If you live in a climate similar to Minnesota’s, you’ll agree that having a garage is a practical necessity to endure the cold, harsh winters. But when you buy a 120-year-old fixer-upper that was built before cars were commonplace, adding a garage becomes just one more item on your to-do list. Thankfully, DIYers Allie and Ryan Lundeen were up to the task.
After living “in town” as newlyweds for a few years, the couple knew they wanted to raise their family in the country. When they happened upon this farmhouse, they fell in love with its charm and the landscape of rolling hills. Fast forward ten years, and the Lundeens have worked wonders turning the property into their forever home with the addition of a great room, an outdoor patio oasis along with building an attached garage.
Allie calls the garage “a game changer. We now have a heated garage to pull into during the winter, overflow for large family gatherings, and a great spot for the pets to go!”
When it came to choosing the garage door, Allie was inspired by a Clopay Reserve Extira carriage style door she saw on Instagram and how it instantly transformed the look of a house.
But she and her husband had different ideas of what door feature to prioritize. “Ryan is an HVAC man by trade, so his priority was insulation,” Allie said. “He installed heated floors and overhead heaters, so we needed a garage door that would maintain the temperature. My priority was design. I knew it had to be insulated and durable enough to withstand the weather, but design always trumps everything for me!”
Clopay’s Reserve Extira garage door checked off all of the boxes. Extira is an weather- and termite resistant paint-grade wood composite. The eco-friendly material is very dense so it can be carved and routed just like real wood for custom designs.
Historic photo of the home in 1909
Allie and Ryan are impressed by the craftsmanship. “The garage door is 4-layers thick. It took three guys just to lift the window section when it was being installed. You can’t see any seams or gaps where the overlays come together. It is really well-made.”
The Lundeens’ door is painted black and features oversize windows and a crossbuck design that mimics the “X” pattern found on their barn doors. “The garage door is the first thing you see when you drive up to the house and it has such an impact,” Allie said. “To say we are in love with it is an understatement.”
They also added board and batten siding to the garage and built planters filled with box hedges to enhance the overall farmhouse vibe and improve curb appeal.
Allie says the new garage gets use year-round, from hosting family parties or as bonus space for the kids to run around and play. She also appreciates the everyday convenience of being able to unload groceries and the kids’ gear under cover. No more trudging back and forth in the cold or rain.
She encourages homeowners who are shopping for a new garage door to consider both the practical and pretty parts of a door.
“It really does impact the look of your whole house and it's worth investing in the style you want because it’s one of the largest exterior features of your home. I love that our garage door is the showstopper of our house!”
You can see more of the Lundeen family farmhouse and watch DIY project tutorials on Allie’s blog and Instagram @proverbsthirtyonegirl.
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