Search our entire collection of Garage Apartment Plans.

There are countless types of construction projects that are fashionable with today’s homeowners, but one in particular stands alone - literally. It’s the detached garage with an upper-level apartment floor plan.

For an array of reasons, detached garage designs are experiencing resurgence in popularity. In reviewing the countless options of available sizes and styles for detached two and three-car garages, many people are discovering the practicality of garages that would also include functional living spaces up above their vehicles.

Sometimes referred to as Carriage House Plans, garage apartment designs can serve a multitude of purposes. For example, many parents of older teenagers or college-age children have found these detached living spaces can offer some level of privacy for all, while allowing mom and dad to keep a “close eye” on the children. Others have found garage apartments to provide the ideal accommodations for overnight guests and friends, or to even function well as mother-in-law suites. Hobby studios, out-of-the-home offices, rental apartments and just plain “getaway spaces” are also among the other popular options that are being utilized.

My sister recently built a detached garage apartment behind the home she recently purchased in Greer SC. Her sole purpose for the project is to utilize it as guest space when my other siblings and I visit. This upper-level living area above the garage will have all of the amenities of a home - kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and a sitting area.

I will review a few of our most popular 2 and 3-car garage plans, to provide some examples of the types of garages people are currently buying and building. We’ve also provided links at the top and bottom of this page for you to view the other 90 detached garage designs that are available.

2-Car Garage Plans.

The Charleston Apartment Over Garage Plan # 74803 is a two car garage with 792 sq. ft. of living quarters above the parking space. With a lap siding exterior and decorative trim details, this plan is reminiscent of a country barn. It would be perfect temporary quarters during construction of your permanent home. Or it could serve as an in-law apartment, nanny quarters, college student apartment, etc. This design features an eat-in kitchen area, a spacious family room, a bathroom and a bedroom with both a clothes closet and storage closet. Two more closets, as well as an oversized pantry, provide maximum storage in minimum space. Laundry appliances could be positioned in the garage adjacent to the mechanical area. A shady covered porch is perfect for relaxing with friends. We have shown an outdoor fireplace in our rendering to help you plan your recreational space.

Garage Apartment Plan 86903
This is an ideal 2 car plan with lots of attractive features. With 628 sq. ft. of total heated living space, it makes for a fantastic little apartment. The one bedroom, one bathroom floor plan provides ample living space and has well proportioned rooms. The living room is 11 feet by 12 feet in size, and is complete with a welcoming fireplace. The garage designer also took good care of providing a generous amount of natural light. The deck off the back is great for grilling or relaxing in the fresh air. No wonder this is our best selling garage plan in this category. Please be aware that the garage floor plan is quite narrow at 20′-4″. This could make for a tight fit for two large vehicles.

Garage Apartment Plan 49025
This Traditional style two car garage design with three dormers across the front and two 8-foot-high garage doors is sure to please. The floor plan features one bedroom, bath with stand-up shower, sitting room and a kitchen complete with an island workspace. The large dormer in the center of the floor plan can accommodate a compact office area or work desk with chair. Generous storage space is available across the back of the plan with a coat closet, pantry, and linen closet. It is possible to move the stairs to the outside of the garage plan to increase the total living space if required. Our modification team will be glad to provide an estimate for any changes that might come to mind.

3-Car Garage Designs

Garage Apartment Plan 58569

This Traditional style garage design features a 3 car garage and a magnificent covered porch. An impressive floor plan includes two bedrooms, 1½ baths, a kitchen, dining area, and a great room with sliding glass doors onto the covered deck. It should be noted that at 28-feet-deep, the third stall offers sufficient space for either a work bench at the rear, or a fishing boat with trailer. At 877 sq. ft., few garage apartments have ever looked so good. That’s why this plan is “selling like hotcakes.”

