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Hi all. I posted this over at the Remodeling forum, but thought I'd post here too, since it's a bit more active, and so many of you have great ideas! We are seriously considering converting our single car garage into a dining/family room area, IF we can be assured that it won't look like a garage conversion from the outside. I would love suggestions toward that goal, and would love to find some photos (both interior and exterior photos), if anyone can help. Thanks so much!
Pam

We converted our double garage into a family room with a fireplace. We put a double window where the garage doors were and another double set of windows on the long wall. We did build another two car garage on the opposite side of the house. No one can tell our family room was once a garage. Go with it.

Your conversion idea is a popular one although I've seen some that have telltale signs of a former garage conversion. Finding windows that are in keeping w/ the facade of your home is key. Having continuity in flooring ...and a level floor at that...is also important. Re. windows, don't opt for sliders that may scream former garage door. May stating that they added a fireplace is a definite way to make the space look like the original floor plan too. Perhaps some built ins such as cabinetry and/or shelving units can also help to unify the space. Consistency of materials, continuation of the same heating/ac and a flow of public space scheme are also good ideas to impliment into your design plan. Also, consider the traffic flow and practicality re. distance and access from kitchen to the dining room portion of this space. If it doesn't make practical sense, it'll be a red flag come resale even if resale isn't on your current radar.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Froo Froo,

I think your question refers to the outside of the house. The biggest sign it was a former garage is the driveway leading up to the building. Although it can be an expense, you need to remove the concrete or black top and replace it with continuous landscaping to mimic the rest of the front yard. I don't care what kind of windows you use, it will never look like anything but a garage conversion with a driveway there.

I agree with Cavin. The interior never seemed to be the problem at the houses we looked at. It was the exterior. EVERY TIME.

realistically speaking is a one car garage big enough to be both a dining AND family room space. I would think one or another but not both.

Definitely agree with everyone WRT the driveway, windows, landscaping, flow and size restrictions, etc.

You probably already considered this but what about resale? Do you plan to build another garage elsewhere on the property? JMHO but if not, you might want to retain the driveway and remodel the current garage so that it's easily convertible back into a garage.

Best of luck with your project -

This message has been edited. Last edited by: AguaBella,

Thank you all so much for all of the advice and food for thought. Some of these things we have already been mulling over. We are in need of a new driveway anyway, so we will now plan to re-route the driveway to the side of the house, rather than right in front of the garage (if there is room--have to check.) Our neighborhood is very eclectic--there are houses both with and without garages, some single car garages, some double car garages. A few other people have converted their garages, so I do think it's allowed here, but will check for sure. (They have the driveway right up to the garage, though, so the conversion is obvious. That's what I'm trying to avoid.) (Our school district has become the darling of the state recently, and our house is in a very affordable "starter home" neighborhood--we just never left, despite many house hunting excursions! So I think our resale will remain good. Houses in this school district in this price range sell fast here.) We are planning to make the converted space primarily a dining area, with a little seating area--more of an extension of living space than a whole fanmily room/dining room. So I think the space will be big enough for that. I really appreciate all of the responses!
Pam

lol...our first house had just that, but you still saw the "old garage door"...whatt hey did was retain it, and made a work-space about 5 ft deep...inside it was done in awful wood paneling, had an added slider into the backyard...but it fit the time frame, 1976! there was also a space enclosed with the washer, dryer, and water heater...

when i coldn't stand all that brown, dh came home one day to find everything painted a bright white! (not an easy task with 4 kids running around)

we were lucky that we had a long driveway so had parking, (which the master looked out on, yuck!) but it housed us for 7 years...