Is this garage addition aesthetically consistent with the house?

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

We are working on a big renovation project. We have a back entry garage which comes from the right side which takes away our backyard as we have a pie shaped lot and has a lot of asphalt. We plan to remove this and want to get a backyard and more greenery.

We were originally going to do a side entrance on the left but it creates a lot of driveway and limits the yard.

We want to move the driveway and due to structural reasons, the front is best location. We are turning a front porch into a room and so will be working in that area anyway, digging. So my arch has drawn a garage addition on left with a covered terrace - our house is from 1912 and we want to have some consistency. So I've included a color 3D of the house (from when we thought we would go deep into left side garage entry in current basement and new terrace, in case you look at aerial view). Now we would start the garage according to the attached site plan instead. Do you think the visual of the house from front with left front garage (in pencil sketch) is visually consistent, addition too big? What might you do to change it? Would you prefer an open terrace?

I've included - concept sketch for new garage addition from front view, the aerial view of plan we are not likely to do bc there is so much going towards back, and also site plan to match the concept sketch.

What would you change or does this look aesthetically consistent, appropriate?

Featured Answer

bonnaccra
Original Author

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

Design Doula - thanks for your creativity and ideas. There are some things I can't do because of lot coverage rules. You have to keep a certain amount of your property uncovered to support stormwater recovery and the environment. I have a feeling the design you proposed might not be allowed because it is extensive. Additionally, we have to be a certain distance from our neighbor/property line and I think the version you drew would not be allowed for that reason. but there are some ideas I could incorporate. I like your overall attempt to get more yard space though! that is a goal we have too.

Just to clarify the actual site plan for the house is this with the expected additions. So this is the house today and the room on the left is just a covered patio. There is no garage there next to covered patio now. Our current garage is entered from the back where the terrace and addition are now. Right now there is just a patio there and it is not as deep. So we are proposing a change from our current basement garage.

The current idea is to build a garage addition which matches our sloped property. The garage is expected to be a basement level and the roof would be at the height of the current brick patio. which will become an office at the ground/1st level. With the garage to the left of this room, you would enter from the basement and have a mudroom in the basement which would allow you to get into the house.

I live in the suburbs of NY and winters can be harsh so we greatly favor an attached garage. Your idea about squaring away the brick patio area which will become an office may make sense and help them make the garage recessed if we keep this idea. We would have wanted to try to enter the garage from that new office too but there is a fireplace on that house wall which makes it structurally hard, but your idea of squaring away that side may make things a little better there. hmm. so that would mean no addition if we did that. If we keep the addition, squaring it off may allow more options for recessing it a bit. hmm.

Any other thoughts after these details? thx

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Comments (6)

The Design Doula
6 years ago

Hi, first to be clear,I am just a regular person with zero architectural knowledge but I live in Los Angeles area and we gave to be thoughtful about how we use land. I would square off that new office and move the garage forward and to the edge of the property, with a small driveway, and connect it through covered walkway/patio. You could landscape around that new driveway to disguise it and prob make the garage much bigger (3 car plus storage?). Not sure if the "covered deck w garage space is new or not but it could be removed (?) thereby opening up the yard significantly. If you cannot remove the "covered deck/garage" area, I'd convert that garage into a room for the house. If you live in a cold place I'm guessing you'd hate the idea of having a "walk" to the garage, but you'd also have a very small driveway to shovel. :) I'd put a basketball hoop in that concrete space in front of the garage I propose--kids would love it. Detached garages will look "period consistent". Lovely property!
bonnaccra thanked The Design Doula
loobab
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
You asked if the garage addition was aesthetically consistent.

You've got the emphasis on the wrong syllable.

Once I saw in the rendering that the driveway was "back out only,",

my suggestion to you is to tell whoever drew up these plans to go back to the drawing board!

Back out only is an accident (or three or four) waiting to happen!

There has to be a better way, and if that so-called designer/drawer or whoever did that plan can't figure it out, find an architect who can, even if you have to give up your side yard.

Safety first.

What you save in medical bills and car replacement costs will more than cover the costs of new renderings.
bonnaccra thanked loobab
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bonnaccra
Original Author
6 years ago
No worries on that driveway. We can make it a T-shape and I have someone working on it. We have some lot coverage rules and so I think that's why he didn't bother as this was an initial draft. We can use gravel to form a back out area as I do agree with you!
WestCoast Hopeful
6 years ago
Back out driveways are the norm in many areas. We back in so we don’t back out. 😜

There are tons of rules about impermeable surfaces in our city. If you don’t have similar rules then expand the driveway but that also means less yard. It’s all about how your family uses your spaces and what matters most
bonnaccra thanked WestCoast Hopeful
The Design Doula
6 years ago
Hi again! Unfortunately, I am not qualified to make suggestions especially since it is difficult for me to envision the property, slope, etc. My last bit of advice to anyone doing a major remodel is to make room for a gym on your property! On our 12k sq ft lot, we have a one story 5bed, 4 bath +office house (3700sq ft), 2 car detached garage with an attached 275 sq ft professional looking gym, a 1/2 basketball court, a 30x18 pool/spa, and a grassy area in backyard and front. I share this only to say that maximizing every inch of space should the priority! The gym was best thing we have ever done! Especially during COVID. Push your architect to maximize your property so that you can love it forever! Your house is already gorgeous and I'm sure you will be delighted with your additions.
bonnaccra thanked The Design Doula