Garage Apartment Plan 58568
This plan features a three-stall garage design with three well-proportioned dormers across its front facade. Two large bedrooms, each with its own bath, balance the layout of this floor plan. The U-shaped kitchen, complete with an eating bar and dining area, is open to the great room, making this design appear much larger then its 920 square feet.
The master suite has a full bath with walk-in closet, which is an unexpected bonus in garage apartments.
Please Note:
Our detached garage apartment plans are available in one, two, or three car versions and generally range from about 300 to over 1,000 square feet in size. Modifications can be made to match the garage plan of choice, to almost any home style. Our modification team can even add dormers to provide additional daylight to living spaces. Click here to search our entire Apartment over Garage Plans collection.

Other popular uses for a garage with living space above are:

• Rental space for additional income
• In-law suite
• Office space or home office (tax write off)
• Additional space for growing families

Common characteristics of an apartment over garage design

• Available in one, two, or three car versions
• Can match most any home style
• Dormers on roof provide light to living space above garage
• Square footage can range from 300 to over 1,000 square feet

Search our entire Apartment over Garage Plans collection.

(ARA) - Every year more than 500,000 fires occur in homes across the nation. To help protect your home and your loved ones, the experts have come up with the following easy-to-follow tips that could make all the difference.

“Fires, even small ones, can quickly become out of control,” says Lou Manfredini, Ace’s “Helpful Hardware Man.” “Taking the time now to prepare your home can help save lives and money.”

Protect your home

Any home is susceptible to fire, and the first step to keeping your family safe is to purchase two essential items.

* Fire alarms: Fire alarms are your first line of defense when it comes to fires. Make sure that you have one installed on every level of your home - even the attic. To get the most protection, install one in, or near, every bedroom.

Fire alarms use three different methods to detect fire: photoelectric, which responds to smoke; ionization, which responds to smoke and gas; and thermal, which responds to heat. When choosing an alarm, select one that utilizes more than one of the above methods.

Once the fire alarms are installed, be sure to test them once a month and change the batteries twice a year “A good reminder is to change the batteries when you change your clocks for daylight savings,” says Manfredini.

* Fire extinguisher: Every home should have a fire extinguisher, specifically one that is labeled as “ABC” which means it can be used on all types of fires. Additionally, bigger is not always better when it comes to these products. It is important to select a size that fits within your appropriate storage location. “The general rule of thumb is to have one fire extinguisher on every floor of your home, especially a small one for your kitchen,” says Manfredini.

The experts also suggest keeping a fire extinguisher within 10 feet of the stove, on the same side of the kitchen that has the exit. Many fires occur in the kitchen, such as grease fires, and keeping an extinguisher nearby can help you contain the damage.

Once you have selected your fire extinguisher purchase the desired number plus one additional extinguisher for you to try out. Remember, you don’t want to have to learn how to use the extinguisher while there is a fire in your home.

Stop fire before it starts

While fires can start for any number of reasons, there are two common causes that are easy to fix.

* Fireplaces: There is nothing better than sitting in front of a warm fire on a cold day, but unmaintained fireplaces can be a huge hazard.

“Your chimney should be cleaned and inspected on a yearly basis,” says Manfredini. “This requires special tools and ladder work, so it’s a project that is better left to a certified chimney sweep.”

After you get your fireplace cleaned, install a chimney spark arrester that will prevent stray sparks from catching your roof on fire and a fireplace screen that will keep stray sparks from coming into your home.

* Appliances: Electrical fires can occur out of nowhere, so if your appliance is emitting an unusual smell, unplug it and have someone repair it before using again. Additionally, replace frayed or cracked electrical cords and don’t overload extension cords. Never run cords under rugs.

If you find you have too many plugs going into one outlet (or extension cord), purchase a surge protector, which will keep your appliances safe should a surge occur, and keep overloaded electrical systems from catching fire.

For more home safety tips and advice, visit www.acehardware.com or stop by your neighborhood Ace Hardware store.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) - When the sun is shining and the summer breezes are blowing, it’s difficult to resist the call to relax outdoors. But if you have a blank canvas of grass or a cement slab, it doesn’t exactly call to mind visions of barbecues and family gatherings. Don’t stare longingly out the windows this summer when you can expand your living space to include the outdoors in just a few simple steps. 

Outdoor living spaces are the next best thing to adding square footage onto your home. Whether you’re looking for a simple outdoor seating area or a larger space to entertain, there are a few things to pay attention to before you start. 

