Garage Interior Design

Garage Storage Solutions for the Avid Gardener

March 13, 2018 by Rick Scully Leave a Comment

This year the March Equinox is March 20^th, 2018 at 12:15pm EDT. There are two Equinoxes each year – one in September and one in March. The March Equinox is the day of the year where the sun shines directly on the equator as it moves to shine on the northern hemisphere for the summer. On this day, the length of the day is nearly equal to the length of the night.

Besides March 20^th being the Equinox, it’s also the time of year that the gardeners are itching to get out and into the yard. In fact, if you’re a fanatical gardener, you’re probably already out in the green house aka the garage tinkering with seeds, soil and saplings that you’ve been nurturing all winter long.

Workspace in the Garage

You’ve pulled out your workspace so you can work with your potting soil and get those seeds planted so your saplings will be ready. In the larger garages with fewer storage requirements, you may actually have the back corner of the garage available for an L-shaped workbench made to measure.

If you’ve gone with garage cabinets, you may have opted for the workbench option which is built-in with drawers or cabinets below the workspace. A stainless steel work surface is typical of the workbench option with garage cabinet storage systems today.

Now, if space is at a premium in the garage for whatever reason, a made to measure fold down workspace which folds out from the wall and then tucks away when you’re done is one way to build a working area into the garage. Another space saver is a roll out workbench which can be tucked under a storage platform until it’s needed and then stored under the platform when you’re done working.

Not only are all of these workbench / workspace options available for the gardener but also the handy person of the house, the auto enthusiast and the arts & crafts enthusiast. What makes it complete is a space for all the gardening tools.

The Slatwall Organization System for Gardening Tools

If you already have a slatwall organization system then you’re probably already using it for winter shovels, ice scrapers, snow blowers, salt and much more to survive the icy, snowing and sometimes wet winter weather. But, once March Equinox comes around, the gardener of the family might just get the itch to switch all of those tools out for trowels, hoes, garden shovels, rakes and much more.

With the StoreWall slatwall organization system, the materials are so durable and modular that swapping out winter tools for garden tools is easy to do. The weatherproof commercial grade thermoplastic means that the slatwall will remain mold and mildew free. Water and ice will not cause the wall to wear or crack.

Then, with a wide variety of accessory hooks, shelves and baskets, the slatwall becomes invaluable for storing everything the gardener needs. There are modular baskets or shelves to store fertilizer, soil, wood chips and seeds. And, there are numerous types of large and small hooks secured with Camlok^TMtechnology so that the hooks won’t slip or slide. In fact, with the hooks locked into place, they are strong enough to hang the typical lawn mower so the average garden tools will not pose a problem for the StoreWall slatwall system.

Off Season Storage for Tools

During the off season, the gardening tools can be stored out of reach on the overhead platform or shelf. Since they don’t need to be easily accessible during the winter, it makes sense to store them up and out of the way. Switching them out for winter shovels and other tools needed to weather the ice and snow makes sense.

Now that the March Equinox has arrived, the avid gardener will be anxious to pull out the gardening tools and store the winter tools away onto the overhead shelving. Re-arranging the hooks and shelves on the slatwall makes it possible to accommodate the various shapes and sizes of the garden tools which would not necessarily match the configuration needed to hang the winter shovels and tools.

Go Green with Garage Cabinets to Store Vermicompost Bins

The average person may not be thinking worm composting but the gardener who’s thinking green and wanting to have some rich organic fertilizer to work with as early in the season as possible may be adding vermicomposters to the storage area in the garage where the blue bin, green bin and garbage bins are located.

Vermicomposters take the organic wastes such as orange peels, coffee grounds, egg shells and much more to get worms living in the composter to turn our organic wastes into fertilizer. All winter while we’ve been eating, the gardener in the family has been dumping all that organic waste into the vermicomposter for fresh fertilizer to use as soon as the March Equinox is in sight.

A variety of options for dedicating a space for compost, green bin, blue bin and garbage are available including platforms, shelves, cabinets and hooks.

Garage Renovations which Meets the Diversity of Your Family’s Lifestyles

Regardless of what makes your family members passionate for the weekends, a good garage renovation solution will accommodate outdoor adventurers to athletes to car enthusiasts to avid gardeners and so much more. Consult with one of our garage renovation specialists today to find out how your garage can fit all these lifestyles.

Connect with Nature and Winter Solstice

December 12, 2017 by Rick Scully Leave a Comment

The Winter Solstice marks the day with the shortest amount of daylight and the longest night of the year on December 21st. After the Winter Solstice, the days get longer and the nights get shorter. People from around the world recognize and celebrate this day with light and fire. Sounds a lot like what we do for Christmas and how we decorate our homes and garages with lights and lit ornaments.

Many people from around the world celebrate the mid-winter time of year whether from the Northern or Southern Hemisphere.

A Variety of Celebrations for Winter Solstice

Soyal – Zuni & Hopi Indians of Northern Arizona

The focus of the Soyal ceremony celebrated by the Zuni and Hopi Indians is meant to bring back the sun after the long dark winter. A prayer stick called the Paphos is used to bless the community including homes, animals and plants. The ceremonies represent purification with dancing and gift giving including Kachina dolls representing the spirits of the caves within the mountains.

Yalda Night – Persian Celebration for Winter Solstice

The Yalda Night is a celebration of December 21^st by the Persians marked by family gatherings where people eat, drink and read poetry. Fruits and nuts are savoured especially red ones such as pomegranate and watermelon because the colour symbolizes the light of dawn and the glow of life.

