Budget Breakdown: A Weekend DIY Turns a Neglected Garage Into a Backyard Hangout for $13K

In Portland, Oregon, an experiential designer transforms half of his decrepit garage into a screened porch over just three days, creating a laid-back, outdoor room.

A year after Ben Carstensen moved into his 1925 bungalow in Portland, Oregon, he had a mission: to get his backyard ready for the summer. "It was just filled with weeds and an old, dead tree," Carstensen says of the space. "I tore everything out and started with a blank canvas." 

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Melissa Dalton
Dwell Contributor
Melissa Dalton is a freelance writer in Portland, Oregon, who has been writing for Dwell since 2017. Read more of her work about design and architecture at melissadalton.net.

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