Dream Garages From Simple to Stately

A famous basketball coach once stated he didn't want "3 car garage guys" on his team. He wanted the young struggling athlete not the one who could afford the 3 car garage. What an intriguing viewpoint. Economic class counts to the coach - in the reverse of societal rules of wealth. Never before did I think of garages are the ultimate sign of economic status - but of course, they are!

Motivational speakers often cite visualization. "Dream big!" is the common mantra. We cannot possibly attain great things, unless we "dream big!"

Some people dream of mansions and gold and fame. My dream is a garage to be proud of - the cars are no mind to me - my husband's dreams are cars but that is for another day and another story.

Glass Garages and More!

Explore with me some great garages - from the basic with tons of storage, to the sublime - architectural gems to even the small in size but strong in style - a glass garage. Come dream with me of the biggest and best garages with all the trimmings from skylights to copper cupolas to even a guest house.

Journey with me as we explore a plethora of garages from 3 car garage and more! From the simple to the sublime to even celebrity garages and glass garages.

See Jay Leno's garage floor before and after. See what Jay chooses for his garage floor. Check out the new - old technology Leno installed for energy in his garage - it is power that is kind to the environment.

Explore new automatic garage carriage doors that swing out. There are also the gizmos for the garage - such as sources and remotes and hardware and much more.

Most of all, dream with me - dream big - remember the larger the garage, the more toys! Enjoy!

Gorgeous Garage Doors

The Classic Coach House with Carriage Doors and Dormers

4 Car Garage with Carriage Doors and Copper Roofed Cupola

Classic Three & Four Car Garages Cupola Dormers Arched Windows and More!

Basic Four Door Garages

5 Car Garage

Stately 6 Car Garage Complete with Carriage Doors Cupola and Weather Vane

3 Car Garage with Decorative Window Inserts

Soffit Lighting on the Exterior of the 2 Car Garage - Note Cupola

Mega Mansion Garage - Complete with Dormers and French Doors

Garages in Magnificant Milton Wisconsin

Jay Leno's Wind Turbine for His Garage

Jay Leno Chooses UCoat It Garage Floor Coating

Tax Benefits of Energy Saving Garage Doors

Tax credits are available from purchases of materials made to bring long term energy savings to your home. Items such as insulated garage doors apply. The write off is simply 30% of the cost of materials (not the cost of installation or labor and the ceiling is $1500). The energy saving purchases must qualify under certain guidelines. The purchase time frame for US taxpayers is through 12/31/2010. Check with your accountant for more details.

When we are dreaming alone it is only a dream. When we are dreaming with others, it is the beginning of reality.

Dom Helder Camara

Dream no small dreams for they have no power to move the hearts of men.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Garage Doors Gizmos and More!

Now that we have seen the magnificent 3 car garages and many more, what makes a garage so special? Just its size? No, it is much more than that. A garage is mainly the garage door and the garage floor. The gizmos for the garage such as the garage door opener and the carriage house hardware add the details that make the garage special.

Lighting - Natural Light is the Very Best

Lighting the interior of a large space takes much planning. If you are building or remodeling consider the very best - natural light. A garage must be well light on the inside but don't forget about the exterior lighting. Lights on the exterior soffit (the overhand) make the garage's architecture really stand out at night. The soffit lighting combined with natural lights for the interior would be a great addition to any garage - new or old.

Garage Door Gizmos

The invention of the overhead garage door and its mechanical marvel by Howard Colman remains a daily comfort for the majority of Americans. The remote control garage door is now a necessary convenience.

Copper Cupola

Just as you wouldn't forget the icing on the top of the cake, don't forget the copper cupola at the top of your dream garage.

Carriage Garage Door

One of my favorite items is the carriage door. Living with a carriage door with it opening in the center and swinging out is something new for me that I would just have to get use to. In many ways, I feel this would be a safer design than the overhead garage door.

Carriage Garage Door Hardware

Don't forget the hardware for your carriage garage door. Yes, you need a special door opener but you also need the exterior faux brackets that make the design realistic.

Insulated Garage Door

A wood door would be too much maintenance for me. An insulated door that qualified for the energy tax savings is a must for me. If we are going to upgrade, let's upgrade all the way, including saving on the utility bill and the tax - two great saving points.

Interior Flooring

The interior floor is what makes a dingy garage or a dynamite garage. Check out Jay Leno's garage floor. The renovation is amazing. I love the high shine and the clean appearance it gives to the entire space.

Energy Efficiency - Wind Turbine

Energy efficiency for Jay is taken to the extreme with his installation of the wind turbine. But if I had a garage of that magnitude, I would definitely make the investment. Leno's collection is stated to occupy 3 football fields! According to Askville, Leno's collections includes 73 motorcycles and 75 cars. His cars reside in garages that are decorated with vintage car posters, oil posers and vintage billboards.