The Yalda Night represents the longest night and the initial night representing the forty days of the three month winter after this night.

Inti Raymi – Peruvian Celebration of the Sun

The Inti Raymi is a celebration of Peru’s Midwinter which begins June 21^st and gets celebrated on June 24^th because the Inca believed that the sun stayed in the same place for 4 days. Peru is in the Southern Hemisphere where winter is the opposite season from our celebrations here so instead of a December celebration of Winter Solstice, they have their midwinter in June.

The Sun God was revered by the Incas which is where the celebration originated and today, the Peruvians continue its tradition.

Saturnalia – Ancient Roman Celebration Most Closely Linked to Christmas

The Saturnalia is an ancient Roman Celebration which is most closely linked to our modern day Christmas celebrations. Saturnalia was initially celebrated on December 17, 2017 but then extended to seven days ending on December 24, 2017. It was liveliest celebration of the year where people filled the streets with Mardi Gras-like celebrations while all work and business is suspended. Also, social norms and moral restrictions are lifted.

There was gift giving to children and the poor. Especially, gifts of light or “phos” such as candles were commonly given. Then, on Roman New Years (January 1^st), people decorated their homes with lights and greenery.

It’s easy to see how these traditions are closely linked to how we celebrate Christmas today.

Midwinter in Antartica

When we’re celebrating long days here in the Northern Hemisphere, the researchers who inhabit the Antartica are living through long dark periods. They celebrate with special meals, films and even handmade gifts.

St. Lucia’s Day – Scandinavian Festival of Lights

St. Lucia’s Day is celebrated in Sweden, Norway and parts of Finland on December 13^th honouring St. Lucia who brought food to poor Christians. The day marks the beginning of Christmas. It is a celebration to bring light and hope to the last dark days of winter. Food is shared and served.

In earlier times, the Norse celebrated the winter solstice with large bonfires to ward away evil spirits and to alter the path of the sun. St. Lucia was incorporated after the Scandinavians converted to Christianity around the year 1000.

Dong Zhi – China’s Arrival of Winter Festival

This is translated as “the extreme of winter” where the nights are longest around December 22^nd. It is to celebrate the return of longer days, more light and therefore, greater positive energy as part of the yin yang of dark and light.

As part of the festivities, families gather together to have a lavish meal especially to nourish the body and soul to prevent frostbite and other ailments of the cold winter. Foods such as Tang Yuan or rice balls and dumplings filled with lamb or other meats are eaten.

How We Can Celebrate Winter Solstice

Here are some of the ways that people celebrate the season which were born out of the Winter Solstice:

Decorate the house with evergreen wreaths & boughs, mistletoe, holly, and ivy
Harvest a sustainable tree and reflect on good will, renewal and blessings of joy
Use lights and candles to represent the sun and celebrate the new solar year after the longest nights of the year
Burn a log in a fireplace, bonfire or just candles
Listen to festive music and read festive poetry
Share the celebration with others by gathering together or hosting a party

Winter Solstice in Our Neighbourhood

Each year, Kensington Market in Toronto has a Winter Solstice celebration. Every year, there is an exceptional show of Fire Breathers, spinners and other performers lighting the night sky. Handmade lanterns, giant puppets, stilted dancers and eclectic music are all part of a lively night of cheer and festivities to bring in the start of longer days and more light.

In our own neighbourhoods, we can host our own special celebration by running our Christmas lights and playing festive music. Open up the garage for neighbours to gather and enjoy a hot cider or hot chocolate. Have a small adobe or enclosed fire pit out front on the driveway or front lawn so people can warm themselves around a source of light traditionally used to celebrate the Winter Solstice.

And, if your garage is not organized enough to host a small neighbourhood gathering, our garage renovation specialists are always here to help you make the upcoming year’s festivities a reality.

Get Inspired to Decorate the Garage for Christmas with More than Just Lights

November 28, 2017 by Rick Scully Leave a Comment

We’ve all seen the extraordinary Christmas light shows on people’s houses during the month of December. We may have even driven around neighbourhoods at night looking for these fabulous labours of love with choreography and even music synchronized to match. If you haven’t seen some of these amazing homes, here are one or two below that will definitely amaze anyone with their talent and creativity.

With the cost of electricity in Ontario having increased significantly not to mention our own lack of talent or time to complete such a magnificent light show project, we may be looking at other ways to contribute in the festivities. Being festive with your garage door doesn’t require extensive work. It can just as easily be simple and elegant.

Preparing for Decorating the Home Exterior and Garage Door

Of course, the first rule of thumb is to make sure the vehicle is not in the driveway taking away from the design. So, if you haven’t already decluttered your garage so you can park your vehicle inside your garage, it’s time to do that and possibly get a garage renovation completed so it’s possible store all your items off the garage floor where the vehicles can get maximum space for parking safely.

Next, with some of the décor made specifically for the garage door, you may want to consider giving the garage door a wash before the cold weather sets in. This will leave a beautiful palette with which to work your decorations and design.

Great Christmas Decorating Beyond Lights

One of the great traditions of Christmas is the garland. Hang them so they outline and frame your garage door, the front porch or the door way. Add some accessories to dress them up to give them either a traditional look or a more modern look while matching the colours of the house.

