Does anyone have a design firm they can recommend?

[DIY_Jonathon]

I have been lurking for years. I finally have some cash saved up to finish the inside of my garage.

It's 600 sqft 20x30, 11ft ceilings.

I need a "clean" workspace to do my day job. And a "dirty" workspace to do all the Mechanic and home renovation stuff I do in my free time for myself and friends.

I've seen hundreds of ideas on this forum that I've liked. But I'm having a massively hard time trying to pull it together and make a final decision. I really need professional help.

Do you guys know of any firms that may be able to help?

This isn't so complicated that I need somebody local to me.

 

[larry4406]

Where is local since you haven’t posted your location? Add you location, at least state, to your profile. What works in China or Africa might not apply to seismic zones in California or prolonged subzero in Alaska for example.

 

[K'ledgeBldr]

Maybe a bullet point list of everything you're wanting to shove into this space- and how it will be used, how often, etc.

 

[DIY_Jonathon]

Where is local since you haven’t posted your location? Add you location, at least state, to your profile. What works in China or Africa might not apply to seismic zones in California or prolonged subzero in Alaska for example.

Southern Michigan. But again, it is only the interior I'm working on, the structure is already there. It is going to be conditioned and drywalled within 2 months. I need to have a plan before then so I know where I'm putting lights, storage, plugs, and that kind of stuff before the drywall goes up.

 

[65ranchero]

Will there be a lift ? it will make a difference on where lighting goes!
plan on out lets one around every 6 feet on side walls at least o2 out lets on the front end walls ans atleast one on the back wall in between the the garage doors.
Will there be a compressor? will it be a small one 120V or a bigger 240 volt single phase
where will the work bench be? plane for outlets there also
Write down all your wants and needs then map the space of your garage on graph paper and measure every thing going in there so you can fit everything in there with out being crowded.
Just my opinion!

 

[kaymccampbell]

Whatever you do, put in a lot of receptacles. I put in one every 8'. No way is it enough, or very convenient. Every 2-4' is what I should have done.

 

[larry_g]

Maybe a bullet point list of everything you're wanting to shove into this space- and how it will be used, how often, etc.

X2 on this. 20x30 is a good size for rebuilding ONE vehicle. Subtract out the office area and what do you have left. CAn the office go on the second floor?

YOU have to make a detailed list of what you want to happen in this building space. Then alot space for it to happen. Then supply power to make it happen. What you need is an industrial designer, not an interior decorator. And YOU are going to have to supply all of the DETAILS. You end up paying for someone to organize YOUR information for you and you still will end up with compromises. Then after all that your interests will change, so make it flexible.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[jdsac]

Why do you need a design firm?? Only you know your requiements . make a scale model of tour garage & what you want to do. Keep moving things around until you get what you want.
Design firms on existing building = waste of money

 

[Sweetcorn]

Whatever you do, put in a lot of receptacles. I put in one every 8'. No way is it enough, or very convenient. Every 2-4' is what I should have done.

I went every 8' and honestly, I don't use the majority of them. I did add a couple of nice retractable cord reels and those seem to do the lion's share of the work. Couple that with so many tools being battery powered anymore and I find I have a surplus of outlets.

I guess my suggestion here would be to consider adding a retractable electrical cord reel or two.

 

[SALIV8]

I would suggest drawing the walls to scale on graph paper. then you can cut out another graph paper of your lift, tool boxes, materials, shelves etc and play with the layout for a bit.

when I designed my pole barn I used graph paper and it was easier than I though once I got goin.