Phoenix Patrick
If you need more space and don't want to move, extend into the garden or convert the loft, the obvious place to look is in the garage. However, typically, the work involved in converting a garage will be classed as permitted development, so you won't need planning permission.
However, ultimate responsibility for building regulations does rest with the homeowner, so ensure checks and approval are carried out correctly or you may have legal issues should you come to sell your home. An electric system rather than 'wet' which is connected to the hot water supply, is easier to install and could be cheaper to run, given gas price rises; try for a good range. Ex-garages often feel slightly utilitarian, so when you're considering the interior design, pick up the style of the house, and use softer lamps rather than harsh office-style ceiling lights, advises Elaine Penhaul, founder of Lemon & Lime, a home staging company. 'Annexes, extensions, new conservatories and building walls to create separate rooms are among the top five improvements that homeowners want to spend the most money on in 2022,' says Adrienne Minster, CEO of find-a-tradesperson website Rated People.
Turning your garage into an annexe, perhaps for an older family member or a younger person saving to get on the housing ladder, creates flexible living space that can adapt as needs change. If the garage is freestanding, the simple addition of a VELUX window in the roof will bring in light without compromising wall space. Opening up this space allows great potential for re-positioning walls and carving out entirely new areas – such as a pantry or utility room.
If you're going to use the space for painting or other arts/crafts activities, follow the rules for bringing in natural light, see above, extra bedroom.
If the studio is for music, take professional advice on sound proofing, especially if the garage walls adjoin the main house. 'These days buyers want sophisticated studios to not only be equipped with mains water, power, lighting and heating, so that they can be used throughout the year, but also underfloor heating, air conditioning and fully networked and integrated spaces,' says London estate agent Mark Pollack, co-founding director at Aston Chase estate agency.
Mark says these creative spaces are a boon, especially in family homes, because they take pressure off a main house and keep the garden intact. If the size of your garage allows, you can add a utility area for the washing machine, tumble dryer, extra freezer and sink, a boot room with storage for coats and wellies, or even a dog room with washing facilities – such as a spray tap and a dog bath.
LochAnna Kitchens has the smart butler's sink-style Cameo, part of the Brompton Collection, and it can still accommodate the car or another use.
'The number of projects specifying multi-functional utility rooms has tripled over the past two years,' says Graeme Smith, head of retail and commercial design at Life Kitchens.
'Utilities have evolved from a place to store and do laundry to space that allows homeowners to keep unsightly items such as chest freezers out of the main kitchen.' It's worthwhile undertaking a root-and-branch declutter, donating or recycling unwanted items and then stepping back and taking a good look at the space available.
'Open storage, such as bespoke wall mounted shelves can look just as tidy as hiding your belongings behind closed doors,' says Emily Caloe, senior buyer for furniture company . She had half the corrugated iron roof replaced with clear corrugated polycarbonate by Cut Once Woodworks, replaced a side door with double glazed doors, added a vintage Victorian window in the wall and painted the concrete floor with floor paint.
Any kind of garage, integral, attached or freestanding, can provide this flexibility; a playroom for under-fives which turns into a den for under-12s, which eventually becomes a teenage hangout and even, a party room. Converting the garage for entertaining doesn't have to mean it turns into a neon-lit 'man-cave' with optics on the wall and battered armchairs.
It could involve knocking through an adjoining wall to add a relaxed entertaining space to the rest of the house, or converting to a loggia – an outdoor room with a roof and open sides. 'Traditionally, loggias – which have their origins in Mediterranean countries, either ran along the facade of a building or could exist as a standalone feature,' says James Upton, managing director at Westbury Garden Rooms.
'Homeowners want to introduce a loggia to create a modern entertainment space that gives their evening dinner parties and summer dining experiences some added wow factor.' Average cost: £11,757 to convert the space for entertaining, plus extra for loggia or pergola elements, depending on size.
You could motivate them with a child-friendly version of stationary bikes, barbells and step machines or go full-fun with trampolines, exercise balls, skipping ropes and gymnastic balance beams.' Rob adds that whilst garages make great gyms, these spaces can be dark: 'Installing a window and the use of mirrors is key to maximising light and creating a welcoming environment.
