When Craig and Carolyn Wallin purchased their 1917 Prairie School bungalow in a historic Salt Lake City neighborhood, they were enamored with the home's well-preserved original features. From the authentic river-rock pillars on the front porch to the Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired leaded-glass windows to the quarter-sawn oak floors, beams, wainscoting, window benches, and bookshelves, their bungalow emanates the character and quality of the Arts and Crafts movement.

But there was one feature of the home the Wallins wished was not original-the detached garage. Built to accommodate a single Model T Ford, "the garage was a little too historic," quips Craig. The structure had no storage space and the Wallins couldn't close the door when they parked their Subaru inside. On top of that, the 87-year-old garage was leaky and an eyesore next to their enchanting home.

"We knew we wanted a new, two-car garage with plenty of storage space," says Carolyn, "but at the same time we didn't want your typical Tuff-Shed look. We also wanted to preserve our large, backyard deck and keep our small yard attractive, even with a larger garage encroaching into it. But we thought we might be asking too much."

The Wallins turned to Salt Lake City architect Ann Robinson for help. Robinson went to work to design a garage that would meet the Wallins' needs while complementing the character of their classic home.
Since the Wallins look out at the garage daily from the back windows of their bungalow-located just 25 feet from the garage-and because a larger garage would become a major part of the already small backyard, "we wanted to design something that was pleasing and interesting to look at, a structure that would look more like a charming carriage house than a garage," says Robinson.

Because of the high demands and tight constraints, every part of Robinson's design was a matter of function as well as form. The vaulted, gabled roof with hipped peaks gives the garage Craftsman feel while providing plenty of attic storage space. Recessing one half of the garage, which required the use of two smaller garage doors rather than one large one, created enough space to preserve the backyard deck while adding character to the structure. The recessed portion also allowed the Wallins to widen their driveway just in front of the garage, "so now we can turn our cars around and easily drive out of our very narrow, long driveway rather than having to back out all the way," says Craig.

Arts and Crafts-style lite windows at the top of the garage doors, along with two large, wood-gridded windows and a wood-gridded glass door on the west side, flood the inside of the garage with natural light while giving the structure the appearance of a bungalow on the outside. Attractive period lanterns attached to the exterior walls add to that effect. "When you're out in the yard, you feel like you're sitting outside a delightful cottage rather than a garage," says Carolyn.

"I never thought the garage would join the list of one of the great features of our home," says Craig. "Now it has."

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