Then, there are garage door covers. They get clipped to the front of the garage door. The designs are made for up and over garage doors which is the majority of garage doors. They won’t affect the operation of the garage door. Assure your vehicle is parked inside the garage and the whole neighbourhood will be able to enjoy your choice of Christmas scene.

While not for the garage door, Christmas lawn decorations or roof decorations can be mounted along the edge of the driveway or over the garage.

Replace old Christmas Lights with LED lights

While we may not like the increased fees related to our electricity bills, we can do something about it. We can swap out or replace all our incandescent light bulbs for LED lightbulbs. One of the reasons includes the fact that they are highly energy efficient. Incandescent light bulbs use electricity to zap a filament in order to create light while LED lightbulbs excite diodes to create light. Of the two methods, the LED lightbulbs use up to 90% less electricity than the traditional incandescent bulb. So, saving energy is the best way to keep lighting up the night during the Christmas season.

In addition to the significant energy savings of LED lightbulbs, they also last tens of thousands of hours. From 10,000 hours to 25, 000 hours or even more are some of the service life ratings you’ll find on the shelves this Christmas. For the investment, the LED lightbulbs outweigh the old incandescent bulbs handily.

LED lightbulbs are easy to work with as decorative items. Since they use so little electricity to create light, they also generate low levels of heat too. This means that we can grab the bulb without burning our fingers or melting other Christmas decorations. On the other hand, if you remember incandescent bulbs, you’ll remember they ran very hot and would melt the décor that they touched including trees and other plastic items.

If getting true colours in your light display is important to you then you’ll want to compare LED to incandescent technologies. Incandescent light bulbs only generate one colour which is white. The bulb gets painted to generate any sort of colour so when the paint melts off or gets chipped off, we get multi-coloured bulbs. On the other hand, the diodes of LED lightbulbs can actually generate true blues and other colours. The bulb itself is never painted or coloured in order to create a colour. LED lightbulbs can therefore generate the most true and brilliant colours possible. Even if you’re not a stickler for design, you’ll appreciate the brilliance of LED coloured lights compared to the traditional painted bulbs of incandescent lights.

Lastly, the LED lightbulb has been exploding in popularity so you can easily find these lights where replacement incandescent lights are almost impossible to find these days. The choice is easy. Go green and red as well as a variety of other colours with LED lightbulbs this Christmas.

Christmas Decoration Storage

Finally, if you haven’t carved out a space to store your seasonal decorations, then make sure you include that with any garage renovation that you’re planning. The ideal space for storing seasonal items is up high in the overhead platform or storage areas of the garage since they don’t need to be accessed but once a year. Since they are only accessed once a year, it’s better to leave storage space within easy reach for items we’ll use regularly such as tools, sports equipment, automotive accessories and more.

While some hints and tips is all we can do to help with your Christmas design and décor, we can do much more when a garage renovation is what you need to be effective and organized. Get a complimentary in-home consultation if an improved way to get the most out of your garage storage is what you need.

The Spooky Garage for a Happy Halloween

October 17, 2017 by Rick Scully Leave a Comment

It’s October and we all know it’s the month for Halloween. Our kids are busy planning out costumes. We’re busy locating treats at the supermarket to hand out at the front door. Then, digging out our scariest Halloween tricks to decorate the yard and front door for when other kids arrive. We change up our work schedules so we can leave the house early and have the kids go out before it gets too dark.

Not a lot of people are thinking about garage renovation at this time of year but there are some people who are decorating their garage interiors as well as exteriors to enjoy the merriment of Halloween. Here are some ways that we can make the most of the garage, the garage door and the storage renovations inside to create a fun or spooky Halloween experience for the neighbourhood kids.

Garage Door Halloween Cover

Sometimes, we’re the ones on the street who are just not that creative nor imaginative nor have a lot of time. If you enjoy Halloween or getting into the spirit of the neighbourhood, don’t let this stop you. By decorating our house or garage, we can add to the ambience and festivities of any holiday including Halloween.

So, here’s a great solution for even the most non-creative amongst us. These are Halloween garage door covers and with a little bit of lighting for effect, we can capture the spooky spirit of Halloween with the best of our neighbours.

Take a look at a few of these examples.

Create a Spooky or Not So Spooky Scene

Next, let’s get a little inspiration from some our neighbours from around the country and abroad. So, here’s a sampling of some great ways to decorate the front of the garage door. From a festive harvest theme to celebrate the season including Halloween to an animated monster mouth garage door sure to fascinate the imagination of young trick or treaters walking up the driveway for the first time.

Leverage the garage door for the motion to create the monster’s mouth. Or, just use the garage door as a backdrop to light a silhouetted theme in front. If you’ve got a little less time, create a giant spider web on the outside of the garage along with dangling spiders, bats and creepy crawlies.

Here are some imaginative custom garage designs that are sure to make you a fan favourite amongst young trick or treaters all along your street.

Use Lighting to Add Effects

Remember to add coloured lighting for effect. It can make a simple silhouetted theme come to life. And, as the night wears on, your Halloween decorations will continue to glow and entertain the entire neighbourhood.

Use anything from the sconces along the garage doorway to flood lights to smaller LED lights to add effect.

Create a Drive-way Theatre

If you’ve got a light coloured garage door or you hang a large painter’s drop cloth in front of the garage door, the drive way can become a fun place for the kids to gather after trick or treating to watch Halloween favourites.

