to lean toward showplace simply because it doesn't take me that much time to maintain my vehicles and rarely do I have someone over that wants to hang out in the garage.

Here's an example of what just may be the ultimate "showplace" garage.
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I'll willing to bet "$$$ to doughnuts" the owner of those cars has never touched them mechanically, or gotten his hands, clothes, or floor dirty.

If you want to look at a showplace garage that is also a great working shop -- just look at Jay Lenno's place

http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/

Showplace yes, but Jay Lenno actually is a "vintage car expert" who gets his hands dirty as much as he possibly can.

 

[Uncle Buck]

well to each his own........i have friends whose shops are thier living room. while thats nice it's not my style. mine is half and half. here's just a few pics.

Perhaps I got a little overzealous in my little rant there. A little space such as your in the corner there Krusty is cool enough. It is those spaces that just quit looking like work can reasonably get done in them anymore that I was more thinking of. It is the spaces that no longer look like a shop, but more like a rumpus room for a man! (NOT YOURS BTW!)

 

[Moto44]

You mean something like this? (not mine, but I can't deny liking it)

 

[krusty the clown]

i like it too.........but give me 30 days in it and it will look more like bucks, duece's and mine

 

[Moto44]

Here's my garage. I still get my hands dirty working on vehicles. But these days, the projects I take on are unbroken or misbehaving horses.

 

[Kevin54]

Is this a bud of yours? If so, you need to post up some more pics!!! I'm liking the metal up past the chair rail height. It's different from what you normally see. But it also looks like where the tin is, that it is built out a little to put a shelf on top. That would take away from floor space. It does look like a great hangout place though

 

[rockvr4]

I believe that garage belongs to Mike Goldammer at least the bike does. He won worlds best bike builder.

 

[e-tek]

Krusty - nuttin' wrong with a little bar in one corner, that's fer sure!!!

 

[Moto44]

Is this a bud of yours? If so, you need to post up some more pics!!!

No. I'd love to see it in person though. I decided to start collecting photos of interesting garages. How 'bout this one? It has a stained concrete floor to die for! Looks like terrazzo.

 

[russlaferrera]

Besides, the one guy that comes over too often is also the biggest BS'r on the planet...knows everything, does nothing.

Uncle Bucks is my favourite BY FAR!!!

I"ll 2nd that. Shop/Garage, not Bar/Recreation Room. To each their own.

IMO we talk about tool and equipment, not Kitchen Aid and Turbo Ovens. Did have a post on kitchen knives thou.

 

[T56 Impala]

I really like the combination of both I guess. I do some work in mine but mostly I simply keep stuff in it. I wish it were a little bigger (don't we all!) as it is barely a 2 car garage. With the work bench, tool boxes, trash cans, recycle bin and kids stuff, I can hardly get a car in there these days.

Mine is kinda 1/2 done. I painted last year. I tried to get some stuff off the floor and am still trying to get rid of this stinking riding mower! (This would free up SO much room.) I installed new openers a few weeks ago and a nice stainless shelf a few month ago.

I still need to install one more light and do the floor. Maybe this summer. I doubt it though. I already have a full plate and its barely even January.

 

[e-tek]

Apppears a herd of deer have run through your shop!!

 

[deuces2]

Thats why I said I had a few bucks in my garage

 

[Cobra4B]

I like some of each... I want my garage to look like a showroom but also be a working space.

 

[Moto44]

I believe I've seen that garage. If those are the "before" shots this must be the "after" shot. You did an amazing job restoring the old car and cleaning the place up.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I believe I've seen that garage. If those are the "before" shots this must be the "after" shot. You did an amazing job restoring the old car and cleaning the place up.

I do not think they are the same shop. I think you are mistaken.

 

[deuces2]

Id really just rather have these kind of trophies on the wall ,they are are lot more practical for 60 era wrencher restorers . hholmberg youre place is Nice

this is a 28 x34 stick built garage that I also have and it is a workin garage