The white shiplap is continued from the downstairs entry, but the designer decided against covering every wall with it. “I left the sloping walls uncovered, because I didn’t want the space to feel too oppressive and heavy,” Mittleman says. The bottom of the wall behind the large blue velvet sectional includes custom storage that the boys use to conceal their sports equipment.
An air conditioning unit above the window allows the boys to use the space all year long, even during the hottest days of the summer. “This space is perfect for summer breaks when the boys are off school,” Mittleman says. “It gets them out of the house but keeps them nearby.”
The white painted bricks are part of the flue for a large boiler that used to be in the garage. “I didn’t want to cover over the bricks with tile, because it adds a nice industrial touch to the room,” Mittleman says.
The exterior of the garage and the new doors were painted to match the colors of the house.
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Garage Hangout at a Glance
Who uses it: Three teenage brothers
Location: Pelham, New York
Size: 880 square feet (82 square meters)
Designer: Kelly Mittleman of Kelly and Co. Design
The first floor of the garage can be entered through a front door that leads directly to a staircase, or through a sliding barn door that separates the entry from the parking area. Mittleman covered the floor in this area with durable slate tiles. “The weather can get pretty rainy and snowy in the winter, so it’s nice to have a floor that can hold up to the elements,” she says.
The walls and one side of the staircase are covered in white shiplap that adds a bright, modern touch. The painting of the dog on the wall and all of the artwork upstairs were selected with the input of the three brothers.
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