Living Large in Small Spaces: Garage Turned Studio Apartment

Gray walls and dark blue furniture transform this detached garage into a handsome studio apartment. Here, guests have access to their own sitting room, kitchen, washer/dryer set and bathroom. A sliding barn door tucks the bedroom from view and makes it feel a little secluded.

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February 21, 2018

By: Patricia Sanchez Lee

From: Noble Johnson Architects, LLC

Related To:

Charming Garage Treehouse Apartment

This detached garage, featuring an upstairs studio apartment, was designed to complement the existing residence, which can be seen in the left background.

From: Noble Johnson Architects, LLC

Craftsman Garage and Custom Gate

Nestled in a historic neighborhood in Nashville, Tennessee, this home includes a main residence and a detached garage apartment. To give the garage a greater sense of privacy, it's separated from the main house by a fence and this custom gate, designed by a local artisan.

From: Noble Johnson Architects, LLC

Blue Craftsman Garage Exterior

The garage's exterior takes its cues from the Craftsman design of the main house. Shades of blue are a pretty pairing with the natural wood shingles.

From: Noble Johnson Architects, LLC

Garage Apartment Exterior and Window

The exterior of the garage apartment mimics the architecture and colors of the main house.

From: Noble Johnson Architects, LLC

Gray Apartment Living Area With Blue Accent Wall

A navy-blue accent wall in this studio apartment's kitchen adds depth and interest and contrasts dramatically with the soft gray walls and white cabinets and trim.

From: Noble Johnson Architects, LLC

Kitchen Sink, Open Shelves and Window

Besides showing off pretty glassware, houseplants and more, open shelving in a small kitchen helps the room appear larger than it is. The countertops are quartz, a clean, fresh look.

From: Noble Johnson Architects, LLC

White Open Plan Kitchen With Sloped Ceiling

Above the garage sits this charming, 600-square foot apartment. Because the roof pitch created low ceilings in the corners, designers used those areas for closets and the pantry. An unusual, patterned backsplash adds dimension to the kitchen's basic white cabinets.

From: Noble Johnson Architects, LLC

Blue and White Kitchen With Open Shelving

A white palette, combined with touches like open shelves and a stacking washer/dryer concealed in a cabinet, helps this small kitchen seem much larger.

From: Noble Johnson Architects, LLC

Green Bathroom With Pink Flowers

The bathroom's green walls bring the feel of nature right into the room. The color is also a fun backdrop for pairings of bright colors, like the sink's arrangement of hot pink flowers.

From: Noble Johnson Architects, LLC

Green-and-White Studio Apartment Bathroom

Although small in size, this studio apartment's bathroom makes a huge style statement with its apple-green walls and crisp white trim.

From: Noble Johnson Architects, LLC

Green Bathroom With Towel Trio

Have some fun in a smaller space by using bold, sassy colors and playful artwork. The garage apartment's bathroom gets a dose of energy from green paint and whimsical faux antlers.

From: Noble Johnson Architects, LLC

Apartment With Sleeping Nook and White Kitchen

Combining midcentury modern and rustic design elements, this studio apartment features gray walls, navy-blue accents and white kitchen cabinets and appliances.

From: Noble Johnson Architects, LLC

Kitchen Cabinet With Washer and Dryer

In the kitchen, a tall cabinet cleverly hides the stacked washer and dryer. A pretty basket on top leaps out at the eye against the dark blue wall.

From: Noble Johnson Architects, LLC

Blue Sofa With Yellow Throw

Zippy stripes and a fresh color palette of yellow, blue and gray give instant style to the navy blue sofa. Behind the sofa, a barn-style sliding door can be closed to give privacy to the bedroom.

From: Noble Johnson Architects, LLC

Gray Small Bedroom With Yellow Flowers

A wee bedroom is closed off from the rest of the apartment by a reclaimed wood sliding door. Inside the room, gray walls look smart with fresh white trim and pops of blue and yellow.

From: Noble Johnson Architects, LLC

Sliding Barn Door

To maximize every inch of the 600-square foot garage apartment, designers installed this custom-built folding barn door. It can slide over to enclose the bedroom or fold up to create a open plan flow across the space.

From: Noble Johnson Architects, LLC

Nightstand With Stacked Books

A stack of books gives a lift to a low nightstand. The bedroom's gray walls are a blank canvas for layers of patterned pillows.

From: Noble Johnson Architects, LLC

Gray and Blue Apartment Living Area With Barn Door Partition

This studio apartment, in a relaxing palette of pale gray and dark blue, features a barn door partition that can separate the sleeping and seating areas.

From: Noble Johnson Architects, LLC

Gray and Blue Apartment Living Area With Barn Door Partition

A rustic barn door partition closes off the sleeping are of this studio apartment and provides a striking contrast to the navy-blue midcentury-modern sofa.

From: Noble Johnson Architects, LLC

Midcentury Blue Sofa With Round Gray Pillow

Gray and yellow accent pillows give this navy blue sofa some pop and personality. A tiny houseplant lets nature be part of the picture, too.

From: Noble Johnson Architects, LLC

Midcentury Blue Armchair and Side Table

The look inside mixes midcentury modern furnishings with cheerful colors, patterns and accents. The friendly vibe perfectly suits the Nashville home's southern roots.

From: Noble Johnson Architects, LLC

Blue and Gray Pet-Bathing Station

Even the furriest family member can be pampered in this cleverly adapted garage pet-bathing area, with its stylish aqua-and-gray color palette.

From: Noble Johnson Architects, LLC

Outdoor Sitting Area With Two Chairs

A small strip of space between the garage and the main house becomes a sweet, tucked-away outdoor sitting area with two chairs and colorful planters.

From: Noble Johnson Architects, LLC

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Photo By: studiObuell

Photo By: STUDIOBuell Photography

Photo By: studiObuell

Photo By: STUDIOBuell Photography

Photo By: studiObuell

Photo By: STUDIOBuell Photography

Photo By: studiObuell

Photo By: STUDIOBuell Photography

Photo By: studiObuell

Photo By: STUDIOBuell Photography

Photo By: studiObuell

Photo By: STUDIOBuell Photography

Photo By: studiObuell

Photo By: STUDIOBuell Photography

HGTV Faces of Design 2018

Living Large in Small Spaces: Garage Turned Studio Apartment

Related To:

Charming Garage Treehouse Apartment

Craftsman Garage and Custom Gate

Blue Craftsman Garage Exterior

Garage Apartment Exterior and Window

Gray Apartment Living Area With Blue Accent Wall

Kitchen Sink, Open Shelves and Window

White Open Plan Kitchen With Sloped Ceiling

Blue and White Kitchen With Open Shelving

Green Bathroom With Pink Flowers

Green-and-White Studio Apartment Bathroom

Green Bathroom With Towel Trio

Apartment With Sleeping Nook and White Kitchen

Kitchen Cabinet With Washer and Dryer

Blue Sofa With Yellow Throw

Gray Small Bedroom With Yellow Flowers

Sliding Barn Door

Nightstand With Stacked Books

Gray and Blue Apartment Living Area With Barn Door Partition

Gray and Blue Apartment Living Area With Barn Door Partition

Midcentury Blue Sofa With Round Gray Pillow

Midcentury Blue Armchair and Side Table

Blue and Gray Pet-Bathing Station

Outdoor Sitting Area With Two Chairs

Shop This Look

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