The garage gets a makeover

Although garages are often regarded as a male preserve, women are driving the garage-improvement industry, experts find. When Mr. Arndt exhibited at a home show, he says, "Women were dragging men to the booth and saying, 'I'm tired of a disorganized garage.'"

Even so, Shuman finds that the garage is still "the last place anybody wants to spend money." But once the rest of the house is in order, he says, many find it a logical next step.

Shuman's professionally installed system divides the garage into three zones. He covers floors with resin tiles, impervious to ice, snow, oil, and solvents. Wall-hung storage cabinets house tools, sports equipment, and lawn and garden supplies. A ceiling track system creates a place to hang baskets, bins, and lighting. Costs start at $2,500 and have gone as high as $25,000 for a four-car garage on Long Island, N.Y. A two-car garage averages $6,500.

For those with modest bank accounts or a do-it-yourself bent, Izsak offers alternatives. "You don't have to spend a lot of money on a garage if your budget doesn't allow it," he says. "There's some product out there at every price point."

Even castoff furnishings have a place, he suggests. An old desk can become a workbench. "You can take the kitchen cabinets if you've renovated the kitchen. You can use old bookcases, or an old chest of drawers from a baby's room. You can put these things there and give them new life, instead of running out and buying new."

Gregg Steiner of Sherman Oaks, Calif., recently transformed what he calls a "gross" garage into an attractive one. He needed room to store products for his home-based Internet business. A workman installed shelving, cabinets, and pegboard for hanging tools. The project cost $2,000. "Now I can fit two cars, all my supplies, tools, bikes, and toys in the garage," Mr. Steiner says.

Morrison designed his garage storage without professional help. He built the drawers, workbench, shelves, and moveable work carts in it. For him, shelving, a large work surface, and drawers are key elements in keeping the space organized. He also installed a gas heater, reflecting a trend by some owners to heat and air- condition their garages.

With so many amenities, garages like these offer space not only for cars but for workout rooms, gardening centers, and hobby areas. "We've even had people throw holiday parties and use it as a place for children's birthday parties," Shuman says.

Add Morrison to the list of those who use the space for socializing. "When we occasionally have guests over for a barbeque, a party, or just a get-together, we always end up in the garage," he says. His wife parks her car in the garage, but his truck stays outside.

Izsak emphasizes that there is no right or wrong way to organize a garage. "There are umpteen methods to storing bikes, tools, and lawn and garden equipment. What's more important is that you create a system that's going to work for you and stick to it. Whether your garage has been a dumping ground for 20 years or not, there's a solution for everybody."

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