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Converting garages to living space
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After: Because the existing driveway sloped steeply toward the street, this family decided to excavate underneath the existing garage to make room for the new garage one level down, and build the new family room on top of it in place of the former garage. - photo by Annie Schwemmer and Ann Robinson
Finding existing space in your home to repurpose, convert into living space or reconfigure may take some creativity. Last week, we discussed how to creatively remodel existing space with attic conversions. This week, lets talk about converting a garage into living space.

Throwing a couch and a TV out in the garage and calling it a man cave is not what we mean by converting the garage into living space. The goal when converting any area that has not been used for living space, is to make it function and look like it has always been part of the house. You have probably seen a number of garage conversions that look awkward and obvious, so some serious design is warranted to make this kind of transition.

Before you proceed with the design to repurpose your garage, you should consider the options for replacing that function. If your lot (and budget) allows you to build a new detached garage in back of or to the side of your house, you can have your cake and eat it, too. Even if you cant afford to build the new garage now, you should create a master plan that includes a standard-size garage (bare minimum is 20 feet by 20 feet) with a standard size driveway (12-foot wide minimum) to reach it. If you do not have the space to recreate the garage in another location, you should carefully consider the impact this will have on your property value. Check with a realtor to see if the value added by the new interior space will outweigh the drawback of not having a garage, which is pretty popular in Utah's four-season climate.

If you decide to enclose your attached garage, there are a few decisions that can make this a more seamless remodel. The first is how to infill the garage door so it does not appear to be a garage door that has been filled in. The exterior materials used on the infill portion should match the existing exterior materials; if they cannot be matched (brick, for instance), then consider resurfacing that entire portion of the house. It might go without saying (if we hadnt seen this condition so often), but the existing driveway should be removed, and landscaping be installed in its place.

On the interior, there is usually a step down from the main level of the house into the garage. Filling in the floor to bring it up to the main level is always worthwhile to make the layout feel authentic. In addition, if the garage was built correctly in the first place, the garage slab slopes toward the door: Infilling the floor will give you a chance to level it.

Make sure the new space makes sense in terms of the flow of your house. No one wants to have to go through the laundry room to get to the family room. Similarly, creating extra bedrooms off the kitchen may seem strange when all of the other private spaces are on the opposite end of the house.

Sometimes, you have to get creative. We had clients who wanted to convert their garage into a family room off the kitchen. They did not have room for a detached garage on their lot, but they did have an existing driveway that sloped steeply toward the street. We were able to excavate underneath the existing garage to make room for the new garage one level down, and build the new family room on top of it in place of the former garage. Not only did they pick up new living space, their new driveway was no longer a death trap in winter. This solution worked because of the slope of the lot; the point is to examine your existing conditions and think outside the box to explore all design possibilities.

This remodel was creative, but also rather intense. They made sure they used a contractor who had experience excavating basements and, of course, hired a structural engineer to consult on the project. It was nerve-wracking to see the roof of their former garage suspended in mid air, but they loved how it turned out in the end. You would never guess that the finished family room was ever a garage. The new room features a large window seat and a beautiful hearth. Hardwood floors throughout tie the new room to the existing kitchen.

Another client wanted more space in her one-story rambler. The garage was on one end of the house, set back to align with the rear wall of the house. We moved that function forward with a new garage addition and remodeled the former garage into living space. The L-shaped house turned into a rectangle, and we were able to construct an addition without cutting into the rear yard. This project worked because the original shape of the house had the garage pulled to the back, giving space to "move" the garage forward. It is usually not possible to create a new garage in front of your house due to setback ordinances adopted by most municipalities.

Thinking of the garage space as part of your house and potential living space is an option to create more space in your house. Just dont design with tunnel vision; look at the entire house to make sure your new space will function well and feel a part of the whole.

Make sure that you have a master plan for any remodeling project and consult with professionals. They may be able to see options you dont. Residential architects can be an asset to your project when it comes to creatively finding and reconfiguring existing space in your home remodel.
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
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A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.