To fit out the garage in the same way as the kitchen

New companies dedicated solely to residential garage design are emerging in Quebec. All are based on the same observation: more and more homeowners want to reorganize their garages, even giving them a clean, kitchen-like look. “Our customers want to leave their garage door open without being embarrassed, says Roberto Wilson, co-owner of Espace Garage Plus. They have an impeccable home and landscaping… and they want their garage to reflect the same concern for order.” To keep everything neat and tidy, the professionals suggest the use of closed cabinets. Made of treated wood or metal, they give an indoor feel to a room usually reserved for storage.

By Isabelle Audet, originally published in the Mon toit section of La Presse, Saturday, September 22, 2007

The Espace Garage Plus showroom, located in Roberto Wilson’s personal garage, is immaculate. Grey cabinets with stainless steel handles conceal the owner’s tools. There’s nothing lying around on the wooden countertop, where you wouldn’t be surprised to find a roast and a bunch of rosemary. The epoxy floor, mottled navy blue and white, looks like an industrial carpet, except that it can be cleaned with a broom or hose. The only elements that betray that this is indeed a garage are the bike, shovels, skis and a stepladder hung on a wall. And yes, despite the cleverly ordered environment, the owner parks his car there. “Fitting out a garage is still more affordable than a kitchen, but the effect of a garage full of closed cupboards leads homeowners to also use it as an extra room in the house for entertaining, says Wilson. Some of our customers have oyster dinners in their garage, or let their kids play there in winter and when it rains. It makes a great playroom for large family gatherings.” Sensing this trend, Espace Garage Plus and another company specializing in garage design, Prodesign Garage, were both founded in the last year in the Montreal area. Tired of hooks and wire shelves, homeowners who contact these specialized companies are ready to invest several thousand dollars in the layout of their garage. For a simple garage, where professionals will cover the floor, install cabinets and attach brackets to the walls, the bill can easily exceed $5,000. “The price of high-end products varies, and it’s hard to find your way around, notes Jean-François Morin, President of Prodesign Garage. When I wanted to build my own garage, I realized that there weren’t many turnkey services in this field in Quebec. That’s when I decided to launch Prodesign Garage.”

Homemade – When it comes to saving money, the majority of consumers still turn to big-box stores to do the work themselves. Silvio Pintal, Director of Sales and Marketing in Quebec for Home Depot, notes that consumers are nonetheless more selective. “They’re very interested in closed cabinets and more upscale storage, he says. However, when it comes time to buy, they’re also turning to the $30 16-inch white shelves. It’s a question of money, not taste.” Even when buying hardware from big-box stores, the bill quickly climbs. American manufacturer Sauder, one of the biggest players in the market, details a simple two-door metal cabinet at nearly $600. “When your finances don’t keep up with your ambitions, it’s best to proceed in stages, whether or not you’re dealing with a team of professionals, says Wilson. “You start by getting rid of things you haven’t used in a long time. This way, you avoid buying expensive storage for items you no longer use. Once you’ve cleaned up, you set yourself a timetable: the floor this year, the hooks next year, and the cupboards the next!”