luxury garage interior makeovers

TORONTO — Most homeowners think a garage is exempt from trends in interior design. Not so, according to the professional garage designers at Garage Living, who have seen an uptick in customers turning their garages into secondary living spaces. They have released three recommendations on how you can apply the latest trends in interior design to your garage in 2024.

1. Holistic Design
This trend is about assessing the activities you and your family do in the home and designing your spaces to match them. That could mean adding a home office or a craft corner to your garage and, for others, adding a mud room or a sitting area to binge-watch your favorite TV shows. One homeowner in Atlanta even recently opted for all of the above.

2. Blended Storage
More designers are implementing hidden or blended storage into homes to provide a clean, clutter-free look. Garage Living often installs a hinged horizontal cabinet door that allows you to mount a flat-screen TV. This means you can watch TV and easily lift the door to access your hidden video game equipment. Some people use blended storage to conceal functional items in their garages, like free weights or a hidden coffee bar.

3. Biophilic Design
Simply put, the biophilic design trend brings the outside world inside. For Garage Living’s Chicago franchisee, that has meant a recent increase in garage renovations where homeowners ask for a customized space to house their outdoor plants in the winter. Many homeowners aim to take advantage of as much natural light as they can in their garage by installing windows or glass garage doors.

By following these recommendations, Garage Living’s co-founder and president at franchise systems, Aaron Cash, says, “Your garage can become a well-designed, multi-functional space that reflects your style while staying on-trend with the 2024 interior design concepts.”

TORONTO — As the holiday season nears its end, the daunting task of packing away decorations looms. Suppose you’re like most people and have a bunch of jingle-jangle-jumbles creating a mess of decorations in the garage, making next year’s unpacking even more challenging. The professionals at Garage Living offer these six tips to avoid getting a lump of clutter coal from Santa.

1. Maximize vertical space with overhead racks.

Make the most of your garage space by installing overhead storage racks. These racks utilize vertical storage, keeping bulky items like artificial Christmas trees, wreaths and lights neatly stashed. This frees up valuable floor space for a smoother daily routine.

2.  Be selective about garage storage.

While the garage is suitable for many decorations, avoid storing fabric-based items, candles, delicate glass ornaments or food-based decorations unless the space is climate-controlled. Sealing in plastic containers and avoiding clear bins for light-sensitive items helps preserve stored decorations’ integrity.

3.  Choose plastic over cardboard.

Opt for sturdy plastic storage bins instead of cardboard boxes. Plastic bins provide better protection, stack more securely and are moisture-resistant. Consider using non-clear containers with labels to prevent color fading for long-lasting holiday ornaments and lights.

4.  Embrace organization with labels.

Simplify the unpacking process next holiday by using color-coded storage containers and ensuring each item is properly labeled. Eliminating guesswork saves time when decorating and keeps the holiday setup stress-free and enjoyable.

5.  Use Near-field communication stickers on bins.

NFC tags are little chips that store data, and sticker versions are available for just a few cents apiece online. You can keep a detailed, itemized list (or photos) of everything in a storage box on a chip and stick it to the outside of your bin. In a few simple additional steps, you can scan your phone over the sticker and see everything inside without ever opening the bin.

6.  Store artificial Christmas trees mindfully.

Store artificial Christmas trees in a proper plastic tree storage bag or bin with wheels for easy transport. Avoid leaving trees uncovered in the garage, as they can accumulate dust over time. Be cautious with white or snow-treated trees, as improper storage conditions may lead to yellowing and a shorter lifespan.

Implement these six tips, and you’ll not only transform your garage space but guarantee a hassle-free and joyous reunion with your decorations next year.

Garage Living opened multiple new franchise locations, including in Australia.

TORONTO — Analysts say the years between 2020 and 2030 may be remembered as “the golden age of remodeling.” That’s because 3.7 million more U.S. homes may reach the age they typically need renovations. The number of homes between 20 and 39 years old may increase to about 24.2 million in 2027, up from 20.5 million in 2018. This means lots of bathrooms, kitchens, and garages need remodeling.

To accommodate, one of North America’s leading garage renovation companies is expanding. Garage Living has opened eight new franchise locations in the second half of 2023, including two in Australia. This brings the company’s total franchise count to 38 sites in the U.S. and 47 overall, including locations in Canada.

Garage Living opened locations in Richmond, Virginia; Columbus, Ohio, and Ottawa, Ontario, in June. The company followed that with two more openings in July in Boston and London, Ontario. It’s ending the year by adding sites in Oklahoma City, Melbourne, Australia; and Sydney.