To entertain the younger kids earlier on in the evening, try movies such as It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown or The Addams Family or Hotel Transylvania or Disney’s Hocus Pocus. Keep it family friendly and the whole neighbourhood will soon be enjoy a night at the movies with you and your family in your driveway.

Even if you are not a techie and you don’t own a projector, you can make your own movie projector with a smartphone and a shoebox. Check out these instructions on YouTube to create your own homemade projector as a project with your kids leading up to the big night. Add little bags of popcorn for each of the little ones and really boost the neighbourhood spirit for Halloween this year.

A Garage Renovation of the Spooky Halloween Kind

If Halloween is a cooler night this year, we can open up our garage to add a little protection from the weather. In addition, we can use our garage renovations to enhance the overall Halloween experience. For instance, get creative with the overhead Thule or bike lifts. By attaching ghosts and goblins to the lifts, you transform a motionless ghoul hanging from above into a floating ghost travelling through the air. Then, add a strong fan, a black backdrop and some lighting to make it even more convincing.

In addition, there’s always the numerous slatwall organization hooks to attach spiders, bats, webs, ghouls and other popular Halloween figures for completing the full spooky effect. Use the rakes, pitch forks and other tools hung up to add some realism to the gory Halloween figures. Your garage renovation design is the jumping off point to another year of fun this October 31^st if you add a touch of imagination and a little creativity.

Have a Boo-tiful Halloween Night!!

Prepare Your Vehicle for Fall & Winter

October 3, 2017 by Rick Scully Leave a Comment

This year, the temperatures and the weather has been a little unpredictable. And, while the Farmer’s Almanac is predicting a mild winter in Canada, it still remains to be seen if we’ll see this type of winter.

Either way, it’s always a good idea to get the car prepared to remain reliable regardless of what we experience during the upcoming months. Let’s start by looking at the garage renovation or lack thereof.

Park Your Vehicle Inside the Garage

When preparing your vehicle for winter, one of the top things you can do is ensure that it gets parked inside your garage. Not only are vehicles which are parked inside the garage safer from theft and vandalism but they are protected from the elements.

Vehicles which are parked inside the garage start easier in the morning because it’s always a few degrees warmer inside the garage than outside on a cold winter morning. When the vehicle starts warmer, we keep the components of our vehicles in better working condition. It’s also why we take our time to warm up the vehicle before we start driving the vehicle.

We won’t face frozen door locks. The elements don’t wear down the vehicle’s coating or paint. Stray baseballs from neighbourhood kids playing on the streets don’t find their way to dinging the vehicle in some way and so much more.

However, you may be looking at your garage and wondering how you might be able to accomplish parking one vehicle inside much less two vehicles. Or, you might already be able to park one vehicle inside but not the second vehicle. In this case, it’s important to get a properly designed garage storage system to maximize wall storage and overhead storage options while getting your belongings off the garage floor. Start by de-cluttering so that you can reach your end goal of having the vehicles parked inside where they belong.

Prepare Your Vehicle for Winter

To ensure your vehicle works every morning this winter, check the battery and the electrical system to ensure your vehicle will start every time. In addition, stock some gas line anti-freeze which assures a free flow of gasoline to the engine which will also ensure your vehicle starts on a very cold wet day.

When it comes to fluids in your car, top up or change out fluids to ensure they provide maximum efficiency whether it’s your transmission fluid, brake fluid, windshield anti-freeze or an engine oil change. And, if you park your car outdoors during the day, lubricate your door locks before the cold weather sets in and carry some lock de-icer.

Check your windshield wipers and change them out for heavier duty wiper blades which can handle the heavier slushy precipitation which typically lands on the windshield during fall, winter and early spring.

Ensure the tires are appropriately inflated for the best tire performance and decreased stopping distances during treacherous weather. Of course, it’s best to ensure that the proper tires are on the vehicle for cold weather. Cold temperatures are considered 7°C or below. If you’re unsure of the correct tire pressure to inflate tires, either follow your manufacturer’s recommendations or consider these environmental factors when checking the PSI of the tires.

Ensure You have an Adequate Car Emergency Kit

If you don’t have an emergency kit for your car or the supplies are running low, it never hurts to review your emergency kit to make sure it’s complete and everything is in good working order.

Use this list to complete the inspection of your vehicle’s emergency kit:

A blanket or sleeping bag for warmth if you’re stuck on the road for a few hours
An extra USB cable to keep your cell phone charged
Snow boots, extra warm gloves and a heavy coat for working outside when stuck
Thermal underwear to stay warm longer
Non-perishable food and water for hunger.
Jumper cables to give or receive a battery boost with another car
Carry a first aid kit to look after minor cuts and bruises
A small toolkit and rope for minor jams
Flash light with extra batteries
Flares to signal for help
Candles and matches for a little extra warmth and light
Shovel and extra floor mats to get your car unstuck from a snow pile or mud
A roadside assistance program to help you get going or a tow

A Garage Renovation to Get Your Vehicle Parked in the Garage

At home, the best way to avoid most of the challenges of cold or poor weather is to get the vehicles parked inside the garage. Call a garage renovation specialist to create a garage organization system where your vehicle will have the space to park inside the garage this winter.

Fall Gardening Prepares Our Yards for Spring

September 20, 2017 by Rick Scully Leave a Comment

Even in late summer or early fall, avid gardeners are still keen on having slatwall organization systems installed in a typical garage renovation because they understand the value of fall gardening and the need to access garden tools well into November in the GTA. In fact, slatwall storage with its wide array of Camlock hooks, baskets and shelves make for the ideal way to make tools readily accessible and easy to swap out when the seasons demand it.

