The old adage that the sky is the limit couldn’t be more true when it comes to the home of designer Whitney Leigh Morris and her partner Adam Winkleman. Sparked by her creativity, Whitney’s latest masterpiece involves the beautiful transformation of an old garage built in the 1920s which she now calls home. Before embarking on this endeavor, there were those that were skeptical claiming that it was not a feasible project. After all, could a 362-square foot garage really be enough living space for a couple and their two dogs? Such a small living area would surely amount to a cramped living experience, or so they thought.
Morris and Winkleman live in this standalone garage home, which shares the property with the main house, in the Venice Canal district of Venice Beach in Los Angeles. A designer and blogger by trade, Morris used her imagination and creativity to turn this garage into a home suitable enough for her, her partner Adam and their two dogs Stanlee and Sophee. This garage was built on a larger property and was used as intended by its late owners but Morris had something else in mind. Although the building paled in comparison to the main house in regards to size, Morris was able to envision a complete living environment that included a kitchen, bedroom and living room and brought that to fruition!
The wide doors to the garage, which were there before and used for cars and carriages, were replaced with standard glass doors and panels to make for a more homelier environment. Morris took into account the limited amount of space in her new garage home when it came to her working space which is small to save space but completely adequate. She killed two birds with one stone when it came to her living room area which can also function as a dining room with the simple addition of a small table and an accompanying table cloth. The back wall of the garage serves as the kitchen area and her bedroom, which includes ample shelving to help with storage, is separated from the rest of the home to add for privacy.
In the words of Whitney Leigh Morris, one thing we can take away from the successful renovation of this 1920s garage is that you don’t need to live large to live beautifully. Less is more which is more evident than ever with this comfy and cozy garage home. She was able to prove all of her doubters wrong and should be applauded for her ingenuity. Her success story and what she and her partner were able to accomplish with this 1920s garage should inspire us to start making the most of the space in our very own homes!
