Ugly garage - advice please!

Comments (58)

PRO
Verity & Beverley Ltd
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
What a lovely looking house. To be totally honest, I would demolish the existing garage and build a new freestanding garage backing on to one of the hedges. it looks like you have plenty of space to do this and it would really make a huge difference. As above you would need planning permission for this and of course its not something that has to be done straight away.
Juliet Docherty
4 years ago
You could knock that bedroom into the pitched roof and gain a big velux.
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Jonathan
4 years ago
Or make that bedroom bigger by extending into the new space, or converting the bedroom into a different purpose that doesn’t need a window such as bathroom or dressing room, or you could possibly add a window to the side.
But adding square footage normally adds value so assuming planning is not a major hurdle I think I would try to make the garage better rather than removing it.
PRO
Garageflex
4 years ago
Some good suggestions here from everyone. It is a bit of an eyesore but we would always recommend keeping as much storage as possible as you can never have enough!
E D
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
I appreciate what you’re saying Garageflex, but I speak from experience and I say you can actually have too much storage!

More storage attracts more possessions and less ‘appetite’ to discard ’stuff’ you will never use anyway.
rinked
4 years ago
How about Jonathan's idea with a mansard roof? Where the flat top goes right under the window? A bit of storage is great, but some workshop even better!
Kelly Corr
Original Author
4 years ago
Ideally we’d like to keep the garage for storage as my husband coaches my son’s football team so we have LOTS of football stuff to house!
My latest thought is to reduce the size of the garage as we don’t need it for a car and extend it along to make a larger porch/entrance hall. This would still give us the storage we need, increase the space out the front of the house and make the hall bigger. It’s all in my head at the moment so no idea if it will work!!
rinked
4 years ago
Downsizing it would be just about as much work as a new roof or demolishing it all together.

I'd say replace the garage door for something more aesthetic. Place a climbing rose on the side and/or an arched window. And then get used to it, for the moment at least.
PRO
Garageflex
4 years ago
E D - good point, there is a tendancy to keep more if we have the space. Perhaps the key is to ensure you only keep what you need but make sure the storage works hard for you!
PRO
Brandler London
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
I am completely in agreement with Verity & Beverley!

Your existing garage looks like an eyesore and an afterthought by someone who was either trying to save money or who had no interest on the impact that it would have on the looks of your home, which is rather elegant.

If this were my house I would demolish it without a second thought and erect a new garage at the end of your driveway of a style similar to that suggested by V & B.

You can buy kit garages of this type on the internet, which will save on the cost and requires only that there is a good concrete foundation and a power source, which again is an easy fix.

Interestingly enough we have just been appointed to replace a garage with one similar in style to those above.
Emmanuelle
4 years ago
Your house is beautiful and has good proportions... except for the garage! I imagine the symmetry, if the garage was not there and a (bay) window was to be rebuilt on the right... with such a nice front door/ porch... It would look quite plush!
If it were my house, I would get rid of the garage without hesitation and build a summerhouse in the back garden for extra storage if really needed. I wouldn’t think about resale ability, but rather what you want to live with at the present!
E D
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
I agree with Emmanuelle.

Get rid! :-)

And re the (re)saleability, the hugely improved curb appeal may well go some way to compensate for the loss of a garage. Particularly when putting some thought into planning (and planting) of the front garden and drive.

Do you have space for a summer house in your back garden? There are some great looking summerhouses available these days.
PRO
Verity & Beverley Ltd
4 years ago
Please excuse the fast and dirty photoshop but how could you say no to a face like this?!
Emmanuelle
4 years ago
Brilliant! @ Verity
That double front door has not the space it deserves to shine! Beautiful!
Emmanuelle
4 years ago
*now
sksj1
4 years ago
Looks like you have large drive so would suggest if your budget allows to knock it down and build a smaller garage on the drive way. Do you just need storage, or do you put a car in it? I had a garage for 10 years that I never put a car in, just bins! Knocked it down and doubled the size of the garden, and now use a shed for storage - never missed it!
Kelly Corr
Original Author
4 years ago
I love it without the garage! It’s so much prettier, thank you for taking the time to do the photoshopped image!
PRO
Verity & Beverley Ltd
4 years ago
It's a lovely house, I do know you want the storage but just imagine the extra light in the front room and as I said before you can easily build a small attractive store to the road side of the drive without losing any space.
Sven
4 years ago
“loosing it affects the saleability of your home.”

