Carriage House - Bonus Room

10 years ago

My wife and I recently purchased a craftsman bungalow built in 1914. Behind the main house there is a semi-detached, 2-story 'carriage house' (e.g. garage) with an upstairs space that I believe was originally used as a hay loft. The second story (bonus room) has been finished with carpet and paint. The room is approximately 11' x 17'. Electricity (no heat/ac), good natural light, good bones/charm. I plan to use the downstairs garage as a workshop (too small for a car), but we'd like to make something unique out of the upstairs space. A real wow factor so to speak...

We'd hate for it to succumb to a storage space! Friends have suggested office or art studio, but I plan to try and utilize the house and downstairs garage for those purposes. No kids... yet. There's not enough room in the budget to finish the garage and create a contained 2-story guest house, but I'd like to consider myself fairly creative and want to turn it into an interesting and useable space.

Do you have any interesting ideas to turn this into a one of a kind space? Cheers!

Featured Answer

michelleford1

10 years ago

I have several ideas:

1) Home Office
2) Personal Gym
3) Spiritual Space - Meditation Room
4) Library
5) Home Theater
6) Creative/Hobby/Special Collections Room

So many great things you can do here!! I'm curious to see pictures after you make your decision! Happy Holidays!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

decoenthusiaste
10 years ago
Consider one of the mini-split heat and air installations to control temps for the space. What about plumbing/water? There are some neat composting toilets that install upstairs with the catchment system in the garage below - look just like real toilets. And tankless hot water heater (or simply a dispenser) could be helpful if you can run some water there.
Senville Leto Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioner and Heat Pump · More Info
Then I'd turn the painted and carpeted area into a guest suite. Perhaps, if useful to you, do a built-in desk/office spot under that high window with curtains as you come in the door. That would be convenient for you to just pop up the stairs and get to work or amusing yourself. If you don't need a desk/office area, build in a bar there.
Related Professionals
Terre Haute Interior Designers & Decorators · Lufkin Interior Designers & Decorators · Ithaca Interior Designers & Decorators · Salinas Interior Designers & Decorators · Lake Charles Architects & Building Designers · Vicksburg Architects & Building Designers · Asheville Architects & Building Designers · Lawton Architects & Building Designers · Beckley Architects & Building Designers · Magog Architects & Building Designers · Hagerstown Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Hannibal Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Greenville Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Gary Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · La Grande Kitchen & Bathroom Designers
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
10 years ago
Home theatre and/or
Sabathia · More Info

man cave with billiard and vine bar
Maloof · More Info
havingfun
10 years ago
first in case none of our offerings appeal. there is a man evilfij, who had a thread "9 bedrooms 1 cat" Like 50 houzzers spent 6months figuring things for him to do with his extra rooms. I am going to assume there are no artistic inclinations, whether they be standard art or musical, otherwise you would have thought of that. so my idea is party or hangout space. This is a great spot to decorate for whatever your current idea or theme is. Who has this benefit. Although you want to think about who you offer it to, in essence you could have all meetings of clubs, irish parties, cinco de mayo, however you want. easy to decorate up to months in advance. I would put some sort of dumb waiter though to make it easier. You could watch big events there, especially now that projectors are so reasonable, and yet have tea parties there.

Hope it helps.
Ben Ellis
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks Michelle, will keep you posted!
Ben Ellis
Original Author
10 years ago
@decoenthusiaste thank you... some interesting ideas. A guest suite would be great, but I hate to get the city involved too much with permitting etc... On the other hand there are some pretty neat micro designs for compact spaces (apartments, etc) nowadays. What is the name of the hvac product that you uploaded a picture of?
Ben Ellis
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks @havingfun, I do paint but may try to limit arts to the garage... Really want to create a "wow" space upstairs, just undecided as to what exactly... I will definitely try to track down the evilfij thread that you speak of, sounds interesting!
havingfun
10 years ago
if you go to people i am following he is in there. just click on him, click on his activity then click on his posts, it will take you right to it.

Yes, i think you would enjoy having space that a moment's notice could support a crowd. there is plenty of time to change it to the more useful things. But i think having a spot to entertain at a moment's notice and not have to clean the whole house before and after would be great.
decoenthusiaste
10 years ago
It is a mini-split ductless air conditioning system - Mitsubishi is one of the companies that make them.