Taking our hint from Mother Nature, we see that she has many of its trees, shrubs and perennials shed leaves and drop seeds in the fall in order to facilitate a successful spring growth. Following the natural life cycle of these plants, fall gardeners will do several things throughout the fall months of September, October and November to ensure the best results in the following year.

Keep those Garden Tools on Your Slatwall Hooks

Fall is one of the best times to prepare the garden for the best results in spring. In fact, far greater success in the growing season comes from the things we do to prepare the yard during the fall. So, the question is what to do and what will we need to do a good job of preparing the yard and garden.

So, keep your tools on the garage wall organization system or if you don’t have one, then consult with one of our garage renovation specialists. Having a slatwall organization system allows people to adopt a strategy of swapping out tools between the seasons to maximize garage space. In this case, you might want to hang onto the garden tools just a little longer and wait a little longer to swap them out for snow removal type tools.

Fall is a Time to Seed the Garden

So, nature’s natural cycles means that many shrubs, trees and perennials drop seeds during the fall to incubate throughout the winter to develop into seedlings with the more welcoming spring conditions. Taking our hint from nature, here’s what we should consider seeding this fall:

Daylily, Hemerocallis spp.
Hosta, Hosta spp.
Daisy, Leucanthemum spp.
Lily, Lilium cvs.
Crabapple, Malus spp.
Peony and others, Paeonia lactiflora
Spruce, Picea spp.
Pine, Pinus spp.
Hawthorn, Crataegus spp.
Pinks, Dianthus spp.
Ash, Fraxinus spp.

So, spend some time planning your next garden starting this fall instead of waiting until spring. Prepare a list of plants you would like to see in the yard. Then, choose seeds which benefit from a fall planting.

Prepare your Fall Garden by Planting Seeds and Bulbs

Start this in September so there is time for seeds and bulbs for flowers which blossom in spring. Do it early to allow them to take hold before the frosts in November. Then they’ll be prepared to weather the winter and provide great blossoms and spring growth.

Also, if you have young trees or shrubs that need a new spot in the yard or garden, fall is the time to move them to their new location. Keep watering trees and shrubs until the ground freezes. Strong fall development means they’ll be hardy throughout the winter and into spring.

Clean the Garden and Yard

The best thing about fall gardening is that we can prepare the garden so that the ground is in much better shape in early spring. Here is a few things to do.

Fertilizing the lawn in fall helps to significantly reduce weeds. Also, pull out any existing weeds now before they seed. Doing these two activities in the fall will give your lawn a hefty head start in spring.

There’s debate as to raking leaves. Mother nature intended them to stay on the forest floors to provide protection to young seeds and plants throughout the winter. However, raking them, mulching them and then adding them back to your garden, compost and lawn are also good alternatives to feeding the lawn as well as the garden.

Adding compost or manure to the garden beds helps settle the mineral balance of the soil in time for a spring planting. If you have any annuals left from the current year, remove and compost them. Then, return the compost back to the garden beds. If there were any diseased plants trim the dying or disease sections. You’ll want to throw them out instead of putting these clippings back into the compost.

Take a look at perennials and the foliage. Cut back on excess foliage so there is less of a plant for your perennial to sustain over the winter. They’ll come back stronger in spring and less foliage means fewer pests will be hiding amongst the foliage during winter. Also, cut grass along the edges of your home so you don’t leave a place for rodents to build a home or nest beside or even inside your home.

For a more comprehensive list of things you can do to prepare your home during fall, consult the Landscape Ontario checklist.

Garage Renovations for All Seasons Landscaping

So, keep the hoe, rakes, trowels, clippers and garden gloves out and handy. If you’ve got one of our slatwall systems, you know you can even hang a lawn mower or a lawn fertilizer spreader. And, it won’t take long to swap out the various garden tools for the shovels, salt and snow blowers.

Just before the first frost hits the ground, you can be ready and organized quickly. If you’re interested in understanding how the slatwall storage systems we offer can help you stay organized and effective, ask for a complimentary in-home consultation today.

Manage Household Garbage and Recycle

September 6, 2017 by Rick Scully Leave a Comment

During the warmer months, it’s a great time to look at recycle, compost and garbage. We’re out in the garden more and we’ve needed to mow the lawn more often so we have a lot more garden wastes. Also, we’ve been cooking outdoors in the backyard more often.

The number of rodents or more specifically racoons who want to have at our garbage has become common issue which is not going away or is being replaced by new racoon families when one racoon family is relocated. Or, in many cases, the original family makes their way back to the neighbourhood.

Let’s take a look at some garage renovation solutions which can help you keep the waste down, the rodents out and divert more towards composting. To do this, we’ll need to manage the recycle, the compost as well as garbage whether in the garage or the backyard.

Reducing and Eliminating Waste Around the House

As homeowners, we’re not the only ones looking at managing various types of waste. Now, the City of Toronto is aiming for zero long term waste over 30 to 50 years. In keeping with moving towards this zero waste goal, let’s look at some ways to reduce household waste:

Avoid buying excess packaging
Use refillable or reusable containers
Bring your own bags to shop
Do your research before buying items so you’re buying durable quality items instead of disposable ones
Purchase or make your own cleaners which are less harmful to the environment
Bring your hazardous waste to a depot
Repair and reuse items instead of just throwing them away.
Donate slightly used items for a good cause.
Recycle as much as possible if you can’t reuse or reduce
Compost food and yard waste to keep the lawn lush and green.

