Different ways to create new living space – double length garage conversion

The first thing that strikes you about this type of conversion is looking from outside the property [from the road] there are really no obvious changes to the house.

This particular house is nothing out of the ordinary, a 3 bedroom detached house in an everyday, normal street in a suburban area.

The front door is normal, the garden unchanged, the front path up to the house and looking at the garage all look normal. Even the area that has changed might not be noticed by most people but look closely at the garage door and this has been removed and replaced by a false one with windows cleverly fitted in to it.

Now there were a few big things done to make the new living space, first the front drive was part dug up to find the main drain and a connection made onto it for a new shower and toilet in the garage.

The old concrete floor was covered with insulation and a chipboard floor put on top. The walls were covered with plasterboard after fitting electric cables for power and then being plastered.

The long garage was divided into a bedroom, shower room and kitchenette. The old door from the garage into the house stayed in place and gave access into the house to share facilities, but also giving privacy when needed.

The only thing I guess you notice is there are no side windows so it lacks a bit of natural light, but a clever use of specially designed shower and toilet products helps provide a feeling of space, so when you are in there you do not feel cramped.

Now the final completed rooms are not big, spacious areas, but they provide all that is required for living and feeling comfortable in your home – and set against living on your home in sheltered accommodation or a nursing home I would take this all the time!

All in all a very clever set up and one that did not require big building work, walls or foundations, high costs or complicated architects drawings.

Keeping things simple created a great new living space for a single relative and kept them in the heart of the families existing house.