This garage remodel in Los Angeles increased the home’s square footage by nearly 40 percent

• Homeowners: Saima and Tom, two UCLA administrators, found their general contractor by posting their garage remodel in Los Angeles on Sweeten
• Where: LA County in Inglewood, California
• Primary renovation: A freestanding two-car garage converts to live-work square footage with storage and an electric car charging outlet
• Homeowner’s quote: “Our contractor was so good that we didn’t need Sweeten’s support too much. But it was nice to know that Sweeten was there if we needed them. It was like knowing you have an insurance policy in case of problems; you hope to never use it, but it gives you peace of mind knowing it’s there.”
• Sweeten’s role: Sweeten matches home renovators with vetted general contractors, offering input, support, and secure payments—for free.

Written in partnership with homeowner Saima. “After” photos by Luminous Vision for Sweeten.

An old Los Angeles garage finds new use

We’d been living in our house for about three years when we started the garage remodel. The home, built in 1936 and located in Inglewood, a suburb of Los Angeles, is a bungalow-style cottage. The most recent appraisal said it comprised 690 square feet; the unattached garage added an additional 260 square feet of “unofficial” usable space. In a house this small, you can’t afford to take a single square foot for granted. 

My partner, Tom, and I both work in research administration at the University of California at Los Angeles; I recently completed a certificate for interior design and am in the midst of changing careers. We knew we could benefit from a secondary live-work area. We realized the garage could be it, and that transforming the space could be a rewarding project.

Hiring a general contractor with Sweeten

Knowing we would renovate the garage, we’d agreed it would have to be phase two. We made the first round of renovations out of sheer necessity after buying the house with a long list of structural and systemic issues. The experience of trying to line up dependable contractors had been stressful—even getting quotes. We’d hired the one contractor we could pin down. It was that experience that prompted us to work with Sweeten this time around.

We renovated the garage when we did because we planned to sell the house. But working from home during Covid made us realize that room to spread out would benefit us while we still lived there. We posted our project and waited to see which contractors were interested in taking on a garage remodel in Los Angeles. 

Inspecting the garage’s structure

The job wouldn’t be easy. We needed to solve the garage’s long-standing structural issues. The building was more than 80 years old; the roof had begun to sag and we were unsure of the extent of the damage. Perhaps the job would involve replacing the ceiling’s support beams and installing a new door. Or it might require an entire rebuild. We needed someone to inspect the structure and advise us of what was needed.

Luckily, that wasn’t as difficult as we anticipated. The Sweeten contractor we chose determined that the original beams had been too narrow, and spaced too far apart, to fully support the garage’s ceiling. He also informed us that the two existing single-car garage doors were rotting away and termite-ridden. Our biggest question was, “Do we have enough money” to fix the problems? Turned out the answer was yes, and then some!

Creating a new living/working space in the garage

We had several goals beyond shoring up the garage. First, we wanted to replace the existing two one-car garage doors with a fully automated two-car door. Second, we needed to install a new outlet for plugging in our electric car charger. Finally, we sought to create a space that would be more than a storage area—as comfortable as our living room, but (because local building codes required it) still functional as a garage. No layout changes would be necessary.

We decided to give the space the look of a loft. We envisioned exposed wood beams lining the ceilings, crisp white walls, and a lot of natural light. In keeping with that aesthetic, we used a lot of the existing materials, including the wood ceiling beams (they are the actual structural supports that already existed with some additional wood reinforcing them) and the original concrete slab floor (we filled in cracks with a special cement caulk and painted it gray).

The walls looked so smooth for a dwelling built in 1936, that has been flexing and shifting with every earthquake for the last 80 years.

Custom doors for a small space

One big challenge was the garage door. We have discovered that with a small house comes the joy of everything being undersized and therefore not standard. Doors and windows had needed customization, and the garage door was no different—it was narrower than the norm. In addition, we discovered that the garage floor sloped, necessitating a custom panel on the bottom of the door that sloped side-to-side with the floor, ensuring a weatherproof seal. The panel, though surprisingly expensive, has been worth it.

The walls offered no straight lines, either, but our drywall installer was a true artist. The walls looked so smooth for a dwelling built in 1936, that has been flexing and shifting with every earthquake for the last 80 years. There wasn’t a single straight, vertical wall, and some bowed or curved. The cabinets provided a good deal of storage and brought a domestic air to what might otherwise just feel like a garage. The countertop is an unfinished pine board and is, like the ceiling, a little rustic.