Typically, up to half of the waste around our homes is compostable so a composter in the backyard is an ideal way of handling organics. Otherwise, taking full advantage of the green bin organic recycling program in your city or town is the best way to look after organic products.

Garage Storage Options for Recycle, Garbage and Hazardous Waste

The garage is the best place to store the blue bin, the new next generation green bin and garbage bins. It’s just a

matter of planning out a space for them whether it is shelves, a space under a platform or cabinets to hide them from sight.

Often, a spot planned close to the door from the house to the garage is ideal for convenience and ease of access. Here are a few examples of garage interior designs of blue bin, green bin and waste storage.

Getting the kids into a vermicomposting project can be an educational and fun project. These types of composters can be placed in the garage where it is closest to the house and easy to dispose of food waste.

Of course, plan a spot for hazardous waste which is out of reach of young children. Before you’re able to get to the depot with your hazardous waste items, a temporary storage area which is high and / or hidden away from little hands is an important priority for the family.

Backyard Options for Compost and Recycling

When looking at your garage renovation and the things you need to store inside your garage, sometimes, it’s necessary to move recycle and compost bins to the backyard. Storage bins can keep the yard looking neat and organized while keeping the critters out of bins and making a mess.

Because garages tend to stay cooler, garbage bins work best in the garage as opposed to out in the backyard under the sun during summer. Prioritize recycled and compost materials to be stored outdoors in the backyard. Even worm composters work better indoors where it is slightly warmer in winter and easier to maintain a steady environment for the worms to do their job.

Garage Renovations with Waste Management in Mind

When you’re considering your next garage renovation, keep composting, recycle and even hazardous waste in mind. It’s important to plan a space for these items for safety and for successful strategies to reduce waste going to landfills.

Get a complimentary consultation from our garage renovation specialists to manage waste bins as well as other garage storage challenges of items around the home.

The Automotive Enthusiast’s Garage – More than a Parking Spot

August 22, 2017 by Rick Scully Leave a Comment

Some of us have SUVs or vans / minivans because we prefer the ride or we need the space. Some of us prefer a luxury vehicle for the ride and conveniences found throughout the vehicle. Our vehicle choices reflect our needs as well as our personal style.

And, of course, most of us know to maintain and care for our vehicles is a requirement as well. Parking our vehicle inside the garage is one of the ways we can avoid damage from the elements, vandalism or even theft. So, once we’re aware that we need the vehicle inside the garage, we need to be sure the garage is organized so we don’t accidentally drive into or damage items stored in the garage. And, the items stored in the garage don’t damage the vehicles.

If these are your thoughts as well, then you’re not alone as a homeowner and vehicle owner. A good garage renovation project will help you achieve everything you need to store and organize your vehicles as well as family belongings.

A Garage Renovation for the Automotive Enthusiast

Some people think of automotive enthusiasts are people who enjoy spending their time tinkering and fixing up cars. Some people think automotive enthusiasts are people who love vehicles and know the names of every brand on every continent as well as the specifications for each of these vehicles as well. Some people think automotive enthusiasts love vehicles so much that they want to own vehicles they can never afford or might not even drive.

If you see these characteristics in yourself or your partner, you’ve got an automotive enthusiast in the family. Here are some great ways to enhance the garage to celebrate and honour the different ways the automotive enthusiast derives happiness from this past time and passion.

The Garage – A Showroom or Pit Stop for Vehicles

Many of us can enjoy either exposed brick garages for a rustic look or a finished garage. Often our focus is on the practicality of storing and using our garage for our family’s hobbies and lifestyle requirements.

The vehicle enthusiast often enjoys the showroom feel where vehicles are highlighted against the clean lines of uncluttered walls and cabinets in a room built to honour the vehicles. These days, new home builds typically offer a drywall finish in the garage. If not, finishing an older garage with drywall is another option.

Even for enthusiasts who enjoy tinkering with vehicles, the drywall finish is typically the starting point before adding in workspace that creates a pit stop area and not just a showroom for vehicles. These days newly built homes come with drywall finished garages, so buying a new build home may be one way to get the start you need.

The Garage Floor that Cleans Up Well

Every showroom or higher end pit stop needs floors to match the look and feel that most appeals to the automotive enthusiast. Whether you just want to protect your garage floors or you want to create the luxury showroom with floors you can eat off, the polyaspartic floor coating is a great way to achieve both the practicality of a protective garage floor and the ease of maintaining a clean and pristine showroom space. There are a couple of garage floor options which will make your garage feel more like another room in your home worthy of your family and capable of showing off the cherished vehicles properly.

The first option is the polyaspartic garage floor coating. This durable flooring is easy to mop up and clean most spills, oil or otherwise. They are UV resistant so they keep their original colour even if the front half of the garage floor gets exposed to sunlight while the rear half the garage remains in the shade. Best of all, it eliminates the cement dust which settles on everything in the garage when the floor is uncoated. It also protects the standard concrete garage floors of the home from oil and water damage throughout the years. It is a great investment in your home.

