Landscaping & Gardening and Outdoor Living

I am trying to figure out what to do with this 100 year old carriage house in my backyard. It has a huge room with a huge sliding door on each side. I've included pictures of the house, the rest of my backyard and the inside of the carriage house (please excuse the mess....I don't know what to do with all of this outdoor stuff). I am thinking some kind of covered eating area or hot tub destination...but it is rather far from the house. There are lights and electricity in all rooms of the house and off the main room is another room that has cabinets and and another room that is a horse stall. It is an awesome place but I need assistance on how to incorporate it into my landscaping! I'm in Alabama by the way. Help???!!!

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Carriage House
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Rest of the backyard
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Inside carriage house
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Other side looking into main room. Stairs on far wall up to the loft.

21 Comments

Cooper S Ashland City, TN

Restore it, could be a great additional living space. seems that you have some great pieces that can be incorporated into your scape, don't discard yet.

on May 30, 2012 · Like 2
Nancy L Jeffersonville, VT

I would say it depends on your climate. Think about what it would have been used for in it's day and start there. I don't know if you need covered parking or not. I also wondered if you could hang spices from the ceiling to dry. Your back yard looks big enough to have a garden....

on May 30, 2012 · Like 1
DLD Interiors Dallas, TX

You can easily tie in the carriage house with your main house by tying them together with hardscaping and landscaping features. You might consider putting in a nice circular patio between the two with a nice ornamental tree in the middle, or you could put a large fountain, or sculpture or whatever but it could be a place to sit and meditate (not literally), just read a book or enjoy conversation over iced tea. a nice path leading between the house and the feature and to the carriage ...»
house would be good too. And then on either side you could use raised beds, or shrubbery to lead the eye between the two. You really have SOOOO many options and could do anything you wanted. Whatever you use the carriage house for - a place for a hot tub or a green house if you added skylights, or a pool house (if you put a pool between the two). Good luck! :)

on May 30, 2012 · Like 1
Carrie W Sterling, MA

Make little spaces( outdoor rooms) along a path from the house to the carriage house. Use the outdoor furniture. Restore the carriage house, use that as a hang-out and a summer living area.

on May 30, 2012 · Like 2
Nanci C Vancouver, WA

Amazing property! If only the walls could talk! It would be an amazing private guest suite or work studio. Other than that, I would consider accurate period-restore then add some current but subtle flowing indoor-outdoor living space that is separate, but still somehow flows, from the house. And roses were very popular back then among the 'elite'. Lots and lots of roses with pathways to enjoy them.

on May 30, 2012 · Like 2
Kathy C Shickshinny, PA

It's a very beautiful space Victoria. I notice to the one side you have like a shed area...maybe make that storage for your outdoor furniture and such. The rest of the downstairs I would maybe do your covered eating and/or hot tub area and then maybe a guest quarters upstairs(?) Though I am sure you will get alot of other idea's from everyone on here...I am actually looking forward to seeing them also. Good Luck in what ever you decide!

on May 30, 2012 · Like 3
Erika W Richmond, VA

A separate kitchen with an outdoor eating pavilion. I'm seeing the pavilion as a Moroccan sitting room. Lovely color and flowing sheer curtains draped from an overhead trellis roof. Jeez I wish I had that space!!! LOL

on May 30, 2012 · Like 2
Susan S Wayne, PA

I can't wait to see the finished product. It is a fabulous space.

on May 30, 2012 · Like 0
Melissa R Winsted, CT

The first thing you should do is check the zoning regulations for your area. there may be limitations on what you can and can't do. Otherwise, a beautiful outdoor eating area with a hot tub sound wonderful.

on May 30, 2012 · Like 1
Leann M Inglewood, CA

First clean out the carriage house. Explore your interest and places you have been or want to be influence by. But check your limitations first then take it from there. Me a hammock, garden, lights, and you could have like an outdoor living with a firepit..and a water element..Have fun with it.

on May 30, 2012 · Like 1
Jean M Valdosta, GA

very nice, and that's a great idea, Erika :), I see a separate sunroom, with a big comfortable sitting room and right next door, an eating area, with a big brick layed grill for cooking out :)...

on May 30, 2012 · Like 0
Ginny W Grand Rapids, MI

Think about what you love to do; garden, make a garden center; dance, make a dancing area; entertain and cook, make an outdoor party/dining area. What fun you could have landscaping - a couple of crabapple or flowering trees, a winding path, a birdbath, flowers, bird feeders.........
What do you need extra space for?