Keep the scale of your space in mind. If you have a large yard, small furniture will be dwarfed. Create a focal point, whether it’s your dining table, an outdoor fireplace or a water feature. Carry over your indoor style to your outdoor spaces to make them feel like an extension of your home. 

A stylish outdoor living space doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Figure out what you’ll use the space for most and create a plan that covers the main elements of your outdoor space. 

Patio 
If you don’t have a deck or cement patio, it can be an expensive home improvement project. If you’re not ready for the work or the investment, try ready-made patio blocks that make it easy to have a sunny and stable outdoor space in minutes. You can recreate the look of expensive stone without breaking the budget. 

Seating Area 
Create your own outdoor cafe with a patio set. You can find sets in every style from simple to ornate and in materials from weather-resistant and easy-to-maintain resin to substantial cast iron. The three-piece Crown Bistro set from Seventh Avenue is an affordable way to add outdoor seating no matter what size your space is. Add an umbrella for extra style and to shade out the sun. If you’ve got room, add several cozy chairs with outdoor cushions to create a seating area separate from the dining space. 

Lighting 
Candles or white string lights are often all you need to create a festive or intimate mood on a warm summer night. But for walkways and paths, make sure to keep it safe with low-voltage or solar lighting. Lights powered by the sun are not only earth-friendly, they make it easy to illuminate spaces that don’t easily accommodate hard wiring. You can light up a children’s play area with whimsical glowing flowers or add polish to your front sidewalk with classic lanterns. 

Outdoor Cooking 
Making your space into an outdoor kitchen is as easy as adding a grill. Whether charcoal or gas, cooking outdoors during the summer is a great way to entertain but also keeps your house cool because you won’t have to use the oven. 

Wildlife 
Don’t forget to make space for your feathered friends. Bird houses and bird feeders are a wonderful way to welcome nature into your outdoor space and bird watching can quickly become a favorite family pastime. Remember to keep your bird feeder filled with seed once you place it out. Birds recognize familiar food sources and come to rely on them. 

For more stylish and affordable ideas for outdoor spaces, visit SeventhAvenue.com. 

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) - With the real estate market yet to rebound from its dramatic plunge and credit still tight, housing figures show that more homeowners are staying put. But that doesn’t mean they’re sitting idly by. People are investing in affordable home upgrades that not only make an immediate impact, but make their property more attractive should they decide to put it on the market later. 

“Today, when it comes to upgrades for your home, it’s all about bang for the buck. Homeowners are looking for the best return on investment as well as simple, inexpensive ways to make dramatic improvements to their homes,” says Leigh Brown, real estate broker in Charlotte, N.C. “Outdoor living spaces, landscaping, decks and patios all make a big difference — not only in how comfortable your current home is now, but how buyers see it when you’re ready to sell.” 

The trend in outdoor living space has moved toward creating outdoor living “rooms,” and the options available to homeowners have grown with the number of available products on the market. 

“When you’re looking at homes in a certain price range, you tend to see a lot of the same things. The features that make a home stand out and make people want to live there are often the outdoor spaces,” Brown says. 

Chris Fox, marketing manager for Universal Forest Products of Grand Rapids, Mich., says his company’s outdoor living products, including composite lumber decking and deck and fence accessories, have continued to sell well in this economy, even as new construction has slowed. 

“Our decking products, such as Latitudes Composite Decking, continue to be desirable for homeowners who are staying put and updating their existing homes rather than moving. Deck updates and upgrades are projects that make sense in this economy and that create added value for the future, as well as enjoyment and added living space for right now,” Fox says. 

Composite decking products are low maintenance and eco-friendly. Latitudes is made from 70 percent recycled materials. Brown says “green” home improvements can make a difference when buyers are comparing properties. 

Homeowners who already have decks find that swapping out balusters or adding decorative post caps or lights can also make a dramatic difference that adds beauty as well as value to their outdoor living space. 

Deckorators offers aluminum and glass balusters in a variety of styles to accent virtually any architectural look. Deck railing balusters can be installed on a new deck or can be used to update the look of an old one. 

