The luxury design trends elevating the humble garage

You don’t need to be a superhero, like Batman, to have a showstopping garage.

No longer is this room assigned the lowest status, its interior laced with petrol fumes, or its floor stained with engine oil. Neither is it home to an assortment of tools and materials that rightfully belong in a storage shed.

“Given that vehicles are now cleaner than ever and that protective materials have advanced significantly, there is no reason that the garage should be a second cousin to the main design,” says leading interior designer Blainey North.

“We now like to think about garage design as part of the house as it is often the first moment of arrival in your home.”

North says that, for one amazing house, they created a two-car car lift with open sides that descended through a graffiti mural to a subterranean garage with a glowing white ceiling and black painted floor and walls.

“It really felt like the Bat Cave,” she says.

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Another client needed storage for a significant collection of Ferraris.

“So, we created a secret garage space for eight Ferraris, which was accessed through a hidden sliding door behind a bar in the dining area.”

Also trending are garages that are attached to entertaining areas, such as lounge bars or home cinemas (why travel far for rest and relaxation after clinching mega-deals), as well as home gyms and wine cellars.

Some revamped vehicle storage spaces also choose to maximise the appeal of one spectacular feature of a luxury residence.

Says architect Angelo Parisi, of Sydney-based Studio Parisi Architects: “We had one client who wanted to appreciate his home’s water views as soon as he entered the garage.

“He also wanted to be able to view his luxury cars on the lower ground floor from the (adjoining) pool and entertaining area.”

Sliding glass doors from Italy, which took four months to deliver, were part of the design solution.

Adds Parisi: “We see more and more luxury clients who want a garage that is a bit of a showcase.

“But it can also be a space that simply gives the owner pleasure.”

If you have a prestigious home, but are bereft of an ocean view, there are of course many other ways to elevate your garage experience.

North suggests considering stone flooring, or marble flooring (with a special sealant), or walls in wallpaper. “We’ve even completed some garages with French panelling,” she says.

To keep those expensive floors and walls pristine – and do your bit for the environment – you may want to consider a home charging station in the luxe garage aesthetic.

“Electric vehicle buyers are well informed about energy use and more likely to already have solar,” says Samantha Johnson, head of  Polestar Australia. “Home charging solutions therefore become part of this push toward a more sustainable lifestyle and smaller climate footprint, especially when considering a new build or extension.”