Problems at the Start – Conversion from the Garage to Dwell
The first challenge Sarah confronted was in the physical aspects of the garage. After all, a garage was never built with the purpose of creating a human dwelling. The walls were bare, the ceiling was not insulated, and the concrete floor was cold and unwelcoming. To Sarah, the first thing would be the structural work, then she could think of decorations and furniture. The house had to be functional and comfortable to live in even if it called for time and money in renovations.
The top priority for her was to insulate the walls and ceiling to make the garage warm in winter and cool in summer. With a small budget in mind, Sarah selected eco-friendly insulation materials that would serve not only to improve the temperature regulation but also aid her sustainable living goals. Once done with the insulation, she moved on to the flooring. The cold concrete was just not very comfortable to walk on, so she decided to install bamboo flooring, which is both sustainable and warm underfoot.
The other challenge that came with living in a garage was the design limitations. Sarah knew that the space was compact, and she would have to be very intentional about how she utilized every inch. She measured the garage to come up with the best layout that would suit all her required furniture. Sarah wanted a spacious, airy feel that did not feel cramped, so she concentrated on maximizing the vertical space. She did this by putting shelves and storage units along the walls, so the floor area remained clear.
