At this home in Santa Monica, Calif., the facade of the garage door, a focal point of the house, was created with scrap pieces of wood and leftover quartz from the interior countertops.The American garage is world famous. But not necessarily for cars.
Silicon Valley started in the Palo Alto, Calif., garage of the Packard family, where Hewlett-Packard was founded, according to the National Register of Historic Places. Steve Jobs launched Apple in his parents’ garage. And dozens of American bands started in garages. Amazon, Disney, Google, Harley-Davidson? All famously launched out of garages.
Garages have, for generations, been places for tinkering and creating, where kids build soapbox-derby cars or refinish kayaks. Some garages are home to small catering kitchens or extensive wine collections, and many feature extra refrigerators or freezers. And of course, they often serve as a deep storage and workshop space.
Designers and architects say the idea of the garage as the ultimate multi-purpose room is alive and well, and that modern garages are finally being seriously retooled to better suit those myriad uses.
“When it comes to garage design, functionality is always key. I’m seeing a lot more glass garage doors, whether frosted or clear. It’s more fitting for most modern homes, and makes the space more versatile because it lets in the light,” says Jonathan Savage of Nashville-based Savage Interior Design.