The right contractor for a garage remodel in Los Angeles

Our Sweeten contractor had a clear communication style and was immensely helpful throughout the process. We could always count on him to respond promptly when we sent him a text or email. More often than not he’d call us back to talk via phone, which I appreciated. He kept us informed of when the subcontractors were going to be working and who specifically would be at our house. And best of all, he stayed on budget.

Our contractor was so good that we didn’t need Sweeten’s support too much. But it was nice to know that Sweeten was there if we needed them. It was like knowing you have an insurance policy in case of problems; you hope to never use it, but it gives you peace of mind knowing it’s there.

The space in our new garage feels generous and comfortable, and the light inside is beautiful throughout the day because of all the windows. The built-in cabinets are attractive (the black pulls provide a nice contrast to the white and wood surfaces in the room) and also bring a ton of much-needed storage. Even though the garage is now a living space, we also needed to make sure there were attractive places to store things.

Thanks for sharing your new garage renovation story with us, Saima and Tom!

Renovation Materials

GARAGE RESOURCES: Garage doors: Garage Doors and Gates 4 Less. Windows: HD Supply. Paint in Chantilly Lace: Benjamin Moore. Sektion base cabinets with Haggeby doors; Nydala pulls in black; paper lantern with light kit light fixture: Ikea. Pine countertop: The Home Depot. Concrete/masonry sealer floor paint in Cape Cod Gray: Permaguard.

A note on fixture and appliance deliveries: If you’re on a tight timeline, Appliances Connection has over 50,000 items in stock and ready to ship nationally.

Updated on April 25, 2023

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Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, scope, and style. Follow the blog, Sweeten Stories, for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation with Sweeten.

A Connecticut garage renovation creates a ceramic studio to slow down busy city life

“After” photos by Nicki Chavoya for Sweeten

• Homeowners: Samantha and Justin posted their Connecticut garage renovation on Sweeten
• Where: Weston, Connecticut in Fairfield County
• Primary renovation: Turning a 150-square-foot garage into a ceramic studio
• Sweeten general contractor
• Sweeten’s role: Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering guidance, tools, and support—for free..

Written in partnership with Sweeten homeowner Samantha

Recreating an under-used garage

Running their creative agency, VERSUS, in New York City takes up a lot of their time during the day. So Samantha Louise Barnes and her husband, Justin, like to relax at their weekend home in Fairfield County. It’s located in Weston, which is a quaint small town with tree-lined streets, good schools, and notable architecture. The town is known for its mid-century modern architecture and their home is no exception. It was built in 1948 by architect Lloyd Flood, who was an early associate of architect Edward Durell Stone.

The couple shares the home, which was previously renovated, with their two-year-old rescue cat, Louise. Set on a dead-end street, Samantha wanted to make the most of her 1,750-square-foot home. That meant converting the garage. They rarely use the second bay. Samantha and Justin take their car to the train station every week and leave it parked there until the weekend. So what to do with this underutilized space? Create that ceramic studio Samantha had always dreamed about, of course.

In search of a contractor

Samantha wanted to get the renovation done quickly—preferably in a month’s time. So she started researching, pricing, and locating the equipment needed for the soon-to-be ceramic studio. It was challenging but she found a kiln in South Carolina. Apparently, a lot of people had the same idea to create a ceramic studio during the pandemic.

Once this was taken care of, she set her sights on hiring the right contractor for the job. She posted the project on Sweeten to find a general contractor. “[Sweeten] offered advice every step of the way,” said Samantha. “I felt confident that I would be happy with who they vetted.” Samantha and Justin hired a Sweeten contractor and the project began.

Figuring out the layout

The idea was to choose the shorter bay—made smaller by a closet located in the back—and converting it into the studio. Twenty-five percent of the closet would make space for the kiln while the other 75 percent remained as a closet accessible via the other garage bay. But Samantha also worried about getting the electric requirements correct. So, she worked closely with her Sweeten contractor and his electrician to ensure that the kiln would run safely. They gave the kiln its own outlet and dedicated breaker box.

A ceramic studio comes to life

The result of the renovation is a beautiful, artistic space. They kept the back window to allow light to shine through behind the kiln. And added another window above the air conditioner to give a bright airiness to the space. Their contractor also assisted with picking out the double French doors that replaced the original garage door. And figured out the right air conditioner/heating unit to match the electricity needs.

“Having my own space separate from the house is wonderful,” said Samantha. “It’s additional creative space we just love having access to.”

