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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask if you'd prefer a double garage or a single garage with a kitchen diner?

73 replies

judybloomno5 · 20/11/2016 12:41

We are looking to convert a largely unused double garage to a single garage and use the other side to attach onto the kitchen as a dining room but I'm concerned this might put off future buyers so what would you prefer if you were buying?

OP posts:

PotteringAlong · 20/11/2016 14:08

No garage at all - make it a mega dining / kitchen space

nokidshere · 20/11/2016 14:24

We have no garage after converting the integral one into another room. As a garage it was useless- could just about get the car in but then couldn't open the doors wide enough to get out. As extra living space it's fantastic and used daily.

NameChange30 · 20/11/2016 15:07

I wouldn't get rid of the whole garage, I'd definitely keep a single garage.

We have no garage and a tiny shed, and it's really annoying because we don't have enough space to store bikes, lawnmower, gardening equipment, tools, paint, BBQ, garden furniture... all the stuff you need but don't want to store in the house. We desperately need a bigger shed!

We do have a kitchen-diner and it's great for entertaining.

A kitchen-diner and single garage is the best of both worlds IMO.

WLF46 · 20/11/2016 15:17

Answers will depend on individual situations. Currently I don't have a car, so kitchen diner all the way. But in a few years, maybe a double garage would be nice.

My opinion is to do whatever you feel is right for you. You're the one living there now, treat your home as your home and don't worry about what a future buyer might be looking for.

InTheDessert · 20/11/2016 15:22

Garage actually big enough to put a car in, and then get out of. And a slightly smaller than you've got planned diner.

PaulDacresConscience · 20/11/2016 15:26

Single garage plus kitchen-diner. I would use a garage for storage & DIY rather than keeping a car in it. More important to have a decent sized family kitchen-diner I think

MigsSlippers · 20/11/2016 15:29

Absolute no brainer, kitchen diner and single garage IMO. I might take a slice off the back of the remaining garage for a utility too. We haven't used our garage for a car for years.

I couldn't care whether it looks like a conversion or not. Our house was built with double garage, lounge diner, smallish kitchen. IMO too much car space, too little living space. The half-conversion just improved/updated the balance.

MrsMook · 20/11/2016 15:29

Kitchen diner and single garage.

We moved to our current house as the previous house had a seperate (small) dining room that meant traipsing through the kitchen, hall and lounge to get to the dining room. The converted kichen diner was one of the strongest pulls of this house.

We find a garage useful for storage: DIY, bikes, camping gear, gardening... it saves having to have a large shed in a small garden.

On this estate you could get a small to mid size car into an empty single garage. Not sure how you'd get out of it though! Many of the 4 bed houses have a larger upstairs over the garage, so to improve the downstairs space, the junk filled garages are frequently being converted to indoor rooms.

bigbluebus · 20/11/2016 15:40

judy sounds like you have exactly the same set up as we had 20 years ago (in a house that was 4 years old at the time). We converted the integral part of the garage into a playroom with an entrance off our kitchen. When DCs where small, we had a stable door on it so I could lock the bottom half and keep them out of the kitchen whilst I cooked/ironed etc but could still see what they were doing. As they got older the room evolved and became less playroom and more teen chill pad. We have just decorated it again as a 2nd sitting room as DS is back home at the moment and DD, who is disabled, has carers in so it is invaluable as a space for her when they are here with her (and we still have our own space).

I can honestly say that we have never missed the garage space we lost as we also have parking for 3 cars on the drive (and now actually have 3 cars) and the ability to shut the door on toys and mess every evening when the children went to bed was worth its weight in gold.

JustHappy3 · 20/11/2016 15:45

I've seen a few houses round here convert the garage but width ways - they keep the double garage door. So they only have half the garage's length. It's got good access and deep enough to put bikes in and some shelving etc. Worth considering? Noone actually puts a car in a single garage do they?
Although personally i'd go for no garage and more inside space.

shaggedthruahedgebackwards · 20/11/2016 15:49

In the scenario you have described I would absolutely go ahead with the conversion. I can never understand it when builders sacrifice some of the ground floor living space for a garage

Original poster

judybloomno5 · 20/11/2016 15:49

We've got a 4x4 with roof bars so we wouldn't be able to get it in anyway. The garage we wouldn't convert has a huge amount of loft space above it so the clutter is not an issue- just the resell of the house when/if I sell it

OP posts:

NameChange30 · 20/11/2016 16:33

I would still leave a single garage so you can use it for storage and if/when you sell the new owners can use it for storage or their car. That's just me though, depends how much space you need for your kitchen-diner and whether you can get enough by converting the double garage into a single.

BusyBeez99 · 20/11/2016 16:51

And you've got another garage I would convert the whole double garage into usable living space

RaisingSteam · 20/11/2016 17:04

Well it depends how tidy it looks from the front. We put a double garage size extension on the side of our kitchen. It has a single garage in it, and then a space we could have opened out to a huge kitchen. Instead (front to back) it has study, big utility/coat/boot room, wc. It makes the rest of the house less cluttered. Kitchen is still big enough, just not "wow" big. But then maybe you have that space already elsewhere.

I'd think about flexibility - a lot of people are looking for houses with big garages to run a small business from or do a hobby. Small house with big garage or outbuilding is a good find.

CondensedMilkSarnies · 20/11/2016 17:27

I'm sure most people know but just in case they don't - make sure you get building regs certificate for a converted garage. I converted 2/3's of my integral garage into a living room and I knew I didn't need planning permission but no one told me about buildings regs . It caused a bit of a problem when I sold my house .

Original poster

judybloomno5 · 20/11/2016 19:34

Condensed - yes I'm aware it needs to meet building regs etc.

OP posts:

Pomegranatepompom · 20/11/2016 20:24

Definitely kitchen diner and single garage.

GreenTureen · 20/11/2016 20:35

I'd convert even if only a single garage tbh.

We're looking at houses atm and I see so many with a single garage that's a complete waste of space IMO, when the houses themselves aren't huge.

indigox · 21/11/2016 01:46

No garage, living space instead.

steff13 · 21/11/2016 02:55

We have a 2.5 car garage, and I wouldn't give it up. Scraping ice and snow off the car in the winter is an issue here, though. Our driveway can accommodate 6 cars (3 and 3), but it's exposed.

WiltingTulip · 21/11/2016 03:51

Could you keep the garage and extend the kitchen at the back?

I'd never consider a house without a double garage- I realize from this thread I'm the minority but I wouldn't park my car in the drive.

TheTapir · 21/11/2016 12:41

double garage. When we bought this house their were so few with double garages as so many had converted them.

We have three cars and three motorbikes and need a double garage even though we also have driveway parking for at least four cars.

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