Garage Conversion to Sleepout in Manurewa, Auckland

This renovation was thoughtfully planned to create additional living spaces – both indoors and out – and also to update the home's main bathroom with a contemporary look.

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Starting Off

Manurewa homeowners Violet and Ian were eager to expand their small, 3-bedroom home. With two almost-teenagers, they were quickly outgrowing the property and wanted to organise a budget-friendly renovation that would address the lack of living space.
They had a few ideas in mind, which included building a new deck, converting their garage into a sleepout/games room, and updating the design of their main bathroom. All they needed was the help of a professional to make it real. So, to get the project started, they reached out to local Renovation Consultant who was thrilled to take on their exciting renovation.

Getting a Gauge on Things

When exploring options to achieve the homeowners’ goals, the Renovation Consultant looked at opportunities to extend the home itself. However, she determined the orientation of the property wouldn’t allow for any cost-effective extensions. Instead, the best possible solution was to convert the garage into a sleepout/games room and build a deck connecting the converted space to the main house, with door access on both ends. Violet and Ian happily accepted the recommendation as it would not only expand their living area but also establish indoor/outdoor flow.

Construction Begins

Despite the team’s due diligence, they discovered that part of the garage’s slab foundation was not compliant upon removing the existing structure. The council deemed it unsuitable and said they’d need a new one to continue. After discussing this requirement with Violet and Ian, the Renovation Consultant arranged for a new slab to be built and ensured the construction of the new sleepout/games room continued as close to schedule as possible.
Meanwhile, in the main house, the Renovation Consultant's renovation team installed new exterior doors on two sides of the lounge, which would open up to the new deck. The bathroom also underwent demolition and required new plumbing, wiring, re-lining, and tiling.
Altogether, this renovation required a large number of tradespeople to complete the full project. Interestingly, homeowners often shy away from professional project management because they see it as an added expense and think it will be easy to coordinate the project themselves. However, the reality is that project managers will save homeowners money through their cost-effective planning, efficient coordination, and great relationships with trusted suppliers and tradespeople.
In addition, having to obtain council consent, source supplies, and schedule the best tradespeople is highly time-consuming and can be frustrating if you’re not an industry expert. Violet and Ian didn’t have to worry about these aspects; the Renovation Consultant took care of everything. And despite having to rebuild the slab beneath the garage, alongside unforeseen delays caused by covid-19 lockdowns, the Renovation Consultant still managed to keep the project’s costing close to the initial budget and had construction wrapped up in just over a year.

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A Larger Home with Contemporary Upgrades

The converted garage has become the perfect place for Violet, Ian, and their children to hang out and further alleviates congestion in the main house. And though it’s mainly used as a games room for the kids, the space has been well established as a comfortable guest suite and features a kitchenette and modern bathroom.
In the sleepout, a large sliding door opens onto the new deck, connecting over to the main house. The deck provides a contemporary, spacious area for outdoor entertaining – and in any weather, thanks to the new pergola and the sleepout’s extended roof. With sliding doors also installed in the main house’s lounge, the deck gains ultimate indoor/outdoor flow between both buildings.
Meanwhile, back in the main house, the bathroom has received an impressive transformation. Large grey tiles now cover the bathroom from floor to ceiling, creating a serene atmosphere in combination with the contemporary fixtures. These upgrades include dual showerheads — one rainfall, one handheld — a floating vanity with double basins, matte black tapware, and overhead lighting. The elements pair seamlessly together for a soothing yet sophisticated look.

Final Thoughts

The Renovation Consultant planned, managed, and delivered a brilliant home renovation for this family in Manurewa. The project achieved exactly what homeowners Violet and Ian had sought to accomplish; they now have more communal areas for living, a spacious deck with excellent indoor/outdoor flow, and a completely updated bathroom in their main house.
A project of this size always has its hurdles, but the Renovation Consultant kept the entire renovation running smoothly from design to build. The only thing Violet and Ian had to worry about was how they planned to use their new space.
Materials used include general building supplies from Placemakers, structural material from Kit Homes, and flooring from Cooney’s Flooring.