Garage Roof Deck With Dining & Lounge

This garage rooftop is owned by a vibrant young couple who were in need of a space to host game day gatherings with loved ones. Their garage had a latticed privacy screen and a wooden gate that had not been maintained by the previous owner, but they did have synthetic decking installed.

Additionally, the surrounding parapet walls were painted with a dark color that made the 3 car garage feel smaller than it really was.

Once the lattice was removed, the space immediately felt larger and ready to host. We designed an area with entertainment, a dry bar, and privacy screen, all beneath a massive shade structure. The dry bar features a granite countertop with a waterfall edge, as well as an undermount Coyote refrigerator to keep food and drinks chilled just steps away. We also designed and installed a 10″ overhang to allow not only for additional countertop seating, but a space where the clients can work from home or have a casual breakfast with the TV on a Saturday morning.

Adjacent to the dry bar is the lounging area where they can surround their fire pit and have drinks, while still being able to view the TV. Due to the proximity to their neighbor’s pergola, we selected a sandblasted privacy screen to allow as much natural light as possible in the space without making it feel enclosed. In addition, we included a semi-transparent oyster stained cedar slat on the opposite side of the shade structure, shading the TV area. The third type of privacy screen we utilized was a much-needed semi transparent oyster stain cedar planter which softens the space and brings in seasonal color.

We incorporated overhead lighting on the open section of the garage rooftop, where the client wanted their modern outdoor dining table and loungers. To make the most of the space, we installed a much-needed fan to circulate the hot and humid Chicago summer air. The final touch to the entire garage was a fresh coat of waterproofing paint to the cinderblock parapet walls. We chose a light gray color that would let the existing synthetic decking pop, complement the granite and stain selections, and counterbalance the matte black color of the structure.