Another great option are the Swisstrax Ribtrax floor tiles which allow automotive enthusiasts to design a floor pattern with specific colour combinations and patterns matching your favourite motorsports team or vehicle. The grid design allows the cement floor below to dry easily and for dust and debris to slip below to the cement. When it’s time to clean a spot beneath the tile, they are easy to peel back to clean specific stains on the cement floor below. With a garden hose or power washer, it’s easy to hose down and wash away debris which will end up travelling below channels on the underside of the tiles and out the front edge of the garage tiles. Clean up is easy, the tiles are super durable and these floor tiles are also UV resistant so they last for a good long time.

Garage Cabinets for More than Storage

Every garage is used for storage of some kind. It may be used to store golf clubs, hockey equipment or camping gear. It could be used to store garden tools or even seasonal decorations like lights or a tree.

Garage cabinets are great for closed storage when you don’t want to see the things that are being stored as opposed to the open storage format of wall organization systems, where everything is in sight and easier to find. Garage cabinets offer clean lines to the garage design which allows for the vehicles and the finish of the garage cabinets to carry the look and feel of the room.

Garage cabinets don’t just add a clean look to the garage space; it can also add workspace, an area for work tools storage and possibly, a sink for cleaning up in the garage. The garage cabinet is a good fit for automotive enthusiasts who want a garage which gives them that vehicle showroom and pit stop ambience.

Contur Cabinets designed and manufactured here in Canada by a professed “car buff” will add that special touch to the automotive enthusiast’s garage is Contur Cabinets. The contoured design and upswing style cabinet doors gives the garage a touch of European styling class that’s luxurious and still provides the motorsport design to the overall garage. It’s a style that the auto enthusiast will love and the whole family as well.

Automotive Lifts to Keep Vehicles at Home

Any automotive enthusiast will tell you that being able to visit their favourite cars is an important aspect of owning those special vehicles. Even though there may be effective storage options for vehicles, nothing beats being able to visit their prized sports car or classic car after dinner is over and the kids are all in bed.

Just spending a little time with that special vehicle can rejuvenate the joy in an automotive enthusiast’s heart even during colder winter months. With a taller garage, an automotive storage lift becomes a real option to store all the beloved vehicles inside the garage. No matter how many bays there may be for parking vehicles in the garage, the automotive enthusiast always seems to find that one additional vehicle that they must own. This leaves them with a constant need to find storage options.

Consider adding an automotive lift if you’re looking to add one more vehicle to the collection.

A Class Act Automotive Enthusiast Garage is More than a Mere Man Cave

When looking at helping the automotive enthusiast fulfill their dreams, the rest of the family can still enjoy a classy looking garage with a balance of curvy luxurious lines and dust-free walls as well as floors. Without losing function, the garage can offer storage space for the belongings of all family members while meeting the needs of the auto enthusiast. Everyone will be proud to call the garage another room in the home.

If you’re looking to achieve that balance of form and function which the whole family can appreciate, contact our garage renovation specialists for a complimentary in-home consultation today.

Create a Mudroom in Your Garage

October 18, 2016 by Rick Scully Leave a Comment

As the weather cools we’ve traded shorts and sandals for coats and galoshes, creating a storage dilemma for all of our outerwear. Flooring takes a beating when children, pets and hurried adults track wet, muddy boots inside. This creates extra cleaning duties and can stain or damage carpeting, tile or hardwood floors.

Mudrooms were designed to remedy the issues outlined above, but not every home has a mudroom or adequate space to create one. If you have a serious case of mudroom envy, but lack space for one inside your home, don’t despair. Move your focus to your attached garage instead. Your garage just may be the perfect space for a “mudroom”.

Collect Design Ideas

Creating a mudroom in your garage can be as simple or elaborate a project as you wish. It’s an ideal project for DIYers that can be completed in an afternoon. However, if you’re looking for a lot of additional storage, want a more detailed mudroom or don’t know where to begin, a garage renovation expert can create a made-to-measure design tailored to fit your family’s specific needs.

Whether you choose to take on the project yourself or hire a garage renovation expert, it can be helpful to explore a variety of mudroom design ideas. Pinterest, Houzz and other sites offer a wealth of design ideas for inspiration.

Plan the Space

Consider what is most important in your mudroom. You’ll need a space to store shoes and coats, but what else do you plan to store there? Do you require space for umbrellas and other items? Would it be an ideal place to store reusable shopping bags? What type of seating will you incorporate into the space and where?

Consider the number of family members that will use the space and the volume of coats, shoes, etc. that will be stored there. Determine your aesthetic preference when it comes to storage. Do you prefer hooks, baskets and open shelves which allow everyone to store their items quickly and easily? Or do you prefer closed storage which tucks everything away neatly out of sight?

Once you know what you’ll be storing and how you want to store it, lay out exactly where you plan to install each element of the design. Take measurements to ensure any materials purchased will fit into the space.

Gather Needed Materials

Once you have a plan for your design, it’s time to gather your materials. Storage for coats and shoes is the most essential feature of a mudroom. Go for high-quality shelving that will endure the fluctuating temperature of the garage and stand up to daily use.

A garage wall organization system is perfect for open storage. Corresponding hooks, baskets and shelves make it easy to store coats, shoes, umbrellas, backpacks, dog leashes and more. Alternately, a wall organizer can be built from scratch or purchased.

Quality garage cabinets are available in a variety of configurations and are ideal for closed storage needs. Reclaimed items like repurposed dressers or wooden crates can be combined with fabric or wicker storage crates or drawers to create neat, simple closed storage. Seating can also be built, purchased or repurposed.

