Barndo Garages

Reimagining the Garage

By Victor Martinez, Jr.

Do you think of the garage as simply a place to park your vehicles and store stuff? Most people do. Well, it’s time to rethink the garage! Move over basic square box – make room for some serious upgrades. Garage space can be designed for a multitude of purposes beyond housing boxes with long-forgotten contents. Look no further than your garage for added living space, shop space, recreational area, or an office, gym, craft room, or studio.

When it comes to Barndo garages, the possibilities are endless! At Our Barndominium Life, we enjoy creatively designing your garage around your unique lifestyle.  As a general approach, most of our garages are designed as detached Barndos widening the possibilities for size, layout, and features. 

And, like any good project, we start with the basics and go from there.

Even the main features of the traditional garage can be elevated with glass garage doors, good-looking and functional shelving, attractive laminate or epoxy floors, decorative lighting, ceiling fans, and counter-height cabinetry. You might even insulate your garage doors and install a ductless mini-split heating and cooling system. Together, these help to reduce dampness in the garage while giving you options for more activities in the space.

There are several fundamental design features to consider such as overall square footage, number of bays, sidewall height, roof pitch, floor drains and other plumbing fixtures.  These can be configured to accommodate a wide variety of purposes. With a relatively small amount of dedicated square footage, you can up your game in your garage with additions such as:

• Dog wash and kennel stations

• Electric car charging stations

• Bathrooms with showers

• Washers and dryers

• Refrigerators and freezers

• Work benches with power tools

• Closets/fixtures for holiday decorations, tools, or sporting equipment 

They may seem lackluster, but floor drains can be hugely beneficial for a variety of purposes. If snow, hail, rain, and dirt are part of your daily lifestyle, they will find their way into your garage. Additionally, oil or chemical spills are not uncommon in garages. The convenience of simply hosing away the dirt and grime makes the floor drain one of the best investments you could make in your garage.

Roof selection will also have a dramatic effect on the overall feel of your space. The standard roof pitch on a Stacee Lynn garage Barndo design is 6:12. As a result, the structure’s overall look will be more residential in appearance instead of resembling a warehouse or storage unit. With a 6:12 roof pitch, we can design a storage loft and not have to raise the sidewall height of your garage. For easier access, we also include a full staircase instead of the pull-down stairs. For some homeowners, installing an electric winch near the stairs is a smart move for hauling heavy or bulky items up to the loft. Utilizing the space above your ceiling height for storage or other purposes is a smart way to capture serviceable space for less money. On average, the non-heated and cooled garage Barndo can be constructed for about 40% the cost of the main residential Barndo per square foot.

Now that you’ve made the best out of the basics, consider the next-level features that upscale your garage Barndo.  For example, we are starting to work with more and more clients who desire hydraulic lifts, often for restoring classic cars. We especially enjoy the stories of how these Barndo owners plan to create childhood memories with their children working together to breathe life back into some special vehicle from the owner’s youth.

Tandem parking with pull through doors is a deluxe design feature.  Here, you can pull in one side of the garage and drive out the other.  A wall of gorgeous windows adds an awesomeness factor to your garage space, especially if you have high sidewalls. Ceiling-to-floor windows flood the space with light and give it all a certain panache. A flat screen TV and integrated sound system are fun amenities for the garage.

For your most precious vehicle, a particularly luxe garage feature is the glassed-in display bay. Here, a glass wall replaces the traditional sheetrock wall that separates the garage from the living areas.  This way, that special high-end or classic auto that’s after your own heart can be viewed from your great room.

Many of our clients add living space to their garage either adjacent to or on top of the main garage space. One of our most popular floor plan design collections is the Windermere. These Barndos contain the best of both worlds – spacious garage area plus living space. From extra bunk rooms and game rooms to full apartments, the Windermere turns a garage into a functional, flexible Barndo. Often, clients build the Windermere first and live in it while they outfit the rest of their property and build their main Barndo.

The first Special Edition of The Barndominium Lady Magazine featured eight unique Barndos from our Garage Barndo Collection. You can find them in the Luxury Floor Plan Edition released in March. On the following pages, are five more garage Barndos from that collection to inspire you to pursue your own dream garage Barndo. 

Wherever your hobbies, family, or passions lead you, consider adding a personalized garage Barndo to enhance your life. From serving as a power assist for your interests and activities to delivering the entire package on guest space and entertainment, the garage Barndo can be one of the most useful and impressive areas of your home.

Victor is the Design Team Leader at Our Barndominium Life. He spent 15 years in structural/mechanical design in the oil field before joining Stacee Lynn’s design team two years ago.

The Hickory

The Hickory can do a lot of heavy lifting.  It provides a working space for countless activities such as crafts, canning, or woodwork.  It is also one of the most functional designs and easily accommodates a laundry space, dog wash, freezer, bathroom, sink, and floor drains.

1 bath

765 garage living sq ft

garage sq ft:  2,280

covered porch sq ft:   110

SPECIALTY FEATURES:   

• Covered Porch

• Vaulted Garage

• Workshop

The Cypress

With its high sidewalls, and large cupola, the Cypress is a beautiful garage Barndo. To get additional use from the space, consider installing a mini split air conditioner and outfit the storage loft with a shuffleboard table or poker table and large screen TV for a little hideaway away from the main home. 

1 bath

900 garage sq ft

storage loft sq ft:   450

SPECIALTY FEATURES:   

• Car Garage

• Storage Loft

The Hawthorn

This is perfect for accommodating guests, in-laws, or adult children. Some Barndo owners design this garage apartment with the future in mind; they plan to move into the apartment after retirement to allow grown children and their families to occupy the main Barndo. Alternatively, garage apartments can also be used for rental income.

1 bed

1 bath

715 living sq ft

garage sq ft:  1,785

SPECIALTY FEATURES:   

• Living Space

The Aspen II

Did someone say “party?” The rooftop deck makes a fabulous outdoor entertainment area. With an outdoor kitchen and half bath, the fun can go on and on.

1 bath

1,865 garage sq ft

SPECIALTY FEATURES:   

• Oversized 2-Car Garage

• Outdoor Fireplace

• Rooftop Deck