When you need a hangout space for teenagers more than you need a place to park the car, it’s time to repurpose the garage.
This house is home to Matt and Tara Armbruster and their daughters Abbey and Mary Paige.
Matt and Tara are the founders of a faith-based nonprofit organization, Matt has driven for Uber as a side hustle while Tara has tackled some home improvement projects that included removing a load-bearing wall in the kitchen!
Well, the couple is leaving their garage makeover to the professionals — and that includes some old cabinets from that kitchen project.
We’re converting their garage into a multipurpose room perfect for shooting pool, watching TV, and throwing darts.
The Steps of the Project
Building a Dad Corner
Before we can convert the garage into a hangout space, we have to empty it so Matt can pressure wash the concrete floor.
Next, we install cabinets for a ‘Dad Corner’ that will house tools and a workbench with an old piece of laminate countertop, which we revived with a coat of polyurethane.
A rustic “Dad Curtain” will keep Matt’s tools, and him, out of sight when the girls entertain. It’s perfect for hiding Matt’s tools — and Matt if he wants to check on his kids!
Adding an Accent Wall
After two days of work in Matt and Tara’s garage, the walls and cabinets are ready for paint.
While the family tackles that chore, we create an accent wall from pallets — it’ll be a nice backdrop for the girls’ dartboard. Especially after we apply a polyurethane coating that gives it a rich look without changing the color.
This accent backdrop made from pallet boards makes the dartboard become a piece of wall art when not in use.
Creating a Cozy Cafe
It doesn’t take much to transform a dead corner into a cozy cafe with a bistro set and some wall art.
This room is all about fun, so the attractive and functional pallet background for the dartboard is a perfect fit. And a cafe table and new light fixture transform a dead corner into a cozy spot ideal for enjoying snacks and light meals.
Adding Natural Light
We installed a door with a window to let in some much-needed natural light — so Tara and Matt could keep an eye on their girls.
The freshly painted white walls maximize every bit of the natural light. This playroom feels less like a garage and more like another room in the house since we installed a door with a window that lets in natural light.
Coating the Floor
The easiest way to transform a garage with a real stone surface is to apply Daich Coatings’ RollerRock. The material isn’t paint but a concrete coating made from stone.
The first coat of RollerRock dries in a couple of hours, so Matt’s homework is to apply a second coat overnight.
The finished stone floor coating makes the room look like a finished living space, but it’s rugged enough to handle car traffic.
Spraying the Spiders
Finally, we spray the space with Miss Muffet’s Revenge. It’s a versatile product because you can spray the spider, spray the cobweb, or spray your home’s perimeter and keep spiders away for up to a year.
Production Thoughts
Like most garages, Matt and Tara’s had become a random collection of stuff without a home or things they just didn’t need.
Now the space is cleaner, brighter and much more functional.
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 | Watch and Learn: How to Hang a Garage Curtain Made from Drop Cloths |