When acquiring your materials, don’t forget finishes, hardware, paint, tools and anything else necessary to complete the job.

Create Your Mudroom

If your garage walls are unfinished, you’ll want to install drywall first or hire a garage renovation expert to finish the walls. Another option is a garage wall storage system which can be installed directly on an unfinished wall while giving you a finished look.

If you choose to paint the walls, invest in quality paint that can withstand broiling summer heat and frigid winter temperatures without breaking a sweat. It should also be easy to clean and tough enough to survive bumps and scrapes.

Now it’s time to pull out your plans and install the elements of your mudroom. Install shelving and hooks. Build or install a bench to provide comfortable seating while removing footwear. Put baskets and other functional elements into the space to hold shoes, umbrellas and other items. Add finishing touches like a clock, artwork or wall stencils to give the space a special touch.

Once your mudroom is installed, it will transform the space in your garage and cut down clutter inside the house. Say goodbye to wet coats piled in the corner; muddy boots tracking salt onto your wood floors and soiling the carpets; and balancing on one foot to remove footwear.

If you want a more complex mudroom installation or DIY isn’t your idea of a good time, request a free, in-home consultation from a garage renovation expert.

Creating the Perfect Garage for a Car Enthusiast

July 13, 2016 by Rick Scully Leave a Comment

Car and racing enthusiasts anxiously await the 30^th running of the Honda Indy Toronto on July 15-17^th. This exciting annual event is a summertime fan favorite. The roar of high performance vehicles on the track, combined with the rising temperatures of summer, spur automotive enthusiasts to turn their attention to the repair and maintenance of their own vehicles.

Whether you own an imported, high-end, performance vehicle, are restoring a classic automobile or simply want to maintain your family vehicle, garage organization is essential.

Why Garage Organization Matters

Performing your own vehicle maintenance can either be quick and easy or slow and painful. Think about the pit crews at the Honda Indy Toronto. They perform their tasks quickly because they are organized and have all of the necessary tools on hand. Likewise, the level of organization in your garage will impact your car maintenance experience.

One of the most time-consuming parts of vehicle repair and maintenance is often finding the right tool for each job. Perhaps you have every tool you need, but without a well-planned organization system, it’s difficult to locate them.

That means that the next time you need a specific wrench or screwdriver, you might spend more time looking for the tool than it will take to actually complete the job. When a simple oil change turns into an all-day, search-and-rescue affair, we’re likely to procrastinate, neglecting critical vehicle maintenance. This can cause a malfunction that could lead to a serious accident.

Now that we understand why garage organization is crucial, let’s examine the question that will guide the transformation of your garage into a car enthusiast’s dream.

How Do You Plan to Use Your Garage?

The first step to creating a garage suited for a car aficionado is to determine exactly how you will use the space. Will the garage serve as a haven for winter vehicle repairs and maintenance? Then the renovation plan must provide adequate storage space, but allow room to park your vehicles inside the garage.

Will you need a workbench? If so, how much work space is required? What kind of tasks will you be doing? The type of work performed dictates which work surface is best. For instance, a stainless steel countertop may be more aesthetically pleasing, but a solid butcher block top will stand up better to heavy tool use. Also, task lighting must be incorporated into the design of a workspace. If the garage will be used for vehicle repairs and maintenance during winter, a heating source should also be integrated into the garage renovation.

If a workstation is needed, but there is limited space, a garage renovation specialist can create a custom workbench that folds flat against the wall when not in use.

Do you own a vintage or sports vehicle that is seldom driven, but requires space in the garage? If your garage has adequate height—a hydraulic car lift will provide a secure parking space for your cherished vehicle.

No matter how you plan to use your garage, organization must be a key component of the renovation in order to maximize the available space.

Organize Your Garage to Make Vehicle Maintenance a Breeze

Just as automobiles come with a variety of options and price points—so does garage organization. Organizing your garage can be as simple as creating task-related zones, installing pegboard for tool storage and repurposing or upcycling an old table for a workspace. For a more flexible option and a sophisticated look, a wall organization system is ideal.

A wall organization system stores items neatly along the garage perimeter, clearing space for parking. The system consists of durable, slotted wall panels that are secured to the studs. Corresponding baskets, hooks and shelves are strong enough to secure heavy items. The wall panels are water, mold and mildew-resistant and are available in several attractive colors.

A wall organization system provides functional, attractive, easy-to-access storage. However, some prefer concealed storage. Garage cabinets provide elegant, hidden storage. Quality garage cabinetry ranges from basic, budget-friendly cabinets to sleek, Canadian-made cabinets with an elegant European design.

Available in a variety of colors and configurations, garage cabinetry provides a clean look and customizable storage solutions. Lockable garage cabinets are the ideal place to store automotive fluids—like oil, antifreeze and windshield fluid—out of the reach of small children and pets. They also provide secure storage for valuable tools, specialty items and high-end accessories.

There are a variety of off-season tire storage options for the garage. One or two sets of seasonal tires can be suspended from the ceiling on a strong steel rack. A made-to-measure platform can store multiple sets of tires. If you prefer not to store your tires overhead, a wall-mounted tire rack is a good alternative.

Whether you’re an car connoisseur, a gung-ho gearhead or a daring do-it-yourselfer, a well-designed garage renovation can deliver maximum storage and suitable workspace for your automotive passion. Talk with a garage renovation specialist to discover how your garage can be transformed into a dream space any car enthusiast would envy.