[osxcode]

The Ultimate Garage for the Ultimate Driving Machine

I am in the process of remodeling my two, two car garages into something more ultimate and great. At the moment, they just look boring and unsubstantial, like something that would house a much more pedestrian car collection. I am trying to collect ideas and put together my garage project this summer. If you have any ideas or concepts to share, please add your two cents!

Right now, my garage is a dated 1970's style and I've already updated the building to a modern palm springs looking building, so the garage must come next. It would be nice to come home to a more luxurious entry. The garage I have now is totally hideous and miserable. Most people probably think the garage should just be simple and utility, but I feel horrible parking my BMW's in the garage now, Help!

My renovation concepts:

- Add Canned lighting to the ceiling, at present only the openers have lights in the garage.
(May add a few Chandeliers that Costco currently has for $299)
Maybe add both?

- Have ceilings scraped of awful popcorn and paint brilliant white

- Replace Standard insulated garage roll up doors with Glass / Aluminum roll up modern doors

- Install Wainscoting and new modern cabinets (hide water heater in cabinets) in back of garages

- Add Modern Wallpaper on top of white wainscoting

- Paint pipes / plumbing that can not be hidden bright red or yellow



If you have ideas or pictures, PLEASE SHARE! Also I would really appreciate any insight and opinions you may have!

Thanks so much for anything you can add, share your Ultimate Garage!

Photos Below are of what the deplorable garage looks like now, Photos in next post are ideas and concepts for the revision.

[osxcode]

Ideas and Concepts for the new and improved BMW Ultimate Garage

[intoflatlines]

Hanging fluorescent lights are much better for garage use, IMO. They're incredibly bright and do a good job of lighting the garage for shop work. I'd get the garage floor sealed, repaint the walls and ceiling ehite and install several fluorescent light boxes. Add a nice big tool chest and some sort of audio visual system and that's a great start. Unfortunately it looks like your garage is too short to install a full height lift, that would be sweet!

[osxcode]

Originally Posted by intoflatlines

Hanging fluorescent lights are much better for garage use, IMO. They're incredibly bright and do a good job of lighting the garage for shop work. I'd get the garage floor sealed, repaint the walls and ceiling ehite and install several fluorescent light boxes. Add a nice big tool chest and some sort of audio visual system and that's a great start. Unfortunately it looks like your garage is too short to install a full height lift, that would be sweet!

I would love to have a lift but don't really have a reason for it, I have a 4 car garage, the garage pictured, x2. Only have 3 cars at the moment. The concept is supposed to be Modern Hotel Lobby

[pgviper]

I think your first choice should be form or function

I would personally go for something with function that has a modern and styled theme to it. Something along the lines of the first garage you showed however ditch the chandeliers and get proper lighting, more cabinet space and much more bench space. NY gets pretty cold so radiant heating would be nice for me but I doubt it would be very useful in LA. Some people forget that wall space and the ceiling are usually wasted storage space. Use hooks to hang bikes and any equipment/tools that you may have as in picture 2. A TV with some good speakers would also be nice.

Best way to make an impression is with the garage door IMO. It's the first impression of somebody entering your garage.

ANyway good luck, def interested to see what you decide on.

[SimonWW]

The Garages here in the UK are hopeless in general. I have about 3 inches either side of the wing mirrors when going through the door and can only open the door about 12 inches when getting in and out. Its made even harder as I am 6ft4 and end up tying myself in knots nearly getting in and out !

[Twix]

I wouldn't paint the garage any shade of white your exhaust will ruin it. Also, LED lighting or the aforementioned fluorescent lighting would be the choice for showing off your ponies or working on them. That's just my $0.02.

[Derek8819]

I will try to get a panorama or better pic of mine. I have the entire garage including the roof finished as nice as if it was an interior room. I painted and sealed the floor with the Rustoleum professional kit. I have a craftsman garage system down the side I am standing against. I try to keep it very clean and organized. I have two 4 head florescent lights overhead and a 2 head over the craftsman setup.

[osxcode]

Very Very nice.... Im Going with a Hollywood Regency Modern Hotel Lobby Theme. Modern Wallpaper, Wainscoting, Modern LED Glass Chandeliers, Garage Doors of frosted glass and aluminum. Should look nice when done. Doors have been ordered.

[osxcode]

Garage Doors

[devinakbv]

They're incredibly bright and do a good job of lighting the garage for shop work.

[lbahoshy]

Interesting! I am just in the middle of going over plans with a local company that specializes in garage makeovers.

Getting custom aluminum cabinets (cutom colour) along entire end of back wall to hide everything including garbage, recycling, central vacuum, water hose, etc. Create an open cabinet to house some art (may be automotive art)

Install ceiling pot lights

Install professional grade polyaspartic flooring in a custom colour combo flecks

Install aluminum waintscotting along perimeter of garage - need to work on colour choice

Totally finish drywall in slatwall to create completely finished look.

Add automated bike lift so 2 adult and 1 child bike are stored against the ceiling

Custom cabinets wil take about 6 weeks to order from racecabinet.com

Hopefully installed by the end of August! Will post pics when done.

Good luck in your garage makeover.

[osxcode]

I can't wait to see what your garage is going to look like, it sounds fantastic!!

Originally Posted by lbahoshy

Interesting! I am just in the middle of going over plans with a local company that specializes in garage makeovers.

Getting custom aluminum cabinets (cutom colour) along entire end of back wall to hide everything including garbage, recycling, central vacuum, water hose, etc. Create an open cabinet to house some art (may be automotive art)

Install ceiling pot lights

Install professional grade polyaspartic flooring in a custom colour combo flecks

Install aluminum waintscotting along perimeter of garage - need to work on colour choice

Totally finish drywall in slatwall to create completely finished look.

Add automated bike lift so 2 adult and 1 child bike are stored against the ceiling

Custom cabinets wil take about 6 weeks to order from racecabinet.com

Hopefully installed by the end of August! Will post pics when done.

Good luck in your garage makeover.

[gilczbq]

They're incredibly bright and do a good job of lighting the garage for shop work.

[3798j]

If you haven't yet visited here, you must.

www.garagejournal.com/forum/

[osxcode]

Originally Posted by 3798j

If you haven't yet visited here, you must.

www.garagejournal.com/forum/

THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing that link!

[paulvujb]

They're incredibly bright and do a good job of lighting the garage for shop work.

[BMWinAZ]

Wow! Just lucky to fit our two cars in the two car garage. I am always irritated when people have $ 500 worth of junk piled up in their garage but park $ 50000 worth in cars in their driveway.

[funkle]

Epoxy floor would be on my short list.