The Van Dahl’s garage – a chaotic space turned into a family retreat

The Storage Expert from Elfa came to the rescue

Hannes thought it would take a fortnight to renovate the garage. He was feeling quite disheartened about the whole thing after three months, which is when Elfa’s makeover team appeared like a godsend with the offer of helping to complete the garage makeover. By then, Hannes had insulated the walls, installed electric sockets and painted the concrete floor. So, the shell of the garage was ready, but the work of installing shelving, storage systems and other interior fittings had yet to begin.

- It was a huge relief when Elfa turned up. They were more or less given carte blanche. They asked what our needs were and then we went away for two weeks while they fixed and fitted the rest.

Hanging things on the walls and freeing up floor space is especially important in spaces such as garages, precisely because you may need to drive in and out of vehicles and machines here.

A sliding door solution with black frames, black oak filling and tempered bronze toned glass, added to the style of the garage and created calm by hiding some of the things.

Personal touches like paintings/photo prints, cushions, mats, and clocks add an aesthetic appeal. Buenos Aires and Shanghai are two metropolises in which both Hannes and Floor have played, and they symbolize their profession and travels.

- It turned out fantastically well, we are extremely satisfied! I find things now that I had never thought of myself, from a practical nature. Small, attractive solutions that you may not see immediately, such as how to hang the bikes, for example. I am very impressed with the team's feeling for both the aesthetic and the functional. They are spoken of as storage experts for a reason and people who are experts in their fields are something I really respect. They are focused, driven and knowledgeable - which is contagious, really inspiring.

Hannes was also pleasantly surprised by the stability of Elfa's products, combined with the fact that it is easy to move and stow.

"The first thing I tested was how much rough handling the shelves could withstand. They are incredibly stable. Yet it only takes 30 seconds to reconfigure them and move or rearrange them if you want."

Floor can only add to the praise: “I’d been hunting on Pinterest for some inspiration for the garage but never imagined that they could make it look so comfortable and inviting!"

A designated area was created for Floor’s horse tack. Everything from hooks for bridles and halters to shelves for helmets and boots. There are also hooks for hanging up riding clothes after they’ve been worn so they can air between rides.

That it could be transformed into a place we actually want to be in and not just rush through. It used to be chaotic in here, now it’s cozy and homely. It never even crossed my mind that you can put a table and chairs on a mat in your garage to make it more welcoming. This is where we come now after a day in the garden or in the stable. Perfect if a neighbor drops by and wants to stop for a cup of coffee,” says Floor.