Ballard + Mensua Architecture was featured in Houzz’s article “Before and After: 3 Inspiring Backyard Garage Conversions,” highlighting a creative project in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Architect Seth Ballard transformed a deteriorating two-car garage into a light-filled 504-square-foot garden office for designer Kathryn Everett.

The redesign included replacing the old garage doors with glass-paned carriage-style doors, installing a Spanish tile roof to match the main house, and adding outdoor lighting with a vintage aesthetic. Inside, the new studio offers ample space for desks, a conference table, bookshelves, a kitchenette, and a bathroom—allowing the space to function as both an office and a future guest cottage.

Everett praised the result, calling it “a room of one’s own” and the perfect workspace surrounded by beautiful gardens. Ballard describes the project as “the office in the garden,” reflecting the firm’s commitment to designing spaces that are both functional and inspiring.