Garage Remodel in Littleton, Colorado

[An overview of this project has been reprinted with permission of DuPont Registry.]

In the Tuscany region of central Italy, a region made famous around the world for its history, landscapes, traditions, artistic legacy and fine
wine, perhaps nothing is more universally recognized than the old world villa’s that are nestled into the rolling countryside. Standing at
approximately 10,500 square feet, this custom residence has all of the elegance, style and craftsmanship of those old world homes, but with
all of the modern amenities of a new modern luxury home. This stunning residence was recognized by the National Association of Home Builders
(NAHB) as the best custom built home in the country in 2010, a testament to the skillful designers and craftsmen who brought the homeowners
vision into reality.

When Chad Haas, Founder of VAULT, a company that prides itself in furnishing some of the most beautiful garages in the world, was brought into the project, the home and garage had already been built. The accolades of the gorgeous villa already awarded. But the homeowner felt that the
exterior and interior of the garage lacked architectural harmony with the rest of the home and so he flew Mr. Haas out to visit the space directly
so that he could assist hands-on with re-designing a new look and to add furnishings to accessories the space.


Before Photo: The garage prior to being refurnished by Vault.

“When I first approached the villa from the street, I knew that I’d have my work cut out for me. Everything looked so perfect exactly the way it
was designed and built. I questioned myself ‘how was I going to improve upon perfection?’, since remarkable attention was paid to even the
smallest of details in the home” asked Haas.

The client’s goal was to engage Haas to design and furnish a garage where he could relax, separate from the home, enjoy his growing car collection
and entertain family and friends.

After spending a short weekend together with the home owner to gather his ideas, Haas returned back to his Beaverton, Oregon-based company with
a clearer vision: create the ultimate gentlemen’s retreat through the look of a turn-of-a-century Tuscan ‘car barn’.

Absolutely nothing in the garage was overlooked – and it shows. Every design element in the garage for color, texture and material was meticulously thought out to elicit just the right feeling and emotion in everyone that enters what may be one of the most beautifully elegant garages in America, a space commonly overlooked in the construction of homes today.

A main focal point of the exterior of garage is the beautiful view from the courtyard, where all three carriage doors can be seen. While the existing
wood doors looked acceptable, it was agreed that something more befitting of the quality and beauty of the home were appropriate. Haas designed
luxurious castle-style doors handcrafted from solid Mahogany and bathed in a rich dark brown stain that was complemented by hand-wrought iron
grills, clavos and door pull hardware. The double-wide door, in particular, is truly remarkable in both its elegance, as well as its one-of-a-kind
operation. “The client was concerned in this area of having mounting hardware and a motor on the ceiling. Because the cars in this area do
not get brought out on a regular (daily) basis, the doors open manually by hand and operate accordion style on a track”. The homes main overhead
garage doors feature jack-shaft operation which removes the clutter of a motor on the garage ceiling, but offers the convenience of powered
operation. These extraordinary, custom-made castle doors look just as beautiful on the inside as the out and their unparalleled design and
craftsmanship take the exterior of the home to even greater heights than before.

On to the interior, a black and white epoxy coating was stripped and replaced with porcelain tiles that resembled Italian travertine stone. To
give the car barn a rustic feeling and a presence that it was older, not modern, Haas worked on the development and concept directly with the
home owner to collaborate with a local millwork company that designed and hand-finished substantial wood beams from distressed Doug Fir. All
of the walls were hand-plastered by a local artist using straw that was harvested from the immediate area surrounding the home and incorporated into the plaster to give it a rustic antique quality.

Haas conceived and designed a bar area and cabinetry for a work area that pulled inspiration from old ice boxes of the 1920’s that utilized heavy
nickel-plated hardware, again to give storage spaces a rustic appearance.

The warm glow from several custom porcelain neon signs, each one meticulously built entirely by hand by VAULT, are dispersed throughout the space
and transform the entire room and bring it to life. The client had never previously owned a neon sign before and along with the carriage doors
felt that these items have transformed the space more than any other feature. Several antique gas pumps, restored in the client’s favorite
petro bran, and a few additional porcelain signs will eventually furnish the rest of the space to complement the clients amazing car collection.