“The needs of our aging housing stock are only getting more pronounced,” said Aaron Cash, Garage Living’s president of franchise systems. “That’s why we couldn’t be more excited about adding these new branches to our growing family tree. We know each franchise owner will use their business experience and passion for renovations and construction to deliver Garage Living’s custom solutions.”

• Chase Schmidt, the site owner in Richmond, Virginia, brings over 20 years of construction industry experience to his role — from building homes from the ground up to executing renovations in residential and commercial properties.
• Brian Schepman has over 20 years of experience in finance that he’ll use to oversee Garage Living’s Columbus, Ohio, location.
• Ryan Waterman is a veteran of the garage transformation industry, having successfully operated his own company, Ottawa Garage Makeovers, before opening the Garage Living location in Ottawa, Ontario.
• Rich Cunningham is no stranger to Garage Living’s success. He already owns Garage Living of Connecticut and Ed’s Garage Doors. He now adds Garage Living-Boston to his resume.
• Todd Hynes, the owner of Garage Living’s London, Ontario, location, has established himself as an exceptional and driven executive with over three decades of experience in the Canadian financial services sector.
• Drew Arthur brings expertise in franchising and a passion for cars to his ownership of Garage Living Australia.
• Mark Lenhart delivers a wealth of experience, primarily in office management, to his leadership role with Garage Living-Oklahoma City.

Garage Living opens five more franchise locations to match demand. 

TORONTO — The number of U.S. homes that have reached the age at which they typically need renovations — between 20 and 39 years old — may increase to about 24.2 million in 2027, up from 20.5 million in 2018, according to an industry report from the National Kitchen & Bath Association. This means lots of bathrooms, kitchens, and garages need remodeling.

To accommodate, one of North America’s largest garage renovation companies is expanding. Garage Living opened five new franchise locations this summer, bringing their total franchise count to 37 sites in the U.S. and 44 overall, including locations in Canada.

Garage Living successfully opened locations in Richmond, Virginia, Columbus, Ohio, and Ottawa, Ontario, in June. They followed that up with two more store openings in July in Boston and London, Ontario.

“The needs of our aging housing stock are only getting more pronounced,” said Aaron Cash, Garage Living’s president of franchise systems. “That’s why we couldn’t be more excited about adding these new branches to our growing family tree. We know each franchise owner will use their business experience and passion for renovations and construction to deliver Garage Living’s custom solutions.”

• Chase Schmidt, the site owner in Richmond, Virginia, brings over 20 years of construction industry experience to his role — from building homes from the ground up to executing renovations in residential and commercial properties.
• Brian Schepman has over 20 years of experience in finance that he’ll use to oversee Garage Living’s Columbus, Ohio, location.
• Ryan Waterman is a veteran of the garage transformation industry, having successfully operated his own company, Ottawa Garage Makeovers, before opening the Garage Living location in Ottawa, Ontario.
• Rich Cunningham is no stranger to Garage Living’s success. He already owns Garage Living of Connecticut and Ed’s Garage Doors.
• Todd Hynes, the owner of Garage Living’s London location, has firmly established himself as an exceptional and driven executive with over three decades of experience in the Canadian financial services sector.

TORONTO — Get out those brooms and work gloves: we’re midway through National Garage Improvement Month! To help celebrate, Garage Living is sharing the things homeowners can do to turn their dusty, dirty, and disorganized garages into clean, bright, and welcoming spaces.

“The garage is your home’s primary point of entry,” says Aaron Cash, Garage Living’s President of Franchise Systems. “Yet, it tends to be one of the most neglected spaces in our homes. We want people to redefine it as a meaningful place that meets their needs and suits their current lifestyle. At the very least, we want you to be able to park your car in the garage again!”

Cash suggests any of the following ways to improve your garage:

• Organize items in durable plastic bins.
• Add storage racks for seasonal items.
• Install slat wall siding to hang bicycles, ladders, etc.
• Include cabinets to store tools, equipment, etc.
• Install Floortex™ floor coating for easy cleaning.
• Add a car lift to make extra room.

“Some of these things you can do on your own,” Cash says, “but we suggest you hire a professional to execute some of the bigger items. Having a plan and the ability to do quality work is key to bringing your dream garage to life.”

Garage Living has been transforming garages for almost 20 years. Using only North American-made materials, they design their own long-lasting, turn-key products and solutions. In recent years, Garage Living has seen a trend in homeowners adding home gyms, offices, and mudrooms to their garages.

“The options are almost limitless,” Cash says. “We hope people have been able to use this Garage Improvement Month — and specifically May 16, Garage Improvement Day — to start turning what is often an eyesore into an eyeful of organization and cleanliness.”