Alabama Getaway: A fashion executive finds solace in a well-sorted garage

Images by Dale Haverkampf

Having spent a lifetime in the fashion industry, Kevin has a keen eye for style.  Professionally, his reputation is that of a rebel, a bit of a maverick, exercising his own ideas before following a trend, a trait that has helped make his clothing company very successful and appealing to the entertainment industry and customers who appreciate well-made, well-styled clothing.  The fashion industry is a high-pressure, fast-paced environment that can take a toll on even the hardest and most experienced personalities, forging a need for an escape.  A car and motorcycle fanatic, Kevin decided he wanted to spend time among his rolling works of art and thusly created a proper garage to accommodate the entire family with room to grow.

“I built my dream house in an HOA community and a year later discovered Garage Style Magazine,” said Kevin with a laugh.  “It got me thinking I needed to do something a little better than I had.”

What he had in mind, however, was not in line with HOA thinking.  Dedicated guy that he is, Kevin simply opted to relocate.  Fortunes smiled on him as he discovered a beautiful, Colonial-style mansion looking like it was built in the South during the Civil War but was actually only a couple of years old when it came on the market.

“This house is a story unto itself, but it is beautiful and offered a lot of space to build the garage I wanted,” he said.  “I went from building a dream house to building a dream garage.”

Situated on a hillside, over a million pounds of dirt had to be imported to the property in order to create a level, stable platform upon which to build the garage.  To boot, Kevin insisted the new structure look like it was designed and built at the same time as the home.  This entailed sourcing and purchasing correct materials such the bricks and roofing tiles so that the house and garage appeared the same age, even though the house would be a decade older.

“If there is one thing I would advise anyone building a garage, or any structure for that matter, it would be to work with a good builder,” Kevin said.  “A good builder will know the ins and outs of the legal codes and be able to connect you with good architects and designers and bring it all together.  In this case, my builder also was able to locate and acquire the building materials that would allow the garage to look like it was built at the same time as the house.”

In the end, Kevin got exactly what he was hoping for – a two-story carriage house giving him plenty of parking area for his cars and motorcycles with an upstairs that is equipped exactly like a house.  Each floor is about 1,500 square feet with independent heating and cooling and insulated doors and windows.

“The upstairs is really impressive, even if I say so,” he said.  “It’s got hardwood floors throughout, granite countertops, crown moldings, wooden cabinets in the kitchen, ceiling fans, stainless steel appliances, recessed lighting – it goes on and on, it really is a home.  I’ve decorated it with some of the specialized clothes my company designed and produced as well as some motorcycles I’ve bought.”

One motorcycle of interest is an early Indian in red with gold detailing that he’s placed on a pedestal for display.  A board track racer, the pedestal platform is made with a faux wood top to emulate a surface that it might have once raced on, an image that’s further enhanced with a large-scale print of two board track racers from yesteryear.  Other bikes set on a fake brick surface to protect the hardwood and lend a little effect.  Of all the unique visuals, a subtle but very interesting moment is the sculpture under the glass coffee table, which is actually the engine for a Honda Gold Wing motorcycle.

“Motorcycles are great because they are easy to display and they really are beautiful in their own right,” Kevin said.  “The various shapes and surfaces that all blend together to create one item is fascinating.  Throw in the historical aspect of some of these machines and it’s astonishing.  And each has a story to tell.”

Kevin told his builder he wanted to display motorcycles and engines and a pool table upstairs and thought it might be a good idea to build a very strong floor.  The builder agreed and used engineered I-Beams instead of joists to strengthen the floors.

“It cost a bit more, but it was worth it, I wanted to do it right,” he said.  “I don’t lose any sleep over the construction of this garage.”

Downstairs, it’s all about the garage.  The concrete floors are covered with grey Race Deck modular tiles, the walls are painted a light tan and the trim is stark white.  This provides a great backdrop for all the artwork as it’s a softer tone that allows the art to show very well, the walls subtly fading into the background and not brightly fighting the eyes.  A fan of gas pumps, Kevin wanted more of them, but realized they took up a lot of space.  As such he worked with GarageScenes.com to produce a large-scale mural depicting a row of vintage gas pumps from various refineries like Shell and Gulf.  Like all good aficionados, Kevin has also decorated with a nice number of neons and portraits, porcelain signs, vintage photographs, real gas pumps and a soda machine among other great items.

“It’s a funny thing, I can come into this garage and the stresses of the day just kind of melt right down,” Kevin said.  “I love driving all the cars, but the hot rod or the Cobra bring a really unique sensation to the garage.  I drive one or the other and the next day, the garage smells like hot rod – I love that smell.  I’m not sure what it is, the hot oil, the fuels, the tires I guess just all blend together and create a really nice garage cologne.”

It’s amazing how all garages have a similar effect on their keepers.  There’s always that something that makes them feel good, makes them relax, makes them enjoy life just a little bit more.

“I love sitting and staring at any one element such as a motorcycle or car or piece of art,” he said.  “To me, that hot rod smell or just a quiet moment in the garage can bring peace to a chaotic day.”

Another way Kevin unwinds with his garage is by reading his road maps.

“I’ve got a nice collection of vintage road maps and I enjoy reading through them once in a while,” he said.

It’s always good to know where you’re going, even when you’re right where you want to be.