In addition to the countless details that set this showcase garage apart, its ability to seamlessly blend with the rest of the home and the natural,
rustic setting of the Colorado Rockies, yet house modern automobiles in a manner in which they feel well placed and belong, is also noteworthy.

GARAGE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS

To learn more about VAULT visit them at: http://www.vaultgarage.com/

And on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/VaultGarage

And on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/vaultgarage

And on Houzz:  http://www.houzz.com/vaultgarage/

PHOTOGRAPHY

All photographs were used with the permission of photographer John Vanderpool (john.vanderpool5@gmail.com)

You can visit John Vanderpool on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/JVanderpoolPhotography

ARCHITECTURE

Jerry Gloss, Principal, KGA Architects: http://www.kgarch.com/

HOMEBUILDER

Thomas Sattler Home: http://thomassattlerhomes.com/

VEHICLES

Here is an overview of the cars that were photographed in this article:

1. 2014 Ferrari 458 Italia

2. 2013 Maserati GranTurismo Sport

3. 2007 Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997)

4. 2008 Porsche Cayenne GTS

5. 2008 Porsche GT3 RS

6. 2013 Porsche 911 Turbo S (997)

7. 2014 Porsche Panamera GTS

8. 2013 Ford SVT Raptor (6.2L CrewCab)’

DuPont Registry Blog

Here is a link to the original blog article reprinted with permission of DuPont Registry:  http://blog.dupontregistry.com/the-lifestyle/luxurious-garages-by-vault-in-colorado-rockies-estate/

Powder Coating

Powder coating is one of the most durable, and beautiful, protective coatings available for metal surfaces. It’s look is elegant and it’s durability to withstand wear, hot, cold and humidity, make powder coated metal surfaces vastly superior to wood and aluminum surfaces.

There is a wide range of powder coated finishes that are available in metal cabinets ranging from the lowest cost options of a matte-finish to a high-gloss surface like a high gloss black that can transform the cabinet surface and give it the appearance of a baby grand piano. As far as options for finishes, customers can choose from a variety of texture depths, wrinkled, veined, or smooth. Generally speaking, textured finished surfaces will be more difficult to clean, because contaminants such as grease, for example, will embed itself in the rough surface of the cabinet. Versus a smooth surface that is very easy to clean.

WHAT OTHER METAL CABINET MANUFACTURERS OFFER: Most metal cabinet manufacturers use a rough, textured finish on their cabinets because it is the lowest cost type of powder to apply. Textured powder also allows the manufacturer to hide defects underneath the paint surface. In some cases, even a lower-quality metal can be disguised because the textured powder will hide it.

THE VAULT® DIFFERENCE: Every part on a VAULT® cabinet is the result of careful consideration to every detail. Parts are hand-finished before being powder coated to ensure the surfaces are smooth and consistent. Because even the smallest imperfection can show through our finish, all visible surfaces are painstakingly critiqued. Only VAULT® offers clients a smooth automotive-quality finish on all exterior surfaces, with the added benefit of incredible corrosion and abrasion resistance. Our highly reflective, deep luxurious set our cabinets from any other in the world.

Immodest Proposal

Chad Haas has used a modest garage to underscore the transformation that his VAULT® designed products can make to transform any space.

This article originally appeared in the magazine ‘Auto Aficionado’ and was written by Larry Crane, whose resume consists of positions with an all-star cast of motoring journals: Editor and designer, “Auto Aficionado;” Art Director, “Automobile Magazine;” Associate Art Director, “Road & Track;” Founder and Editor, “Vintage Racer” and Art Director, “Motor Trend.”

Chad Haas has used a modest garage to underscore the transformation that his VAULT® garage products can make quality service at maximum performance, delivered for a lifetime. That daunting statement has probably ignited more entrepreneurial fire than any other—and caused more failures in the attempt. The heat of that fire alone cannot generate enough energy to power through the challenges of a perfectionist’s vision. Leadership, mentorship, even spiritual guidance may not be as effective as the observed success of dogged determination.

