GARAGES worth a tour

THE GARAGE AS A CARRIAGE HOUSE

The original carriage house was dilapidated: Early on, horses had taken their toll, while, more recently, changes to accommodate an RV had destroyed the historical character. “The new homeowners saw a fun, quirky old building worth saving,” says Cambridge, Mass., architect Frank Shirley. His design adds vehicle storage, as there are four drivers in the family. A game-room getaway for teenagers and a private retreat for guests fill the loft area above the garage bays.

(Having electricity, or an automobile, was status enough.) Today the garage is expected to do more, from storing grownup