A wind turbine is a machine that has also been called a "wind generator, wind turbine, wind turbine generator (WTG), wind power unit (WPU), wind energy converter (WEC), or aerogenerator". Essentially, a wind turbine harnesses the power of the wind for energy. Perhaps the visual of the Dutch windmills that power the mills and pumps is the best visual analogy.

Back to Jay Leno's extreme garage and collection of vintage cars and motorcycles. In Jay's own words:

"It is cheaper to have 35 cars and one woman than one car and 35 women."

Likewise, I tease my husband, he can collect cars - just not women!

Dream garages are now more affordable than ever before. Even if yours and mine is not 3 car or more, we can add the gizmos, add the hardware, change out the garage door to an energy efficient insulated door and much more.

3 Car Garage with Eyebrow Pergola

Sources for Garage Doors

• Over Head Door by Thermacore
  For premium construction and maximum thermal efficiency, a Thermacore insulated steel door is the ideal choice. Most models feature our sandwich construction of steel-polyurethane-steel and between-section seals with thermal breaks for reduced air
• Residential Garage Doors | Wayne-Dalton
  Doors with this symbol are eligible for the Energy Savings Tax Credit if purchased and installed in 2009 and 2010. Click the symbol for the Certificate, which can be used to receive your tax credit.
• Residential garage doors | Overhead Door Corporation
  Garage Doors available for residential homes.
• Garage Doors. Free Shipping. Call Free 1-877-357-3667 Buy Garage Doors Direct Pay Le$$.
  Garage Doors offered at low prices Free Shipping* factory direct. Residential or commercial, Direct Garage Door has it. Amarr, Clopay, Wayne-Dalton, Holmes. Nationwide Dealer Network
• Garage Doors Depot
  We are your number one source for entry doors, garage doors and garage door openers.We also service and install
• Sears Garage Doors: Garage Doors, Garage Door Installation, Garage Door Service and Garage Door Open
  Sears has a full line of garage doors and garage door openers available for your home at competitive prices. We are your residential garage door installation and repair specialist. Call us if your garage door doesn't work. We service most makes &
• Northwest Door - Residential & Commercial Garage Doors
  Products include residential and commercial garage doors in steel, wood and aluminum. Our doors are available in hundreds of diiferent styles.
• Carriage House Doors by United Door
  Custom Carriage House Doors , Garage Doors and Rolling Doors by United Door
• Amarr Garage Doors
  Steel, composite, wood - residential and commercial.
• Garage Doors, Residential and Commercial - Clopay Door
  Clopay is North Americas leading garage door manufacturer, offering a complete line of residential garage doors and commercial garage doors.
• Carriage Wooden Garage Doors by Carriage House Door Company
  Commercial site for wooden garage doors - carriage style.

Sources for Garage Door Hardware

• Garage Door Hardware Direct
  Decorative Carriage House Garage Door Hardware for use on any overhead garage doors; one-piece or sectional. Decorative Hardware is sold in six colors and with fasteners. Decorative Handles and Strap Hinges can be used on entry doors, gates, sheds.
• Garage Doors, Garage Door Parts, Accessories, Hardware and Supplies
  Top Quality Garage Doors, parts, hardware, openers, and accessories for all commercial and residential applications at discount prices with outstanding service.
• Garage Door Parts : Garage Door Hardware : Garage Door Torsion Springs : Garage Door Track : Prodoor
  Pro Door Supply offers Garage Door Parts, Garage Door Springs and Hardware.
• Garage door parts, garage door springs, replacement overhead door parts supply
  Garage door parts for use on sectional overhead garage doors. Fix your garage door yourself with our parts.

In Appreciation

Statistics of Leno's Collection provided by:

http://askville.amazon.com/cars-Jay-Leno/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=238034

Dream quotes provided by:

http://www.allfamousquotes.net/dreams-quotes/

© 2010 Ken Kline

Comments

Carla on December 10, 2019:

Keep the carriage swinging garage doors, I’ll take the Antique Red Beetle!!

Kelly Kline Burnett from Madison, Wisconsin on March 27, 2012:

All of these to me were dreamy. When my husband and I purchased our home, he was so proud after mowing our yard. When I advised him that he didn't finish, he shouted - if I had known this yard was this big, I would not have purchased this home! My reply was there was sufficient room for a larger garage! That is my dream for him. He loves cars and while that is my competition, I am thrilled with his hobby.

Thank you for your kind words. I worked hard on finding the right samples. I continue to add as I find more great garages.

Sinea Pies from Northeastern United States on March 27, 2012:

Oh I love the photo of the one with the dormers and French doors a LOT! Voted up and beautiful. I really enjoyed this hub.