Connecting with the main house

As for the aesthetics, Samantha and Justin chose to keep some consistency with the main house’s design. For example, the flooring in the main house is a poured concrete so they went with that in the ceramic studio. The concrete fits in nicely with the artistic vibe of the space. Plus, it’s safe to use under the kiln and Samantha likes the “rough” look. The trim is the same as in the main house as well. Material choices and style were to keep a cohesive look and feel. 

Finding their general contractor

When Samantha and Justin first started thinking about renovating, they knew it wasn’t going to be a big job. However, they did want to find a trustworthy, qualified contractor. “We are only at our home on the weekends, so we still consider ourselves new to the area and needed a jumping-off place to find someone,” said Samantha. “Instead of running through a slew of contractors on the Internet, I thought of Sweeten.” The result met all the couple’s expectations. “Having my own space separate from the house is wonderful,” said Samantha. “It’s additional creative space we just love having access to.”

Thank you, Samantha and Justin, for sharing your dream garage remodel with us!

Renovation Materials:

Double French doors: Therma-Tru. Paint in Alpaca: Sherwin-Williams. LED lights: Lithonia. Smart Thru-The-Wall air conditioner: Friedrich. Electric pottery wheel: Bailey. 

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Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, scope, and style. Follow the blog, Sweeten Stories, for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation with Sweeten.

The Little Fires Everywhere star turns a Los Angeles home and ADU remodel into a stylish living & working space

•  Homeowners: Jaime Ray Newman and partner Guy Nattiv posted their home and ADU remodel on Sweeten
• Where: Los Angeles, California
• Primary renovation: A repurposed structure creates a 350-foot living/office space, plus a space-opening update (and new master bath) on the main ranch house
• Sweeten general contractor
• Homeowner’s quote: “What I liked most about the [contractor] we hired was that he had style. His taste was always on point,” she said. “He was also very reasonable, and confident.”

Written in partnership with homeowner Jaime. “After” photos by Jessica Alexander. Styling: Madelyn Furlong.

Deciding to renovate during COVID

What do you do when a global pandemic hits in the middle of your home remodel—just as you’ve moved out of your house, with two babies under two years old in tow, to make way for the construction crew? Jaime Ray Newman washed her hands and pushed on.

“We were juggling a lot,” said the actor and producer, who had posted her project on Sweeten in 2019 for the dream redo of her 1936 ranch home. “We were expecting our second baby. It was now or never to blow open and redo the house.” The Sweeten post stated a desire to “convert our old 1930s two-car garage to ADU,” also known as an accessory dwelling unit, (also known as a working studio, guest apartment, or multitasking hybrid.)

Jaime also hoped to do a space-reclaiming opening of her family’s living space. She shares it with her life and business partner Guy Nattiv, a filmmaker (they co-founded New Native Pictures and won an Academy for “SKIN”), their daughters Alma and soon-to-be Mila, and their dog, Kiwi. The project had been on her To-Do list forever.

“We’d been wanting to convert our garage since day one,” Jaime said, “but had struggled with the permitting situation.” The area where they live in L.A. required single-family homes to have two-space covered parking. When the law changed, Jaime recalled, “We said, Let’s do this.” They decided to renovate the house at the same time. “We realized that with two kids, we’d want an open floor plan, and a real closet and primary bath for ourselves,” she said.

The home & garage renovation team takes shape

Jaime, whose work includes winning an Oscar as a producer, playing a recurring character Elizabeth Manwill in Hulu’s Little Fires Everywhere miniseries, as well as an essential district attorney role in Fox’s Deputy, had already gathered a reno dream team. “I bribed our dear friend Marcos Ferraez, a total visionary when it comes to imagining and reconfiguring a space, to come over and walk through the house,” she said. “We thought we needed to blow out the back of the house and add square footage, but we didn’t have the budget. I was stumped. Marcos completely reimagined our home within our current square footage.”

Everyone thought I was crazy to keep going. But we were in desperate need of an office…

The garage space was next. Jaime hired designer Haley Weidenbaum to conceive of the layout and was stunned by Haley’s ability to maximize every square inch of the available 350 square feet. Haley also had a vision for the main living space, designing the primary bedroom and bathroom. “Her talent and advice were invaluable,” Jaime said. From there she got on Sweeten and found her general contractor.

Keeping family together during COVID

Jaime was pretty clear on what she wanted. “I met with multiple contractors. What I liked most about the one we hired was that he had style. His taste was always on point,” she said. “He was also very reasonable, and confident.”

Like most of the world, the family had no idea of the uncertainty that lay ahead. For Jaime, in particular, early 2020 packed a punch. The COVID-19 threat loomed over the U.S. and then, she said, “my dad passed away in February.” Jaime wanted to support her mother and stay close by. It added up to difficult timing. “Everyone thought I was crazy to keep going,” she said. “But we were in desperate need of an office, and a separate space away from the kids so we could get work done,” Jaime said.

