Realtors will tell you – sometimes it is not the house itself which convinces the buyer that the property is right for them. After all, every home has a kitchen and some bedrooms, right?
No, often it is the unique “extra step” which makes one home stand out from another. And although you may not be looking to sell your home, you may wish to design your new custom home to include something truly special – that one feature which is rarely seen, but provides a distinct wow factor. For many people, custom garages, sheds or barns are must-haves to establish dream home status.
Custom Garages
For the car enthusiast, a garage is a must. But not just any garage will do. No one wants their classic car sharing space with their kid’s bicycles and boxes of knick-knacks from the attic. Here are a few ideas for custom garages which we love:
- Showcase: Epoxy floors, shiny chrome, and gleaming workspaces – for some, the garage is a place to show off their cars in grand style. The lawn mower can go into the shed.
- Collect: One Sarasota home was famous for their 20 car garage. If you are a classic car collector, you care more about space for the cars than a swimming pool or tennis court.
- Refurbish: From creating a pit to adding jacks and lifts, many a car lover has retrofitted their garage to fix any and all cars which come their way.
Then again, not all people who love custom garages are car people. We’ve seen dance studios, exercise facilities, and even greenhouse nurseries installed in the garage – not to mention extreme storage. No matter what you choose to do with this sprawling space, it is bound to be impressive.
She-Sheds and More
The lowly shed used to be a dilapidated structure in the corner of the yard, relegated to housing dirty tools and old paint cans. Sheds have taken on new life as artist studios, spas, man caves and she-sheds. No matter what the repurposing goal, a small outbuilding on the property which is insulated, secured and wired with utilities is a huge benefit to any custom home design. Think of it as the traditional children’s playhouse – all grown up.
One of our favorite usages for an outdoor shed? Turning it into tiny home apartment for family and guests to enjoy when they visit you in paradise.
Barns are for More than Horses
Barns have soaring ceilings and plenty of space, making them the perfect location for apartments, workshops, or an exercise gym. Even those who use the barn for animals can section off areas to make them more livable, insulating and air conditioning the area for comfort. A barn on a large piece of property has always been a favorite place of escape, so why not create a second story sitting area, with lounge chairs and citronella candles to stare at the stars? With so much extra space, you can create nearly any type of sanctuary – whether or not you keep animals on property.
Not using the stalls for horses? Try sectioning them off into air-controlled rooms to keep everything from family heirlooms to wine bottles to lawn equipment – everything in its place, and neatly tucked away. Each little room can be easily transformed back to an animal stall should the next owner have the need.
The key to a truly unique and special home is imagination and thinking outside of the box – nearly any space can be retrofitted for an amazing new purpose. If you have a dream you want to bring into reality, call the Sarasota construction professionals at Lindahl Construction. We are experts at creating custom home designs which are perfect for your lifestyle.