Meet our one car garage.  It is unfinished, it is tiny (barely enough room for 1 car especially when you are loading a toddler in it), it is full of spiders, it is stinky and very disorganized.  A couple of months ago we spent a Sunday cleaning and doing the best at organizing.  I have always had big plans for this little space but until I started working again I really didn’t have the extra cash to take on a project this size.

Finally this summer we were ready to take it on.  We began by empyting the space. We installed some insulation, JoJo put up some drywall, I mudded and sanded the drywall and then we primed it – we totally did this all in one day!! The next day we got up extra early and threw another coat of paint on the walls.  I had intentions of turning this into a studio space and this back corner you see above was going to be Aubrey’s playspace.  While I worked she could play and we both could be happy.  We painted the walls a blue gray color and the back corner we covered with chalkboard paint.  We spent the rest of the day moving toys, tables, computers, etc.

This is our finished product! I know! I know!! This space is absolutely amazing.

Before you ask, no we did not install hardwoord floors into the garage. I didn’t want to close the garage in completely because if we ever decide to sell the house a garage is a good selling point.  I needed a temporary solution for the floor and since it was such a weird size I would have to purchase multiple area rugs and I hate big squares of carpet scattered everywhere.  When we pulled the carpet out of our living room and upstairs hallway we purchased all the hardwoods that Lowes had in our color – it was being discontinued and the price was amazing.  For months we have had boxes and boxes of wood piled up in storage for those unexpected, just in case we need to replace a board moments.  I believe it was my husband’s genius idea to install a floating floor using that extra board! Since these are the snap together boards we were able to just put down some padding and then snap some boards on top of it.  When we decide to move or turn this back to a garage we can just simply unsnap the boards and pick it up! Good job JoJo!!!

 The chalkboard wall makes an excellent art gallery for Aubrey.  I am able to use pushpins to put up her artwork and then I take chalk and draw her frames.  You can also see that new art is created using chalk and all her friends and visitors like to leave her special messages.

I used a $14 side table from Target to create her a little desk.  I put a roll of paper up on the wall using a curtain rod so that she would NEVER run out of drawing paper.  The chair is from Ikea and was given to her by her cousin Riley.  The “A” cape she created in school last year.  The alphabet rug is from Target and so is the white shelves (on sale for $14).  The kitty baskets are from The Container Store and folks they are like $3 buck a piece, seriously!! Her shelves are full of books, art supplies and that big box on the bottom shelf is full of My Little Ponies.

Take a look behind the white shelves. . . do you see that wood fence?  We fenced our backyard in this summer and we had some extra pieces left over.  JoJo cut it to size and behind that sits our hot water heater! This may possibly be the thing I love most about the room. I struggled for weeks on how to cover that ugly eye soar.  I thought maybe a curtain and then someone reminded my that it is a gas water heater and curtains can catch on fire.  The panel sits far enough away from the heater – I had the gas company inspect it – and it is short enough that it doesn’t close the area in completely so it has proper ventilation.

This is look at how it looks whent he walls are covered in chalk!  You can see more of the wood fence in this photo and if you notice I also have her wagon parked back there.  I don’t want to keep it outside and we have a side door so this makes for easy access.

I have not finished the other half of the garage.  I don’t think my studio will be going down there. Now that the area has started to come together I see a family room. I see a place to move that 60 Inch televsion so that it no longer sits in my living room.  I see a place for JoJo to watch his football games and showcase his football memorabilia.  I love the space and it is way to large for what I need.  I have come to love my little room upstairs.

I will keep you updated on what we decide to do with the other half but for now this little corner is a piece of toddler of heaven.