Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Nov 17, 2014 3:50 pm Hi All, I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to hear your ideas on the following: Below is a 'cartoon' (as i call it) plan of our house plan - yet to be built. (cannot figure out how to attach our prelim drawings, photo bucket doesn't like PDF) We are eventually wanting to convert the garage into extra living space down the track and build a detached garage (we are on 2.5 acres). I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas how to best make use of the space. An extra bedroom, a theatre a 'proper' laundry??? Throw some ideas at me Also, before the build starts, can anyone suggest anything we could do to make this conversion easier? I.e putting in windows etc I want to make it feel like it flows with the rest of the house and was never a garage! I dont want it to feel different from the rest of the house. I've considered buying extra flooring to ensure it will all match when the time comes. Is this smart or crazy? In case it matters, we are planning on a much larger alfresco, one which will span the length of the garage back wall. thanks! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Converting a garage to living space - what would YOU do? 2Nov 17, 2014 4:38 pm seems nobody has any ideas, not even one? C'mon guys, get your creative juices flowing! Re: Converting a garage to living space - what would YOU do? 3Nov 17, 2014 9:39 pm Would need to see your working drawings to be able to provide help on difficulty of conversion, but generally converting later is a PITA. If you want the space, why not just build as part of the residence now, or keep it as garage and build a shed later for storage of other items. Be mindful that building as a garage now will likely mean different waterproofing and insulation which won't meet requirements if you wanted to convert later on. Also, floor level may be lower, ceiling too low and of different material and the garage door will need to go (how will you make that appear like it wasnt a garage door) and you will need window(s) to provide building code light and ventilation levels. Bonnie_p An extra bedroom, a theatre a 'proper' laundry??? This sounds like you don't really need the space, are you just making more living area for the sake of it? Perhaps a little more thought at the planning stage (now) would save a piecemeal feel later down the track? Small footprint in Eliza Ponds, Spearwood WA Re: Converting a garage to living space - what would YOU do? 4Nov 17, 2014 9:46 pm Which way is north? How would you describe the climate where you are building? Small footprint in Eliza Ponds, Spearwood WA Re: Converting a garage to living space - what would YOU do? 5Nov 18, 2014 9:45 am Here is what I would do. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ 1. more space in ensuite 2. bed 3 not opening from living space 3. get rid of 45° walls 4. shift living areas to north side 5. remove garage (since you dont feel you will need it) 6. proper pantry/laundry for storage 7. three out of four beds on corner for cross ventilation (needs windows on both corners) Small footprint in Eliza Ponds, Spearwood WA Re: Converting a garage to living space - what would YOU do? 6Nov 18, 2014 9:59 am Bonnie, save your pdf as a jpeg then shoot that through to photobucket. Take a copy first though. Knowing where North is, as Tristanium says, will have the biggest impact on how your house should be set out. Stewie Re: Converting a garage to living space - what would YOU do? 8Nov 21, 2014 4:50 pm I'm following it with good interest. Re: Converting a garage to living space - what would YOU do? 9Dec 03, 2014 4:03 pm Hi everyone, Sorry for much delayed reply. North is the front of the home. I should also mention that the version that we are building is this exact design, however, mirrored. So garage etc on the RH side. Having EXTREME difficulty trying to upload an actual plan. I cannot save the file under anything other than adobe and photobucket will not upload. sigh, very frustrating. We are building in south east queensland. so when it is hot, it is HOT. When it is cold, its COLD. lol. I have already confirmed with the builder that the roof height in the garage will be the same height as throughout the home, phew. We have been quoted for windows added to the garage and when we decide to do the conversion, we will add more to where the roller door is now. The reason we are building the home with the garage functioning as a garage is because this is something our covenant requires. We need to have a double garage as a rule and cannot afford to build another detached one straight off the bat. we have already reached our budget So future planning ahead when we have more money we will convert. Re: Converting a garage to living space - what would YOU do? 10Dec 03, 2014 4:04 pm Stewie D Bonnie, save your pdf as a jpeg then shoot that through to photobucket. Take a copy first though. Knowing where North is, as Tristanium says, will have the biggest impact on how your house should be set out. Stewie Hi Stewie, I've tried this - but my only options to save is 'adobe' it will NOT let me save under any other format Re: Converting a garage to living space - what would YOU do? 11Dec 03, 2014 4:08 pm Tristanium Here is what I would do. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ 1. more space in ensuite 2. bed 3 not opening from living space 3. get rid of 45° walls 4. shift living areas to north side 5. remove garage (since you dont feel you will need it) 6. proper pantry/laundry for storage 7. three out of four beds on corner for cross ventilation (needs windows on both corners) Hi Tristanium, Thank you for taking the time to do up this plan for me, im actually considering a few of the bedroom changes, however one of the things we loved about the original design was the 45 degree angles at the front. I know not everyone's taste, but it stood out to us and its something we wouldn't want to change. I especially love the pantry and laundry idea and am working with my builder to see how we could fit that into the original design. watch this space! This is the current bathroom with a european laundry. Overall internal dimensions are 3.69 wide and 3.65m deep, including the footprint of the laundry. 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