Lucky dad Hamish got just what he wanted this year for Father’s Day, when he and his wife Zoe transformed their disorganised garage. “We had absolutely nowhere to put our stuff,” says Zoe, who made it her project to turn the overlooked area into a user-friendly space. “The rest of the house was completely done, but we never got to the garage,” she says. Tools and sports gear littered the room or hung precariously from timber beams. Now, the space has a refined look and oodles of storage.

The functional elements, including shelving units and a pegboard for tools, have been contained to one wall to keep the space uncluttered. Avid polo players, Zoe and Hamish also use the pegboard to hang their polo sticks, creating a tribute to their favourite sport. “We’re both really happy with it,” says Zoe, admitting that the Father’s Day gift was as much for her as it was for Hamish. “I couldn’t stand the mess and I spend just as much time driving in and out of there – we share it!”

Cleverly disguised

Concealing the less attractive elements, such as visible plumbing and insulation, is the best way to make a garage more appealing. While timber beams on the ceiling lend a rustic charm, the exposed structural work on the wall above the cellar was an eyesore that made the garage feel crowded and attracted dust. Gyprocking, plastering and painting over the beams has created a fresh look that opens up the garage and is easy to keep clean.

Out in the open
If you think cupboards are best for garage storage, think again: they may keep mess out of view, but too often end up disorganised and dusty, full of spider webs and unused junk. Open shelving, on the other hand,

is all the incentive you need to keep tools and hardware in order. These heavy-duty five-tier utility shelving units from Bunnings Warehouse, powder-coated in black, are slimline and unobtrusive. Zoe and Hamish store small bits and pieces in clear plastic boxes, so they can see at a glance what each holds, while other garage paraphernalia, such as tool boxes and garden implements, is within easy reach and in clear view.

Colour cues

Give boring workspace necessities a makeover for a garage that’s equal parts fabulous and functional. A once humble pegboard from Bunnings Warehouse is one of the garage’s stand-out features. Originally plain white, it’s now – fittingly – painted in Porter’s Paints Polo, a deep teal that masks dirt and rust marks from the tools. The same chalky stone shade used on the home’s exterior (Dulux Weathershield in Ecru) coats the garage walls for continuity. “I love that the colour flows on from the courtyard down to the garage,” enthuses Zoe.

Vintage verve

Freestanding furniture, rather than the standard built-in units of most workrooms, imbues a space with character and individuality. A weathered carpenter’s workbench from Doug Up On Bourke is perfect for Hamish to complete odd jobs, and appeals to Zoe’s sense of style.

Budget Breakdown

Labour ................................................................. $900
Carpenter’s workbench .................................... $890
Paint ...................................................................... $125
Utility shelving ................................................... $180
Pegboard ............................................................... $95
Total $2190
Source list: Bunnings Warehouse, bunnings.com.au; Doug Up On Bourke, douguponbourke.com.au; Dulux, dulux.com.au; Porter’s Paints, porterpaints.com.