Car Garage: Wacky, Weird and Wonderful

By: John Riha
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Most of the time our garages don’t get a lot of attention, but that’s usually by design. Nevertheless, some garages definitely deserve a closer look — if not a jaw-dropping double-take. Ready for the unusual? Enjoy our slideshow of tantalizingly weird garages.

Most of us are happy with a garage that has enough space to include the leaf rake and spare folding chairs. But a home owner in Japan built a 2,000 sq. ft. house with garage space for nine exotic cars, plus an elevator so he could display them in his living room. Need spare chairs? Bring up the Lamborghini!

Credit: number fives architectural design office
Who says your garage has to be dull? With its see-through walls and carnival-inspired roof, this detached garage is a giant display case for its modestly sized inhabitant. Before planning a garage addition that’s either freestanding or attached, be sure to check your local building ordinances for property line setbacks and any zoning restrictions.

Credit: Designed by Marcus Gleysteen Architects
A garage door is the heaviest moving object in your home. That’s especially true for the hydraulically lifted facade of this Florida B&B that raises to reveal parked cars. No matter how heavy your garage door, give it regular maintenance to keep it operating smoothly and safely.

Credit: Danville Bed and Breakfast
This is either a cool roof or a UFO with an otherwordly attraction to plain garages. Down-to-Earth features for garages include built-in storage, epoxy floor coatings, and plenty of space between cars and walls — 4 to 5 feet is ideal.

Credit: Christian Credner
Got a difference of opinion with your significant other? If you have a double-car garage, you can express your individuality with paint. While you’re at it, inspect and maintain your garage by lubricating garage door bearings and hinges, cleaning tracks, and checking your foundation for cracks.

Credit: Crissy Liu
Only fitting that your houseboat have a garage, especially if you have an Amphicar — a combo car and boat first made in the early 1960s. A storm at sea could submerge this garage; landlocked home owners near coastal regions may want to hurricane-proof garage doors to prevent excessive damage.

Credit: Deevinebovine/Flickr
According to Remodeling magazine’s annual Cost vs. Value Report, the national average cost of a garage addition is $57,824, and you’ll recoup about $33,000 of that at resale. Of course, you can build one for pennies using scrap plywood, but you have to live with the results.

Credit: Eric Harvey Brown
If you like these, you may want to take a spin through HouseLogic’s library of slideshows.