A Car Lover's Man Cave Kicks Into High-Luxury Gear
Fast cars, fine wines and a high-tech bathroom elevate this backyard outpost to the realm of dream space
Subterranean parking next to a wine cellar, plus a car elevator and a vanishing TV in the bathroom mirror — is there anything this man cave in Connecticut is missing? A remote-controlled toilet, perhaps? No, it has that too.
Rick Krug and his team at TR Building & Remodeling built this carriage house–style dream space in the home’s backyard. One of the clients wanted a barn-like structure to hold his car and wine collection, a building that would have the same comfort and warmth as the main house. “Even the most practical functions in this space are surrounded by luxury,” says Krug.
Photography by Paul Johnson
Rick Krug and his team at TR Building & Remodeling built this carriage house–style dream space in the home’s backyard. One of the clients wanted a barn-like structure to hold his car and wine collection, a building that would have the same comfort and warmth as the main house. “Even the most practical functions in this space are surrounded by luxury,” says Krug.
Photography by Paul Johnson
Krug and company had worked with this client on the main house and wanted to continue the home’s style in this incredible space.
Reclaimed chestnut and pine lumber and natural stone flooring are durable and add warmth to the 1,300 square foot interior.
The clients wanted a certain number of garage bays, but building them would have exceeded the maximum municipal code allowed by the town. So TR Building changed the design to include subterranean parking for an extra car. An industrial-strength car elevator safely takes a single car down to the basement level, allowing another car to park on top.
The car elevator leads down to an additional parking space, with a wine cellar just outside.
The structure's main level has not only parking spots but an electric-car charging port and a quiet workspace.
A stainless steel stair stringer and cable rail system leads to the upper level. Oil-rubbed-bronze and copper accents contribute to the warm, carriage house feel. A smoke eater prevents the rest of the space from smelling like exhaust.
The upper level has a deck and seating area for viewing the cars combined with a TV lounge, wet bar and food prep area. The open layout allows for easy entertaining on football and movie nights.
Around the corner, a custom soapstone farm sink with an etched Ferrari logo reminds visitors to wash their hands of car grease.
The natural stone garage floor stays nice and warm thanks to in-floor radiant heat. All of the lighting, plus the sound system, in the building is Savant and controlled through an iPad or iPhone.
The natural stone garage floor stays nice and warm thanks to in-floor radiant heat. All of the lighting, plus the sound system, in the building is Savant and controlled through an iPad or iPhone.
The upstairs bathroom is equipped with a built-in vanishing LCD TV in the mirror, a urinal and a remote-controlled Washlet toilet.
An extensive outdoor area links the main house to the garage and man cave. Landscaping, stonework and the same finishes help tie the two spaces together aesthetically.
A lounge area and outdoor kitchen sit underneath a pergola. Steel I-beams wrapped in PVC at the top of the pergola are wired with ceiling fans and LED lighting. A complete sound system surrounds the space, and everything is kept safe from the elements by a UV-blocking retractable awning.
Cedar board and batten siding contrasts with bright white trim on the man cave’s exterior. A standing-seam metal roof adds to the traditional exterior.
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Tell us:
How would you like your man-cave to be designed? Tell us in the Comments below.
Read more:
6 Must-Haves for an Ultimate Man-Entertainment Zone
Houzz TV: Ashton Kutcher Surprises Mom With the Basement of Her Dreams
Tell us:
How would you like your man-cave to be designed? Tell us in the Comments below.
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