There's much that Kitty Ingram enjoys about her three-bedroom Woodstock cottage. But it's the garage that currently gets most of her attention.

Ingram recently recruited her out-of-town brothers for a weekend makeover of the garage that included new shelves, cabinets, electrical outlets and a painted floor.

Frank Niemeir / AJC (ENLARGE)

The living room of Kitty Ingram's cottage features creative touches such as the tiles surrounding the fireplace that she painted in black and white.

Frank Niemeir / AJC (ENLARGE)

Even though her yard is small, Ingram has a green thumb and does a lot of planting.

RELATED LINKS: • More photos of the house • Home tours this spring • Get more inspiring ideas for your home

"It was just piles of boxes and tools here and there," said Ingram. "Now it's my new outdoor room. I love to be out here when it rains."

The floor now shines with a glossy terra cotta shade Ingram had blended to match a planter on her front lawn. A wall of shelves holds clear plastic containers that are easy to identify by their contents. A white corner cabinet is now the indoor gardening table with storage below for supplies. A power strip keeps her tools plugged in and charged.

Much of the work Ingram does in the overhauled garage finds its way into the narrow strip of yard behind her cluster home. The French doors from her dining room lead to the small garden where she's made most of the space with a small table, chairs and bench. Wrought iron sculptures of bees and sunflowers peek between the potted plants and bird feeders. Flagstone steps lead visitors through the space that extends across the back of the house. A potting bench overflows with plants.

"Even though I only have a small space, I'm always planting," said Ingram.

Inside the home, there's a story for almost every piece of furniture. Many of the wood pieces, including a drop-leaf desk, brass-edged chest and shelves, were made by her father. Other pieces came from her late parents' home, including the dining table, with leaves to seat 16 when completely opened, and an antique rope bed that fills up part of her home office upstairs.

"I inherited a lot," she said. "Neither of my parents are here with me, but they left me so much to talk about."

Ingram has added her own creative touches to the house. She perked up the living room fireplace by painting the surrounding tiles in alternating black and white shades. Over the breakfast bar in the kitchen, she hung a holder for her favorite rolling pin.

The doorway to the laundry and powder rooms off the kitchen is framed by iron scroll work for a decorative touch.

In the guest bedroom, she created a rose garden theme in pastel pinks for her 10-year-old niece, whose frequent visits often include a bounce on the big bed smothered with fluffy comforters and pillows. Ingram fashioned a dressing table from the iron base of an old sewing machine and accented it with a mirror surrounded by roses.

Transforming the tract house into her personal space has been a nine-year venture for Ingram, who works for an executive search firm.

"I wanted something that would be my very own," she said.

Have a cottage, condo, loft or mansion you want to brag about? Call MetroHome at 404-514-6162 or e-mail hm_cauley@yahoo.com.