on May 30, 2012 · Like 3
Sheryl S Quinlan, TX

Keep it as storage for vehicles, lawn equip, etc. How about making it a guest house or mother-in-law cottage. Most important keep it as close to this picture as possible on the outside. Just darling !!

on May 30, 2012 · Like 0
Victoria S Ozark, AL

WOW...all great ideas....I am thinking that keeping the area up to the opening as a large driveway area....just in case we ever need to use it for vehicles....maybe a shrub border along the left side.... Then use it for a garden room...whitewash the interior (and exterior?) and then put in ceiling fans, and utilize all my garden furniture...there is a wrought iron daybed in there and 6 iron chairs for an eatin area. Also a couple of potting tables, and cubbies and a hammock! The room ...»
to the left with the cabinets and counter space could use a frig to keep cold drinks. Maybe a hot tub in a corner....inside the old horse stall???
I like the idea of " You might consider putting in a nice circular patio between the two with a nice ornamental tree in the middle, or you could put a large fountain, or sculpture or whatever but it could be a place to sit and meditate (not literally), just read a book or enjoy conversation over iced tea. a nice path leading between the house and the feature and to the carriage house would be good too" from DLD Interiors above!
Would love a pool...but think that is a pipe dream and my sweetie says NO! And since he is the muscle behind my brain....I defer to him on these things! Would love one of those swim spas but they are so $$$$$!
I am including a picture of my house. It was built around 1900 and is fully restored with multiple fireplaces, heart pine floors and a wonderful kitchen that gathers a lot of dust! I love it! Just bought last year and am still working on decorating/tweaking the inside.
Thanks again and any more ideas are all welcome! Vicky
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on May 30, 2012 · Like 2
Susan S Fredericksburg, VA

Victoria - your home is the quintessential southern belle!! I absolutely love the architecture - everything about it! This type of "look" just can't be duplucated anymore - nothing like old charm!!!!

on May 30, 2012 · Like 2
Victoria S Ozark, AL

Thanks Susan!

on May 30, 2012 · Like 0
Jeanette S Atlanta, GA

You really do not have to do anything with this space unless you either need it or want an outdoor living space. The worse thing you can do is to eliminate the uniqueness of this space just for the sake of making it "pretty". This is one time when less is best. If you need housing for someone (an elderly parent, etc.) then do with it as you must. Otherwise, its uniqueness is stunning! Organizing the storage with shelves would free up the center area for shaded relaxing. AL gets very ...»
hot in the summer so the shade would be welcome. You could even put in an outdoor kitchen.

on May 31, 2012 · Like 0
Linn L

Victoria, I *love* your beautiful home and I began to seriuosly grin and drool when I saw your carriage house! So many good thoughts for you above and I like how your ideas are shaping up. My two cents worth: Do restore the structure - it will help to preserve it. That means do whatever needs to be done to the exterior too. I would most definately keep it simple and white wash the inside to open and brighten it up. The carriage house will be a destination for you from the main house, with ...»
the gardens between, and so it would be a lovely multipurpose hub: good for a getaway or garden party (does it leak?) a potting area with a sink - what a bonus!, a small kitchen w/sink, mini-fridge, microwave would be great for a snack or cool drink, a bathroom? A bathroom would be *very* handy out away from the house. I don't know how high the attic area is but a simple sleeping area would be nice but only if the carriage house were properely restored - don't want to be sharing guest quarters with critters :D Whatever you do, please keep us in the loop and updated!!! We're all dreaming now ..... ;>

on May 31, 2012 · Like 0
Connie S Winston Salem, NC

I agree a guest house would be nice. But, does the neighborhood need a gathering place? What a great place for picking sessions or old fashioned quiltingbees. Restore it and share with neighbors. Make the smaller room a kitchen oh the choices are many. Definitely restore and use!!

on May 31, 2012 · Like 1
Custom Interiors West Columbia, TX

I'm a horse girl from Texas. Keep the stall no matter what!! LOL (just a joke :)

on Jun 30, 2012 · Like 0
Becky Blair, NE

Around here it would be dressed up and rented for outdoor weddings with the reception in the carriage house.

on Jul 14, 2012 · Like 3