Two designers for a Los Angeles garage remodel

The project seemed to thrive on flux and change. “I realized at one point that much of our furniture no longer worked with the space, so we sold a lot of stuff on Facebook Marketplace to make room for new things,” she said. When Haley, who had started EVERHEM, a window-treatment company, got too busy and had to step away from the project, they brought in another designer.

“I have always had an Instagram crush on design consultant Madelynn Furlong,” Jaime said. “I asked if she’d be game to take us to the finish line and re-think the design of the house. Her aesthetic is unique and she finds the most interesting pieces.” Through Madelynn, Jaime discovered amazing companies like Muuto, Industry West, Lulu and Georgia, Constance Guisset, and Hudson Valley Lighting, among others. And the designer knew how to find one-of-a-kinds.

“Madelynn sent me a link to a giant, vintage burl wood dining table on Chairish for a terrific price, and said “BUY THIS NOW,” Jaime remembers. “It weighs 600 pounds. When it arrived, the household was blown away. This work of art will be passed down to my kids!”

Collaborating with two designers with very different feels was the most fun and satisfying part of the process, according to Jaime. Through them (and Pinterest), she found the original pieces and touches she wanted to make the space her own. Especially bath and kitchen design ideas. “I wanted something fun for our kitchen backsplash and I’m obsessed with Fireclay Tile, so that was easy! The bathroom floor needed to be non-slip, so we picked a slate from Clé Tile that we loved. I also fell head over heels for a hexagon tile from Popham Design.

What does renovating feel like?

Asked about a renovator’s most important virtue, Jaime chose patience. The process is long, she said, but your memory is short once you are settled in. “It’s kind of like after having your first baby!” the actor jokes. Confidence is also key, she said. These are massive decisions that you can’t turn back on, so hire a designer if you have doubts. And hire a contractor whose aesthetic you love.

“I’m so glad we lived in the house for years before renovating it, so we understood our needs and how best to accommodate them within our budget,” Jaime said. Especially now, during COVID, she says, “We are in pure bliss here. The house is unique, but warm and inviting, a family compound and a comfortable respite. I cannot wait until we can have guests over!”

Thank you for sharing your Los Angeles garage remodel & home with us, Jaime and Guy!

RENOVATION MATERIALS

LIVING AREA RESOURCES (Main house): Wood flooring and stain: Boden-Floor. Constance Guisset dining room pendant: Finnish Design Shop. Paint in Chantilly Lace: Benjamin Moore. Bedroom window treatments: Everhem.

KITCHEN RESOURCES (Main house): Wood floor tiles: Boden-Floor. Cabinets: MJ Cabinetry. Cabinet hardware: CB2. Countertops: Caesarstone. Backsplash: Fireclay Tile. Pendant lighting: Mitzi Hudson Valley Lighting. Sink/faucet: Delta. Kitchen window treatments: Everhem.

BATHROOM RESOURCES (Main house): Shower wall tile: Clé. Floor tile: Clé. Shower fixtures, sink, and hardware: Delta. Sconces: Schoolhouse. Sink vanity backsplash: Popham Design. Shower doors and vanity: Supplied by contractor.

OFFICE/APARTMENT RESOURCES: Paint in Chantilly Lace: Benjamin Moore. Matte-glazed cement flooring: Supplied by contractor. Skylight: Value Windows. New office closet and master bathroom: Space Camp Organizing.

OFFICE/APARTMENT KITCHEN RESOURCES: Cement floor and kitchen cabinets: Supplied by contractor. Radford Pines floating shelving: Etsy. Cabinet hardware: CB2. Countertops: Caesarstone. Sink / Faucet: Delta. Fridge/dishwasher/stove by GE: Wayfair. Light fixtures: Cedar and Moss.

OFFICE/APARTMENT BATHROOM RESOURCES: Shower fixtures: Delta. Sink, vanity, shower doors, hardware, tile: Supplied by the contractor. Vanity mirror/medicine cabinet: CB2. Light fixtures: Cedar and Moss. Penny shower wall tile: Clé.

Originally published on September 24, 2020

Updated on May 11, 2023

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Learn more about an ADU / Los Angeles garage remodel with Sweeten’s handy guide detailing costs, reasons they’re popular, and more.

Here’s how Rosaire transformed her Southampton garage into larger living room space and a pantry.

Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, scope, and style. Follow the blog, Sweeten Stories, for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation with Sweeten.