VAULT® was founded because Chad Haas wanted to upgrade his garage and could find nothing worth the investment it would take to create what he wanted. His vision was the Ferrari of garage equipment, inspired by Fred Karl Jr., who founded Viking “Professional Performance for the Home.” Do we need big, iron, industrial-cooking equipment in our most beautiful home kitchens? Can I have one if I want one? Does it make me feel better when I’m cooking? Do my friends like to watch me use it? Now I need really deluxe cookware for my exotic new hardware—enter Chuck Williams who founded Williams Sonoma to gratify that need.

Karl and Williams kept Chad Haas chasing his dream even while he had serious questions about his intellect. He had left a great job with a terrific future in a century-old company to pursue a vision he wasn’t sure anybody else would even understand. VAULT® was founded three years ago, but most of the intervening time (up to 2007) has been spent designing the product lines to eliminate technical failure and searching out the best-quality American suppliers. His goal was to create something that would profoundly change the way we think about garages. In the last quarter of the last century we moved from the living room to the kitchen for entertaining and the “custom kitchen” became one of the most expensive and universal elements of a new home—followed quickly by bathrooms big enough and luxurious enough to live in. Now it’s garages.

When a new home is designed, the garage is the largest square footage under the roof with no billable architectural hours. It is simply a large empty space, the family warehouse and, if space permits, weatherproof car storage. In fact, the garage is the only space in a home that is regularly exposed to public scrutiny. And, curiously, it remains the least organized and most overtly at risk of tempting burglary. 

I predict, in ten years or less, the garage will be as important to the character of the house as the kitchen—or the home theater. The second most-valuable investment for most families—and for all auto aficionados—is the car (or cars).

A VAULT® garage becomes a new social space for motorheads to hang out in. Why not make it comfortable and include a great cigar humidor, a fine wine cabinet and a carefully integrated fridge for your favorite exotic, micro-brewed Oregon beer. A complete installation can be planned with the home architect and owner, to be included in the home’s finance program.

Haas’ system is elegantly and effectively timeless. It will look as useful and beautiful in 50 to 100 years as it does the day the project is finished. “…must set a new standard, not just look good but perform best—indefinitely.” All the metal components are made of stainless steel and most of the visible surfaces are then powder coated, as “indefinitely” is the goal. The cabinets, designed to take commercial use, have a fine-home finish. Each drawer is constructed to support 250 pounds when fully extended, without upsetting the cabinet.

The framework includes stiffening gussets and flanges that will never be seen by the owner, but the result is the stiffest structure available in a cabinet finished like a fine piece of furniture. In fact, there are VAULT® cabinets in use as dining sideboards and dressing tables in elegant new homes around the country. There is at least one Craftsman-style home with VAULT® cabinets in the bedroom. At Pebble Beach RetroAuto a woman said, “It is the most beautiful piece of modern furniture I have ever seen.”

Quality is the raison d’être of everything in the VAULT® catalogs. Making the equipment last a lifetime was the target and making it beautiful quickly became part of that process. Most of the equipment beyond the cabinetry, designed and manufactured specifically for VAULT®, has been found in the tool industry. Upon adding the finishing-detail elements to the garage, all became part of this new way of thinking about where you keep your second, most-valuable asset. The lights, for example, are from Austria and are used by Rolls-Royce in its paint booths. Porcelain floor tiles are milled to fit together with no space to permit fluids in between. They are also glazed and fired to preclude any fluid or rubber stains. And, finally, BASF was asked to develop a fluid floor seal that was vastly superior to what it is currently delivering, without concern for cost. It was done.

There are now 35 options for the Pro Series cabinets and a dozen, listed colors. Custom colors are an option for a modest cost—and time—increase. Twelve of the Pro Series cabinets have been redesigned for the new Designer Series products. And the new Forged Series will add a third line and bring most of the units to within the reach of a broader range of clients.

The carriage-house doors are the finishing touch. They are handmade from the finest materials and look beautiful under the closest scrutiny. The design can also include matching doors throughout the home. The time it takes to construct the VAULT® custom system may risk the sale, but there will be no compromise in the quality of the manufacturing.

“It is better to lose a client than to deliver a product that is not worthy of the VAULT® guarantee.”

