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How
do you coax a home built in the 70's into accommodating a very
busy family of eight? Steve and Karen Berg found a solution that
took some of the family's activities out of the house and into
a new garage that's only a garage in name.
Six children provide Steve and Karen Berg with their share of
busyness. Their existing home, located on a two-acre lakefront
lot in Casselberry, lacked sufficient room for the activities
of both kids and parents. Three of the six children participate
in Irish step dancing competitions and have a wall full of medals
and trophies to show for it. One son plays drums, and Steve is
an amateur radio enthusiast. Making room for the family's activities
as well as daily necessities was a challenge. The Bergs' existing
laundry room was cramped and couldn't handle all the laundry
that resulted from time spent at the lake and pool.
"We wanted a garage, but we never intended to use it as
one," Steve explains.
PSG Construction came "highly recommended" from three
of the Bergs' friends, so Steve and Karen approached PSG partners
Paul and Stephen Gidus to discuss adding a garage the family
could use as an activity "hub." Karen also wanted to
update the facade of her brick ranch. Using their design/build
services, PSG worked with the Bergs to add a 1,376 square foot
fully finished two-car garage with a laundry room, kitchenette,
full bath and hobby room. The addition is fully air-conditioned.
A breezeway connects the addition with a new 10 foot x 30 foot
wide front porch.
Where vehicles would normally be parked is an 8 foot x 16 foot
portable wood dance floor. "This is where our three children
practice their Irish step dancing," Steve explains. "It
was important for us to give them a place to practice. Before
we had the addition, I had to lay sheets of plywood down in our
Florida room."
The 11 foot x 15 foot hobby room in the garage holds Steve's
amateur radio equipment and has its own access from the breezeway.
The laundry room can be accessed from the main garage area as
well as the breezeway. Equipped with a stationary tub, drop-down
ironing board, and Karen's sewing machine, the new laundry room
makes maintaining the clothing for the big family an easier task.
"We find it's more convenient to have the laundry room in
the garage because it's closer to where the kids play,"
Steve says.
Sharing the space in the laundry room is a kitchenette with cabinets,
a counter top and a refrigerator. The Bergs use the kitchenette
to make the children's lunches.
To attractively connect the addition to the existing house, PSG
Construction removed the small portico at the front entrance
of the house. A sprawling 30 foot wide covered porch , a courtyard
and a breezeway connect the addition to the front entrance. "This
was an afterthought," Steve explains. "Karen always
wanted a big porch." White columns and a low white railing
around the porch give the brick ranch an attractive facelift
and welcome change.
Only a garage in name, this new space helps keep the Berg family
operating at optimum speed. PSG
SOURCES
Pavers - Booth's Cobblestones Inc.
Interior Trim & Doors - Residential Building Supply
Electrical - J.D. Electrical Contractors, Inc.
Plumbing - Modern Plumbing
Drywall - R.K. Edwards, Inc.
HVAC - Air Masters |
