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This 470-square-foot garage on the Sunshine Coast in Gibsons, BC was converted into a stunning modern open-concept living space and listed on Airbnb as a form of house hacking to help the owners pay their mortgage. Exposed concrete floors, a corrugated metal ceiling, and high windows give it the feel of a designer micro cabin — except it is in a backyard, close to stores and services.
Open-Concept Studio with Rustic-Modern Design
The interior is an open-concept studio with exposed concrete floors and a corrugated metal ceiling that preserve the garage’s industrial character. High windows bring in natural light while providing privacy from the main house nearby. The designers used smart techniques to define each zone without walls — a kitchen island acts as a natural barrier, a large area rug outlines the living room, and a large painting with an open-air closet delineates the sleeping area.
Garage Conversions and the Housing Conversation
Converting a garage, adding an accessory dwelling unit, or building a laneway house is becoming increasingly common in cities. It densifies urban areas, creates new rental spaces, and can help prevent sprawl. The trade-off is that these secondary units usually cannot be purchased separately from the main house, so they do not create new homeownership opportunities. It is not a perfect solution to the housing crisis, but it does add housing stock — and it can help make cities more sustainable.
Video Tour
Watch the full tour from Exploring Alternatives to see how this garage was transformed into a modern living space:
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- Watch the full tour on Exploring Alternatives
- Book on Airbnb
- Built by Blenheim Construction Ltd., finishing by John Lieffers
- Bedroom painting by Ben Tour
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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through one of our links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
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