Garage: Reinventing the Place We Park [Hardcover]

Kira Obolensky (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2001

Anyone who thinks the garage is simply a place to park the car will never think that again after a look at this book. Garage takes a look at the last, undiscovered frontier of home design... the most versatile room not in the house. The book explores many uses for this ubiquitous space -- from studio, library, and museum to soundstage, playroom, and greenhouse. Garage takes this space seriously, after all.
-- Includes more than 200 color photographs of over 50 garages.
-- Shows how to create a garage "room" that meets one's needs for efficiency and style.
-- Provides options for using existing space and floor plans for new structures.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

These two books are fine additions to the literature of architecture and building from Taunton Press, best known for the magazines Fine Woodworking and Fine Homebuilding. In an introduction and six chapters, Obolensky, who collaborated with Sarah Susanka on The Not So Large House, presents 52 garages, from basic to elaborate. Various styles and purposes are illustrated, including workshops, hobby shops, living spaces, and parking spaces. The extraordinary photography that accompanies the precise text brings the glory of the "Garage Mahal" to life. The result is whimsical in tone yet serious in design and execution detail. Architect Mulfinger and writer/editor Davis accomplish much the same for the cabin. In four chapters "Rustic," "Transformed," "Traditional," and "Modern" they present 36 cabins from across the United States. In addition to exterior and interior photographs, colored renderings of site plans are included where needed. The authors also emphasize the importance of mood and environment. While this book is a bit more serious than Garage, the joy in the discovery of great design operates strongly here as well. These extraordinarily well-produced books are enthusiastically recommended, particularly in communities strong in second-home construction. Alex Hartmann, Williamsport, PA
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Filled with lavish color photos of ordinary and unusual garages... it shows what can be done to transform ordinary, mundane garages into creative, attractive, and useful spaces."

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Taunton Press (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561583782
• ISBN-13: 978-1561583782
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 9.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #722,086 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MAKES OPTIMUM USE OF EXTRA SPACE, October 11, 2001

By 

Sandra D. Peters "Seagull Books" (Prince Edward Island, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Garage: Reinventing the Place We Park (Hardcover)

We all know friends, neighbours and co-workers who have everything in their garage except the family car. The car usually gets booted out the door in favour of lawn furniture and equipment, camping supplies, and anything else that comes along.

In this book, the reader will find a variety of uses for the garage over and above "a place to stash the useful and useless odds and ends." Personally, I liked the greenhouse and studio ideas, but there are others here, too, such as the soundstage that would excite the teen-aged musician in the family, and a playroom to keep younger children amused for hours.

This is one of the first books I have seen on garages and it has some excellent ideas. With over fifty concepts contained here, the book has something to please every lifestyle and virtually every taste. The reader is only limited by their budget, but many of the ideas can be scaled down or expanded upon depending on the financial resources available.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not garages exactly, November 8, 2004

By 

debushau (nj, usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Garage: Reinventing the Place We Park (Hardcover)

This book and the great mass of the photos relate not to the garage, ie, a covered space where cars are stored or where a hobbyist workshop is located, but converted space or living space above a garage. If you're interested in creative garage layout, workshop arrangement, automobile-related storage, etc., this is not the book. If your desire is to turn a hardworking garage into a granny flat, this is for you.

28 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not Just a Parking Box, November 21, 2001

By 

"christine2040" (Manhattan Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Garage: Reinventing the Place We Park (Hardcover)

Kira Obolensky finally gives the garage its due as a room with potential far beyond its obvious use in her beautifully photographed, straight-forwardly written book. Great source of inspiration for anyone looking to eke out an extra room or anyone who enjoys spending time in his garage. Fun gift for lovers of architecture, home and style as well as garageophiles (my realtor says it's the #1 room for most men). But beware: your own garage will likely feel inadequate after you peruse these handsome pages.