Would this modification need approval?
 

Hi everyone,

I know that some things need to be passed for architectural approval, but would something like this need it?

I'm using a Lantana floor plan. What I'd like to do is create another closet with shelves (basically more storage space that would be house temperature) next to the existing closet. Basically, I'd be knocking down the wall and pushing it into the garage. I'd think that this could potentially be done in any floorplan that has some angled areas in the garage.

And also your honest opinion - is it even worth doing? I am downsizing like mad, but I still don't know if I'll be able to reduce all my closet and storage space when I move to TV.

I cannot see why it would. It's inside your home, no outside changes at all...

Yep... do it.

We have moved a zillion times and each time I brought too much stuff to the new house. When we moved from PA to FL I got rid of SOOOO much stuff but I still brought way too much. I made many trips to Goodwill but wish I had made more.

My advice, FWIW: BE BRUTAL. Get rid of stuff you don't use frequently. You will be so glad you did.

kathy

I'm answering the "honest opinion" part of your ask: Why not wait until you get down here and see if everything fits? You may not need to spend the money on that.

I turned that space in garage into a closet. Put shelves in and bi- fold doors on it. We keep small appliances and stuff in it. Saved me from busting walls. Send me a pm for more info.

Losing stuff hurts but losing is the best way. You would be surprised what you can live without!

I have a large, extra deep closet in my foyer, and I like it a lot. However, that space in the garage would also be a good place for deep shelving for boxes of various sorts, such as Christmas decorations (most of which should probably be left behind and not moved.

If you do decide to move out the wall in the garage, there may be some wires you will need to move. Also, don’t forget that you will need 5/8” Type X fire resistant drywall on that wall to meet code. It’s only about $5 more per sheet, I think. While you don’t need ARC approval for this, you may need a building permit from the town. Be sure to insulate the wall well. Garages are often like ovens here.

Changes to the inside of your house do not require ARC approval

Mine is the same, but I never considered doing this.

Also, on mine, the door for the air handler/furnace is right there as well so you would be blocking that access to the air handler.. Plus, there is an elevation difference of about 4 inches between there and inside the house itself.

It would be a messy job with the steel studs in there and the insulation, etc. I'm assuming steel studs, but that may be a load bearing wall since the roof over the garage is gabled.

I'd go with the previous poster's suggestion to put sliders inside the garage for that are and use the closet in the garage. Or get those large enclosed, tall cabinets to go in there.

Personally, I think it destroys the look of the foyer - plus, if you have tile in the foyer, that's another whole level of complexity.

I love to modify stuff.

I have a different suggestion - most likely, in your master walk in closet in the master bath the ceiling is really high 10' or so. You have to have a ladder to store anything up high. It would be easy to drop the ceiling to 7' and have a very large storage area there.

Just an idea.....

I wish you the best of luck and think it's a good idea if it works for you. What I find interesting is the fact that you view the villages as a communist type style of living where you have no authority inside your own domain which I imagine costs a few hundred thousand dollars.
With all this control over the people during this pandemic is this what led to this type of thinking......?

Building a closet in the garage, a couple hundred dollars. Moving the wall and building a closet inside, into the thousands. If you are concerned about the closet in the garage not being climate controlled, use exterior doors and cut a grill through the wall from the foyer, or if you are mechanically inclined, you could cut into the HVAC system with a small registers.

Someone once said if you have to create storage areas, rent storage units,or buy things to store stuff in You have to much stuff.

If you are building a Lantana, you can make changes during the design process that can take space from the garage and use it to make a larger interior closet. We did just that and made some other modifications in laundry area. We love the result. You are welcome to come see what we did.

What?
 

Good job! I was thinking there was no way to make this tread political...but you’ve done it.