For 24 years we have lived in a 1790 colonial home- our dream home. There were no outbuildings when we bought the place in 2000, so after seven years of work on the house itself we added a garage designed to complement the home and property. The intention was to look "right" next to the house. The initial build turned out well. It was two bays wide by two cars deep with an upstairs.
Four or five years later, we added a woodworking shop/family room/home theater onto the rear of the garage. Before they began playing high school sports, my boys and I were out there every day after school. I am still out there regularly, making gifts and refurbishing antique clocks. It is finished inside like a cabin, and there is a sleeper sofa, so we actually sometimes sleep out there and use it as a little getaway.
A few years later, we had our driveway widened, which got me thinking about eastward expansion. A retaining wall with proper drainage had to be constructed, and another two-cars-deep bay was added. Once again, care was taken to make sure that the addition suited both the existing garage and our home.
My sons are now driving and they have had a project car. We went through it and did just about everything, and now that it has been painted, we want to keep it out of the snow this winter. What to do?...another addition. We have just about wrapped up a carport addition on the west side. A retaining wall had to be taken down, a large section of a terraced rock garden relocated, and two feet had to be cut off of the deck, but we now have a nice spot to get the car out of the elements.
Despite its size, the garage sits lower and farther back from the road than the house, which keeps it from appearing too large or being a distraction from our home as the focal point of the property.
I will post a few pictures here of the evolution of the structure. We really enjoy it.
Four or five years later, we added a woodworking shop/family room/home theater onto the rear of the garage. Before they began playing high school sports, my boys and I were out there every day after school. I am still out there regularly, making gifts and refurbishing antique clocks. It is finished inside like a cabin, and there is a sleeper sofa, so we actually sometimes sleep out there and use it as a little getaway.
A few years later, we had our driveway widened, which got me thinking about eastward expansion. A retaining wall with proper drainage had to be constructed, and another two-cars-deep bay was added. Once again, care was taken to make sure that the addition suited both the existing garage and our home.
My sons are now driving and they have had a project car. We went through it and did just about everything, and now that it has been painted, we want to keep it out of the snow this winter. What to do?...another addition. We have just about wrapped up a carport addition on the west side. A retaining wall had to be taken down, a large section of a terraced rock garden relocated, and two feet had to be cut off of the deck, but we now have a nice spot to get the car out of the elements.
Despite its size, the garage sits lower and farther back from the road than the house, which keeps it from appearing too large or being a distraction from our home as the focal point of the property.
I will post a few pictures here of the evolution of the structure. We really enjoy it.
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