Make It Yours

Something had to be done. Virginia Hendrick knew it was time to renovate her dilapidated garage, and as a designer, she had several ideas to incorporate when she built the new structure. But when she learned that the city required rebuilding on the existing foundation that measured 44 x 12 feet, she wondered how she could ever add character and charm to this lengthy structure. Take a look.

Dividing the Space
The original building was split into two different areas: a garage and a small living space. Virginia decided to keep the same footprint but turned the living area into a home office for her business. The front portion is available for storage. "For those who work at home, the garage can be a great getaway," she says.

Originally, the structure lacked details, but the new one is quite the opposite. Windows, an updated door, and shutters transform the plain building, while a new landscape blends nicely with the surroundings. Virginia used many of the existing boxwoods, but she also added fragrant gardenias. A stone path leading to the door adds to the cottage charm.