The Great Garage Hoax
It started becoming a prominent feature with the coming out of split-level homes. Then, because no designer cried foul, it multiplied until it took over three-quarters of the home frontage. I am speaking about the most over-rated and the most ugly of home features - the garage!
The garage began before the turn of the 20th century as a place for the well-to-do to keep the carriage. (Most city people did not have the space to keep the horses so they were housed at the local stable.) Then the automobile made garages a necessity. But no one said that they had to take over the curb view.
A Big Tongue
Many split-level designs shoved the garage out front like a big tongue. The rest of the home hid behind the house as if the homeowner was afraid to come out. This put the entrance door in a dark, enclosed area between the home space and the garage.
And while the old one-car garage may not be an option for three cars no one said that you had to build three garages side by side. Home builders pushed these monstrosities and, years later, designers were showing the same people how to add living space above your garage. Is that what you want people to remember your house by?
If you have one of these eyesores and want some help on a re-design go to Renovation Experts and get up to 4 great ideas and estimates.
1 comment February 14, 2008
