Tag Archives: organization

I don't know how many times I get this question as a garage storage designer..."Where do we put the bikes??" Although this is a common question, it is not an easy one to answer.  Unfortunately fitting bikes in an average 2 Car Garage (20x20) is tough especially if you want to fit those 2 cars in as well!! We at Garage Envy have several solutions you can choose!  Whether you decide on floor, wall or ceiling bike storage! http://www.garageenvy.com/shop/garage/slatwall-accessories/bicycle-racks.html Continue Reading

We appreciate your business very much here at Garage Envy.  We have built our business and reputation on referrals. We would like to reward you through our newly announced "Refer-A-Friend" Program and provide you with a $150 Dollar Cash Back Reward for any referral that leads to a full install or a $50 dollar cash back reward for any floor only jobs. All cash back rewards are issued after the job is complete and paid in full. All records are kept confidential so if you have several friends that you would like to suggest please do so with the full confidence that Garage Envy will keep yours and your referee's information secure. Continue Reading

What we store in our garages, and what we sometimes work with in the garage can often present hazards both obvious and subtle... Sometimes we can see there's an actual hazard to some of the items we use in our garage-- gasoline for the lawnmower, for instance-- and sometimes the danger is a bit more hidden-- perhaps old cans of paint or paint removal products we store in the garage, unaware or forgetting that they could be petroleum based products prone to combustion under the right circumstances.

Whether you have a garage workshop, home office, kids playroom, home entertainment room or other garage remodel design, or if you just have a basic garage for cars and storage, the obvious and hidden dangers should always be taken into account for safety's sake.

If you are a Do-It-Yourself type who decides to remodel the garage, always make certain to take as many precautions as you can and, more often than not, consider hiring professional licensed contractors to do all or a portion of the work that may present any hazards such as electrical work, plumbing work or other types of major remodeling. A company such as Garage Envy, a licensed Contractor with insurance and bonding particular to the construction industry will help protect not only your home, but also may save your life from a home remodeling accident or disaster. Licensed contractors like Garage Envy can make sure to pull the proper permits, conduct safe practices on the job site, make sure that Injury and Illness Protection Programs are in place for their employees and offer you a sense of security that the job will not only get done right the first time, but also ensure that you won't have a trip to the emergency room just because you felt it possible to put in some track lighting.

Still, today's home remodeling projects are easier than ever for the true and capable Do-It-Yourself person to handle easy to moderately difficult jobs with relative ease. Today's modular systems, easy-to-assemble parts, and hand tools make many projects-- even potentially life threatening ones-- rather simple, if the correct precautions against accidents are taken.

Even after the work is done and you've organized everything and stored it all just right... there's plenty of dangers to be aware of. Storing solvents and other chemicals present their own hazards... Loose lids could create an invisible cloud of toxic fumes, for instance. Heat that affects the garage environment can easily cause combustible material to do just that, and items not stored correctly could topple or cause injury if not secured properly.

In a truly finished garage, the hidden dangers could amount to loose wiring and hidden electrical hazards, cheaper building materials prone to failure, and a variety of other potential dangers that one should always be aware of.

Mr. Handyman intends on blogging on safety tips and advice over the next year... so stick around and check back frequently...

In the meantime, be sure to check out the Safety and Cleaning items from our store at GarageEnvyShop.com

Here at Garage Envy, we're big fans of local author and professional organizer John Trosko. He's the go-to-guy for well thought out tips, tricks and advice to get your home and life organized and in order.... allowing for a more efficient, safe and enjoyable home.

John is currently the 2007-2009 President of the National Association of Professional Organizers, Los Angeles Chapter, and we wish him much success this year! You can check out John's blog at OrganizingLA. It's a great way to keep up with new ideas for organizing the home (and, of course, the garage).

Garage Envy is a proud member of NAPO and our own mission to "Master The Mess" in our client's garages stands in testament to our own leadership in this new frontier of home organizing. Garage Envy strives to be THE garage organization and storage professionals and our goal for 2009 is to create "green garages" for our clients, including:

• Industrial Strength Green Board
• Non-Toxic Materials
• Renewable and/or recycled work surfaces and cabinetry
• Energy efficient lighting, insulation, heating/air
• Zero to Low VOC flooring products
• Waste-Free garage installations
• The most unique and attractive products found in the garage industry.

Contact us today for more information on "going green" and transforming your garage for 2009!

The garage is a cluttered mess... You're afraid to even look in there, seeing piles of stuff on the floor: toys, sports equipment, odds and ends from previous moves, stuff that no one claimed at the last garage sale, and just the general flotsam and jetsam of life lying there with no apparent way to organize it and get the car inside the garage. Where oh where to begin?!

One of the first steps I always consider in organizing the garage spaces of homes I've worked in is the ceiling area... after all, just look at all that space... it's basically the same or exact square footage (plus or minus mouldings and/or stem walls) as the floor. Wouldn't it be great to maximize that space to it's fullest potential and not lose a bit of it for getting your stuff stowed away and out of sight (until you need it, of course)?

The ceiling area is just one of many areas (at least three other walls are the other consideration in the garage) that can be used to obtain storage space where there literally was none before.

Depending on whether the ceiling is finished or just raw beams and joists, the ceiling area is a great place to put an assortment of modular lofts (grated lofts in a variety of sizes are often available and they usually come in adjustable heights that give you the type of expansion room you'll crave over time). Other solutions would be to put a finished attic space (depending on the height of the roof beams) with an easy to use drop-down ladder that hides out of the way until you need it, as well as a truly built-in loft area that's just shy of the finished attic concept. The possibilities are endless for creating ceiling lofts that can enable you to put up to 500lbs of various items away and out of sight.

Yes, you say, but that load will be over our precious automobiles... Hey, I feel your fear there... but in all honesty, if installed or built correctly, those lofts and/or attic space will not come crashing down on the family car or Dad's fancy sports car... Always, and I cannot underscore this enough, always know your limitations as a do-it-yourself handy-person and when in doubt consider professional installation from trained and licensed contractors like Garage Envy. With professional installation you can depend on safety storing your sports, holiday, kid's toys or other equipment without fear of an accident occurring.

With the holidays rolling around once again, ceiling loft space is a great way to get out of those post-holiday blues when it seems that just chucking the stuff that formerly decked the halls back into the garage is all you can do. By getting those holiday boxes and other items off the floor and onto simple lofts or a wonderfully built-in attic, you can relieve yourself of some of that holiday stress and get on with enjoying the season to its fullest!

Well, for those living or traveling near the southern Central Valley areas (near Lake Isabella, Kernville or Bakersfield), there's an upcoming event perfect for the hot rod or car enthusiast in you! It's the

RHODESHOW PRODUCTIONS Presents

32nd ANNUAL KERNVILLE ROD RUN - KERNVILLE

This year it will be held on October 9th - 12th. and is sponsored by Rhodeshow Productions.

Not a lot of website information is available for this, but if you're interested, you can call (760) 376-3133 to get more information.

There will be over 350 vintage Hot Rods and Car Classics at this show... so it should be a great time for those interested in seeing some of the most amazing automotive machinery out there!

For further information check out the Kernville Chamber of Commerce website.

If you go... add your comments below... and enjoy the show!

You too can have a "Garage Mahal" in your neighborhood!