A Garage Transformation with the Funovators- Ricky and Haydn

“My double garage was a mixture of storage and my gym. It was built in the 70s – tin roof with no ceiling, single brick walls and a low tilt door garage entrance that I couldn’t get my work ute into. So, not being able to use it for its purpose, a garage, it was more like a shed! 

The plan was to keep the original footprint, raise the roof slightly, replace it, clad it, insulate it, plaster it, put some extra fun flooring down and turn it into a proper multi-purpose space that you can’t wait to get into. It has transformed from an overcrowded shed filled with spiders to a multi-purpose space filled with fun and inspiration. Now, I work out in here, I work from home in here, I have great floor-to-ceiling storage cabinets, and my guests can even stay in here on the sofa bed! The big winner is that my office inside is now a kids’ bedroom, my office is now detached from the house, and I have my own space for doing all that beloved paperwork haha.”

“The alfresco, or actually – The Funfresco – is the complete outdoor entertaining space. It covers your dining, your living and your cooking. The idea for the studio was to create a fun, multi-functional space with a good vibe. For me? I wanted to use the space for my office and my gym, but with the sofa bed, it can comfortably accommodate some guests. It could easily be the 4th full time bedroom and being entirely separated from the rest of the house it gives that sense of privacy.”

“The space was always going to be multi-functional so the flooring (Quick-Step Majestic Woodland Oak Beige) had to be durable and water resistant, not so much water proof but definitely be able to sustain some spills from the protein shaker or a beer! Laminate flooring was the perfect option. 

We loved the wider board, it has a high end look about it . the lighter tone tied in nicely with our material selection and colours and has a nice palm springs vibe to it.”

“Now that this space is my office and gym, I’m out here every day, but for much longer – before I really couldn’t wait to get out of there. Now? I have to leave to eat; there’s no kitchen in here, unfortunately. Maybe that could be next! I used to work out in there on a concrete floor covered in dust, but now it feels homely, and it makes you excited to go in there. It’s gone from industrial to high-end resort.”

“I find a lot of inspiration on social media and online. Being in the industry as a plumber, I go into many homes and get to see many different designs. It’s good to see what works, but also good to see what doesn’t work. I always get excited by new products, so I like to stay up to date with what’s trending. Since the Block I have definitely taken a lot more interest in interior design.”

“The team at Flooring Xtra make the flooring process seamless. You know from the start that you are dealing with experts. Maybe that’s what extra is in Flooring Xtra? The team in-store had excellent advice on what products were good and would match what we were looking for, and we were even able to take home some samples and put them in the space to see what worked best!”

“Without spoiling anything, there’s a lot in the pipeline. Our next project is huge. This next one is a full-house reno with a twist, and yes, we are making another series on it! Make sure you subscribe to our YouTube channel @rickyandhaydn to stay up to date with all the latest episodes and our wild adventures! Love you guys!!!”

What is laminate flooring?

Laminate flooring is constructed from several layers to create the appearance of timber or stone. Laminate floors utilise cutting edge photographic technology to simulate the grain, stain and texture of wood at a fraction of the price. It’s highly resistant to scratches, dents and stains, with the top layer, known as the wear layer, usually made of a aluminium oxide or melamine resin which enhances it’s durability.

Is laminate flooring professionally installed?

Flooring is best installed by professionals who are highly skilled and experienced. They have all the necessary equipment and are there to troubleshoot any issues that may arise.

Is laminate flooring resilient?

Laminate flooring has a high scratch resistance due to its melamine and aluminium oxide wear layer finishes. It is a good option for busy homes and homes with pets.