Monday, August 9, 2010

Big a$$ garage and the runway

I figure we should talk about the backyard while it's still summer and it makes sense to show you pictures of flowers.  No one's gonna want to see a backyard redo when it's 65 degrees out, you know?  You just won't be in the zone.

First i have to tell you about one of the main reasons we chose this particular house-it had the space to build a giant detached garage for S's antique truck that he's rebuilding.  Said giant garage is also the reason the house hasn't come along as quickly as it should, since many months were put into the preparing of the garage and the driveway. 

This is literally the first day we got the house.  I'd like to call your attention to the magnitude of weeds, black vent hiding behind the bush, and the tiered driveway with the garage under the house.  Sadly the green garage door still exists, but not for too much longer.

The yard.  I hardly knew ye. 

The tiered steep driveway leading to the under the house garage.  See ya, wouldn't wanna be ya!  This all got filled in with dirt to where the flat piece is.


Only picture i could find to illustrate this, lol.  We will be connecting this "walkway to nowhere" with stairs coming from the basement.



At least S knows his limitations-although he dug the footings, wheel-barrowed dirt back and forth a million times to fill in the steep driveway, shingled the roof of the garage, did the capping and the soffeting, ran the electricity, something about "conduit", etc, he hired professionals to do the masonry and pour the concrete.



 Boys and their toys.  Yep, that's him digging the new driveway.




What i have termed "the runway."  it's long but it looks darn good!  We were the talk of our neighborhood with this addition, strangers driving by would literally slow down and tell us what a great job we did and how the concrete looks so nice (instead of asphalt).  I like it because it gives us more side yard, and we are the only house that doesn't have the driveway next to the house, which i think is a rather clean look.


The outside of the sunroom had a facelift, too.  Can you see where that black vent was?  Look at those stairs, lordy lou.  They are stairs on stairs, if you can tell.  Concrete and then aluminum and iron, for some strange reason.


We painted the black sides tan to match the stucco, and the railings white.  I think they flow much better and don't look like they were just plopped on.  It also wasn't very long before i couldn't stand looking at the giant cinderblock garage til we stucco it.  Can't wait to show you how i prettied that up.  I hope you'll think so, too!  Here's a sneaky peak!






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21 comments:

Anonymous said...

very well done! awesome make-over. Interested to see the garage stucco

Kara said...

Looks SO much better!! Great job!!! I love love LOVE garages that aren't right up to the house...unfortunately, our house doesn't have that, but I absolutely love it!!

Crazy Garden Lady said...

My husband wants to build a Caterham 7 and it's all dependent on us having a garage/workshop and we currently don't. He's got the sad face on now because I made the mistake of showing him this gorgeous creation!

Reunion Committee said...

Thank looks wonderful!!!! S did a great job! Can't wait to see what you did! love it..
~Tana

Sweet Bee Cottage said...

Love the idea of the garage off to the side. You have done a TON of work - very impressive! I can't wait to see what else you have done.

Leigh said...

Your house is adorable! Great makeover photos. Thanks for finding my blog and leaving such a nice comment!
--Leigh
dirtcheapdecoratingdivas.blogspot.com

Jeralee said...

Phew! What a lot of work and it looks so nice! I also like your landscaping off of the back of the sunroom. The stairs and facelift look great.

Bonnie@Creative Decorating said...

Now that was a lot of work!! Great job and it looks just awesome!!

Christy B said...

Marvelous, darrrling, it all looks Marveloussss. Can't wait to see the stucco on the garage!! (shudders with anticipation)

Chef Dennis Littley said...

is nice to have some vision and then to see your ideas get done! we have so much left to do on our house...sigh...its like painting a bridge, by the time you think you are done you have to start all over....

Danielle and Clint said...

WOW! What a difference! Your house was adorable to start with! Great job!

Gail said...

You and your husband did a great job! What a difference. Thanks for the visit. I've enjoyed mine.

Jess @ Frugal with a Flourish said...

Looks amazing! I love the new look and I can see why people would slow down to take a look! Love it love it love it!

DeeAnna said...

I grew up in California so the thought of driving UNDER your house to park in the garage has EARTHQUAKE! written all over it! Too scary for me!

My Dream Canvas said...

This is great! I am hosting a jewelry giveaway on my blog. Would love for you to visit.

Jill said...

GREAT photos of your house and its progress!! You've done heaps! What a difference that driveway makes. Lookin good!!!!!

Thanks for linking up!
Jillx

Debbiedoos said...

You must be proud as a peacock when you see your new garage! I would be...looks awesome, as does the curb appeal. Thanks for joining in. Debbie

Sarah @ The Pumpkin Patch said...

Holy Smokes!!! Now that's a transformation! Sorry I wasn't able to admire your AMAZONG work last week. I was out of town. Thanks for linking to Transform Tuesday!!

Erin said...

This is great, and a runway? Fancy!!

Room to Inspire said...

It looks great - thanks for linking this up too!

Chelsea

The Polka Dot Closet said...

Wow, now that is a B4 and after, I wish I had the land...Oh, and you guy's to build it! I am visiting from Debbiedoos.

Carol