Only is there is not sufficient parking: and as there is plenty of parking in the front garden this is not a problem or issue. A more attractive house is worth more than an ugly garage.
E D
4 years ago
Spam alert?
PRO
Sarah Beeny's Renovate Don't Relocate
4 years ago
Hi E D,

Not spam, just looking for people with design dilemmas who might want to take part in the programme for free expert advice!
Jonathan
4 years ago
Hi SBRDR,
I’m with ED - your same post is all over many threads on Houzz.
You could have instead just messaged all these individuals rather than posting the same thing repeatedly in a public forum.
PRO
Sarah Beeny's Renovate Don't Relocate
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Hi Jonathan,

That would be great, how do I go about directly messaging an individual on Houzz if they don't have a message button on their profile?

Many thanks
E D
4 years ago
Yea, I think it’s pretty spam-like, but was wondering what others think.

Hence my question mark.
PRO
OnePlan
4 years ago
I’m not sure the message option is for people touting for things either though to be honest . If I remember correctly there’s a disclaimer about not being used for this sort of thing too.
PRO
Verity & Beverley Ltd
4 years ago
I do think that maybe the best thing would be to start a fresh post purely for the purpose of asking people if they would be interested, that way old posts don't get continually bumped to the top just to see this repetitive comment. The bonus being those who aren't interested can ignore the one post about this!
Kelly Corr
Original Author
3 years ago
I just wanted to share a photo and say a big thank you for all your words of wisdom and advice with our really ugly garage! After seeing the photoshop image of our bed house without the garage we knew it had to go...here’s the end result!
Karenza Roy
3 years ago
looks soo much cooler 🤩
moonlight5
3 years ago
Absolutely stunning!
Pat Auld
3 years ago
Good decision, it looks fabulous
HU-840414730
3 years ago
I agree. It is soooo ugly and looks totally out of place at the FRONT of your beautiful house. What moron could even design such a thing?? You're right!! Get rid of it!!
E D
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Great advice, HU-840414730! 🤦‍♂️🤣
ebony45
3 years ago
Thank you for the update. Your house looks lovely without the garage.
westwest114
3 years ago
It looks stunning, you must be so delighted with the result. Love the colour of the door and timber.
PRO
Verity & Beverley Ltd
3 years ago
Ohh wow it looks fab. I am so glad you actually did it.

That really made my day to see the photos this morning!
Juliet Docherty
3 years ago
Wow, that's insane, it looks brilliant!
Sonia
3 years ago
Well done. Good decision and it looks gorgeous now!
PRO
Expand & Build Ltd
3 years ago
The transformation looks great!
mamoyo Mamoyo
3 years ago
This is absolutely stunning, lovely colours. Well done .
Ruth Watt
3 years ago
Wow love how your house looks now, so glad you did remove the garage. I didn’t comment first time round as it would have been to say to me the garage made the house unsaleable . However it looks great now, with kerb appeal! The work must have been incredibly messy !
Moni Burns
3 years ago
That is a wonderful transformation. lovely looking house. beams look superb.
Emmanuelle
3 years ago
Lovely to see the update ! You definitely made the right decision!
PRO
OnePlan
3 years ago
Oh I do so love a happy ending - and this really is one ! Delightful!!!
Jen
3 years ago
This is simply stunning! I can hardly believe what I’m seeing here: the match to the left bay is astonishing. I wonder how much, if any, of the structure of the right bay had remained in existence behind/inside the garage?
(p.s. loving the new tiles on your front step, too)
Kelly Corr
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you all so much for your kind comments! We’re thrilled!

Sadly there was none of the bay window structure behind the garage door...I can’t believe someone would have wanted to take down a gorgeous bay and replace it with the hideous garage!

We are lacking in storage now so thinking of building a little storage shed down the side of the house. I’ve asked for ideas on another thread of clever side/lean to storage ideas if anyone has any!m they’d be much appreciated. Thank you!
Sarah Hunter
3 years ago
This is gorgeous. congratulations!
Bernard Spilsbury
3 years ago
Have you ever thought about an underground garage?
anthea page
3 years ago
knock it down and build it somewhere else.. the only solution
Kelly Corr
Original Author
3 years ago
I’m sure my husband would love the underground garage - I’m not sure our budget would stretch to that!

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Ugly garage - advice please!

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