Haas’ long-term business plan includes an ambitious aspiration for all quality automotive-service centers to be outfitted with VAULT® installations. Like the singular visions of Karl and Williams, Haas’ idea is the first to marry fine cabinetry and utilitarian equipment for the guy’s room in the house. The VAULT® website: “vaultgarage.com” says it all.

Written by Larry Crane courtesy of Auto Aficionado magazine.

1940s Era BMW Clock

This circa 1940’s era BMW clock that we built for a client in Maine is a real beauty don’t you think?

Customer Testimonial: Warwick, RI

“I am writing to tell you what a pleasure it was to do business with your Company. It is not often that you buy something now a days that exceed your expectations. The quality and service your company exudes is refreshing. I wanted to leave a testimonial on your website but wasn’t sure how to do it.

It should read as follows:

“If you are looking to buy high end garage cabinets there is no better place to purchase them than VAULT. The quality of the products are amazing and the service is second to none. I had a minor problem with my cabinets when they arrived (a shipping issue) and [VAULT] was great … and got it done in time for my contractor to install it on schedule.”

David P. DiSanto
Warwick, RI 02886

Shipping VAULT Cabinets To Dubai, UAE

VAULT serves customers from all corners of the world. This particular order of garage cabinets is being readied to ship to a client to Dubai, which is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). VAULT® has served customers as far away as Australia, the Dominican Republic, the Caribbean and even the North Slope of Alaska. 

To learn more about VAULT® and the finest quality metal cabinets in the world, please visit us at: https://www.vaultgarage.com/

Custom Porcelain Neon ‘GARAGE’ Sign

We designed and built this one-of-a-kind porcelain neon sign for a client in Madison, Illinois who wanted something unique for his garage. We started with some of his concepts down on drawings, selecting different porcelain sign faces and neon colors. The canister that holds this sign together is itself a work of art, consisting of a multi-stepped (multi-levels) that create a three-dimensionally affect.

Our passion at VAULT® is furnishing the world’s finest garages. If you have an idea for a custom one-of-a-kind porcelain neon sign that you would like to commission us to reproduce, contact our design team at VAULT® at (310) 622-4477 to discuss your project. To learn more about our custom porcelain neon signs please visit us at: http://www.vaultgarage.com/

Customer Testimonial: Austin, TX

Nothing pleases us more at VAULT® than hearing from satisfied customers. This Austin, Texas client invested several months of due diligence to find the perfect cabinet storage system to meet their needs, personally visiting Baldhead, Lista and Moduline firsthand. Ultimately, they choose our ‘Designer Series’ cabinets sight unseen based on these reasons:

“I am writing to express my appreciation for the exceptional level of customer service provided by VAULT.

My partner and I looked at a number of cabinets prior to selecting yours. These included Baldhead, Moduline, and Lista. We were not satisfied with the other cabinets for a variety of reasons: play in the drawers, looks/design, or fit and finish.

After speaking with you on the phone we felt confident enough to take a chance and order cabinets from VAULT. We were not disappointed. The design aesthetic, fit, finish, and overall quality is unmatched in my opinion.

We were so pleased with our initial order we followed-up with an additional custom cabinet, full tile for the floor in the garage, and new lighting. The custom cabinet you built for us was perfect, the tile is simply amazing, and, much to my surprise, the lights really did make a huge difference in the garage.

Thank you for all of your assistance and patience with my laundry list of questions. I do not think we would have ended up with half as nice of a garage had we gone with another vender. I am enclosing a couple of pictures so you can see the final outcome.

Please feel free to pass on this letter or use me as a reference if anyone would like to speak to a very satisfied customer.

C. Morris Davis III
Austin, Texas”

Art Deco Ford Sign

6′-long porcelain Ford Art Deco porcelain neon dealership sign. Even the original fasteners and glass stands were plated in brass, exactly as was done originally back in the 1920’s-1930’s, when this sign was originally made.

This double-Side Ford Art Deco Dealership sign was crated and shipped to a customer in Carmel, Indiana.

Our passion at VAULT® is furnishing the world’s finest garages. To learn more about our custom porcelain neon signs visit us at: http://www.vaultgarage.com/