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Studio Apartment Project Over Garage

autoist

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Some time ago, I told a very good local contractor who primarily does renovations of 'antique' houses that when he got caught up and had some free time, I wanted him to finish part of the upstairs area I had envisioned during the original construction of my 'GarageMahal'. I also wanted him to finish my wife's 8x16 pantry, the stairs going to the 2nd floor and build a bath on the pantry mezzanine (the pantry mezzanine is on the level of the covered breezeway connecting our house and the garage and is 4' above the main garage floor). All that is something I've had in the back of my mind since I started building my garage 15 years ago but never really needed until my grandson showed interest in my HO train layout!

Well, recntly he called and said he wanted to stop by to look the job over. He's too good to miss out on so when he came over, we talked, ironed out details and they began final framing and insulation the Monday before Christmas. One change we made while he was here is that my wife wants a small apartment-sized kitchenette (stove, microwave, sink, refrigerator) upstairs and a full bath instead of the half bath I had envisioned; a studio apartment. So those things been incorporated into the plan.

You can see the 15 year continuing construction of my 'GarageMahal' at http://www.theautoist.com/garage-mahal.htm. This is the first project in its onstruction that I've turned entirely over to contractors; everything else I've built by myself using a helper or two. While not as fancy as some of your garages, its ambience and meandering design fit my large collection of MG automobiles.

So, y'day he finished hanging all the sheetrock! Rough electric is complete, rough plumbing is complete...now we wait for the sheetrock finishers to do their thing. Meantime, the shower is set in place & the commode & sink are on site; the appliances are ordered (white 20" wide free standing stove/oven, white 20" microwave, white under counter 2-door refrigerator/freezer & white sink); and the doors are ordered. Plus, the cabinet maker is coming by next week to make his measurements.

The entire project adds almost 1,000 square feet of living space to our house since it's connected to the house by an 8'x16' covered breezeway & my wife's outdoor kitchen. And, because it'll be separated from the 'GarageMahal' by an insulated metal outside door, it takes that much space away from the GarageMahal (....hehehe....another reason to add onto the GarageMahal!).

Here's what the project looks like today:

1) Looking into pantry area from breezeway entry. Door on angle is entrance to full bath. Entry door to garage is hidden to left behind wife's pantry cabinets. We've not enclosed my garage panel box yet; I'm still thinking about how I want to do it while maintaining access for future additions.
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2) Looking back at breezeway entry and up stairs to 2nd floor studio apartment.
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3) Better view of studio apartment landing and the cathedral ceilings over pantry mezzanine area.
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4) From center of studio apartment, looking back at landing and down into pantry/bath mezzanine.
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5) Kitchenette area of studio apartment. Door to right is to attic part of GarageMahal. AC/heating vents in floor will be built into the cabinet kick boards.
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6) Large cathedral ceiling 6'x6' dormer area of studio apartment. Door to left is same door to attic part of GarageMahal as in previous photo. Dormer is on opposite wall to kitchenette. You can also see the other AC/heating vets in either wall on both sides of dormer.
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And here's a sketch of the project's layout (not to scale):
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e-tek

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Lucky ******!!! Now you can actually camp-out in the shop!! We have a suite downstairs and if I could build a "breezeway" or "tunnel" between the two I may never come back into the main house!!
 

Kevin54

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Nice addition.:thumbup: Everyone can always use an extra 1000sf.

We've not enclosed my garage panel box yet; I'm still thinking about how I want to do it while maintaining access for future additions.

Not seeing how you panel box is, but to hide mine on the wall in the garage, I picked up a dry erase board/bulletin board combo at the local WallyWorld and a piano hinge. I framed out the box with some trim ans fasted the piano hinge to it an the board. It's beside the phone so all it looks like is a place to keep notes, and looks better than a large sheet of gray metal on the wall.
 
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autoist

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Gurley, Alabama
Nice addition.:thumbup: Everyone can always use an extra 1000sf.



Not seeing how you panel box is, but to hide mine on the wall in the garage, I picked up a dry erase board/bulletin board combo at the local WallyWorld and a piano hinge. I framed out the box with some trim ans fasted the piano hinge to it an the board. It's beside the phone so all it looks like is a place to keep notes, and looks better than a large sheet of gray metal on the wall.
Look through the bathroom door in the 1st photo & you'll se the back of my panel & the wires running down/up to it. That's the side I'm trying to decide how to hide while still maintaining access.

e-tek said:
Lucky ******!!! Now you can actually camp-out in the shop!! We have a suite downstairs and if I could build a "breezeway" or "tunnel" between the two I may never come back into the main house!!
Me the lucky ******? If I had your wife I'd never leave the house!! Who'd care about a garage?:evil:
 

jocool1585

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I'm working on a similar project right now. I'll be sure to keep watching this one! What style stove are you going with?
 
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autoist

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I'm working on a similar project right now. I'll be sure to keep watching this one! What style stove are you going with?
I'll keep you posted on the progress....right now the sheetrock finishers are here.

Don't know the brand of the stove since wife picked out appliances, but I'm picking it up Monday & can tell you then....it's a 20" wide electric free standing stove.

Some updated photos:

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autoist

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Tuesday, 3 Feb: WHOO-HOO....sheetrock guys are finally finished! They've done a great job but they sure were slow....things will pick up now - hopefully!

Cabinet guy starts building cabinets tomorrow. Painter will start priming walls and cabinets when he finishes. Tile layer is coming tomorrow morning to measure the 1st floor area & bathroom so we can choose & order 12"x12"tiles.
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All the photos are of different walls except for the last one - its an example of the ceiling texture job, called a 'knockdown' ceiling. Absolutely beautiful, IMO.

______________________
SUNDAY, Feb 8: So, the cabinet guy has been here 2 days building the cabinets just like the wife wants them. This afternoon when we got home from grandson's, I test fitted all the appliances except the under-cabinet stereo system & the range vent hood.....photo shows the cabinet skeleton with the refrig/freezer, 20" wide free-standing range, microwave, and 37" HD, flat screen TV in their places.....coming together!! He wants to see everything in its place before he goes any farther...& he also still has to measure for the counter tops.

Monday, he finishes the cabinet faces and starts building drawers & doors for the lower units (wife wants the upper cabinets open)....cabinets are going to be painted gloss white so he's building them out of 3/4" birch.

Wednesday painters come in to prime everything as cabinet maker says he'll be finished Tuesday.
cabinets01.JPG
 
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jocool1585

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I've been looking for a stove/hood setup like that for my apartment build. Where did you find it at?
 
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autoist

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I'll take some photos tomorrow & post them...awaiting HVAC - doing some work on HO train layout & slot car layout...gotta trim stairs...other than that - just need to post some photos for you guys.
 

e-tek

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Saskatoon, SK
This is what my kitchen, living room and sitting room all look like tonight - drywall and dust. Looking forward to seeing your finished pics!
 
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