“In neighborhoods where every home has a deck, the nicer decks sell the home faster. Typically, it’s about the details even more than the size. Designer rails, lights and finishes make all the difference,” Brown says. 

Dino Perelli, a real estate agent who specializes in lake property in Texas, says that deck and dock upgrades are one way his clients are setting their properties apart from the many others on the market. 

“Homes are sitting on the market longer, and that causes property owners to look for things they can do to set their property apart. In our area, that means adding more living space to docks or replacing tired-looking wood decks with long-lasting composite material,” Perelli says. 

Whether looking to update an existing home for personal enjoyment or preparing it for sale, outdoor living spaces present opportunities for improvement. Turning a generic deck into an inviting and attractive space to spend time sets a home apart, which is what real estate experts say home buyers will look for when the real estate market improves. 

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Going Green at the Grill Is Easy, Tastes Great and Helps Saves the Planet One Bite at a Time

(ARA) - Each spring, millions of grilling enthusiasts dust off the grill in anticipation of another fun-filled summer of backyard barbecues. But at what cost to the environment? According to Sierra magazine, the estimated 60 million barbecues held on the Fourth of July alone in the U.S. consume enough energy — in the forms of charcoal, lighter fluid, gas and electricity — to power 20,000 households for a year.    

If this statistic has your grilling outlook going from sunny to overcast, don’t panic. It’s quite easy to minimize your environmental impact while grilling by taking a few simple steps that won’t diminish your grilling experience. Yes, you too can grill green, and these simple tips will help you get your grill on while keeping Mother Earth on your good side. After all, charcoal has been in use since the days of Henry Ford, but you’re not still driving a Model T, are you? 

One of the biggest factors in grilling green is the fuel source used to grill. All grilling fuels use natural resources and emit pollutants into the environment, but some do so at a much greater cost than others. Charcoal grills and lighter fluid contribute more to ground-level ozone, which is produced when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic chemicals combine in hot weather conditions. In addition, charcoal produces more carbon monoxide and particulates than other grilling options. 

Though gas grills offer one of the quickest ways to barbecue, the grills can be expensive to purchase, liquid propane gas is a non-renewable fossil fuel and many a barbecue have been put on hold due to empty propane tank syndrome. But charcoal and gas aren’t the only fuel sources to consider when grilling. Recent innovations in the industry have opened the door to a greener grilling experience. 

One such innovation is the FlameDisk — a charcoal alternative made from solid ethanol, a renewable biofuel. Food grilled on the FlameDisk tastes just like it was grilled over charcoal, but using this eco-friendly grill fuel emits 99 percent less carbon monoxide and 91 percent fewer VOCs than grilling with charcoal. Plus the by-products created when ethanol is burned include only water and a modest amount of carbon dioxide. 

And unlike lighter fluid and propane gas, the FlameDisk is not derived from non-renewable petroleum. Wood is another green grill fuel option, but like charcoal it burns dirty, producing tiny soot particles that pollute the air and can cause health problems. However, unlike charcoal, the ash from wood can be disposed of in your garden, and is a greener option when obtained from a sustainable source like hickory or mesquite. 

Your selection of grilling accessories also determines how much impact your grilling experience has on the environment. Not only can using real plates and silverware add some class to your next cookout, you’ll be reducing your waste by steering clear of the paper and plastic. In addition, many highly biodegradable disposable options have recently become available on the market. If you’re wrapping food in aluminum foil, consider using 100 percent recycled aluminum. Cleanup can be both easy and green when you use natural cleaners, many of which you can make safely and affordably in your own kitchen using common ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice and water. 

While charcoal reigned supreme in the days of Henry Ford, there’s no reason the modern day barbecue can’t save the earth one burger or tofu dog at a time. While no one expects you to cook your next turkey with a solar oven, it’s just good sense to consider grilling green as an eco-friendly barbecue option in the 21st century. While it might not be as green as switching over to a hybrid car, any reduction in your carbon footprint can make a difference over time. So move over charcoal, here comes something greener! 

For more information on the FlameDisk and how you can grill green this summer, go to www.FlameDisk.com. 

Courtesy of ARAcontent