Fun Sheds

I'm so excited:  Last weekend, Dave & his dad put together a new shed to replace this one:

I really wanted to save this thing but it just wasn't happening:  It was rusted out, full of holes, dark & dirty and I'm pretty sure some animals lived in it because our dog Ashby would sniff around in there like a mad dog every chance she got.  Anyway, we got this little 6 x 8 shed from Lowes to replace it:
(Shed here)

...And they were able to save the mass of honeysuckle that grew up it.  We also got another larger shed (12 x 10 I think) that now houses all of Dave's tools & is actually a workshop inside.  (We don't have a garage.)  Because we already had a concrete slab for the falling-apart shed on our property, we decided to put up a new shed on the slab that will be sort of a hangout place/ playhouse for us & the kids...  a "fun shed" if you will ;) 

Repurposed sheds have always intrigued me.  The first one I really fell for was designer Ann Nicholson's shed featured in Country Living a few years back:



She had carpenters trick out (I really can't think of any other work for it right now :)  a standard shed:

{photos by Keith Scott Morton}

I'm also crazy about the beautiful little playhouse Linda MacDonald of Restyled Home and her husband built for their daughter Sophie:

(Click here for the full tour.)

And this "guest house" shed by Kate Humphrey:

{photo by Lucas Allen for Country Living}

I went nutty for this 18 Century pigeonnaire featured in Cottage Living back in 2008.  Do you remember it??!!

Perfection!!

{images via Apartment Therapy... click here for the full tour}

And last year when we found our house, Heather Cameron's shed (below) really got me thinking that we could actually have a fun shed one day...

{Photo by Janis Nicolay for Country Living}

Michael Devine's shed - a reworked harftord shed from Lowe's - shows how beautiful you can make a standard shed & we actually purchased this same shed for the workshop shed:


And I also wanted to share with you a bunch of beautiful sheds I found on the Better HOmes & Gardens Website in an article on sheds:


{Seriously???  Better than my house!}

{Love this...}

{So gorgeous..}


{I want this.. the floors?!!! wow.}

{And this one is just so sweet.}

So...  I'm not expecting anything as crazy beautiful as what's going on in the above pics...  We're going to keep the front standard so it looks just like a normal shed... 

...But we are going after the inside to make it a "fun shed."  Here is is now below with a tarp over it because the shingles are going on this week...


...And here's the first coat of no VOC primer going on:


I cannot WAIT to get this place feeling special.  This has been one of the best projects ever to plan: part hangout spot, part playhouse.  (I am in no way pretending this is soley for my children...  I know i'm gonna love this thing!) 

Hope everyone had a great weekend & happy mother's day to all the mothers!!
xoxo,
lauren

ps-  We don't have cable so I haven't been able to check it out yet, but Tuesday's episode of 9 By Design ( May 11 at 10PM on Bravo)  features a really special fundraising event for Jasmina Anema. Jasmina was a "spunky 6- year-old" who lost her battle with Leukemia this past January. Jasmina was a very close friend of the Novogratz family. They are trying to get as many people as possible to tune in to this week's episode
in an effort to help spread Jasmina and Thea's (Jasmina's mother) message, which is to raise leukemia awareness and make people more aware of the need to register to become a bone marrow donor. (http://oneforjasmina.com/)

45 comments:

Marija said...

Lauren I think this undertaking will be one of the funnest yet! Excited to see what you do...hope you'll keep us in the loop as you make your decisions. I'm pretty certain yours will be as cool as your inspiration shots :)

Hope you had a terrific mother's day with all three of your guys ;)

xo Marija

Mothership said...

Oooooh! I never thought about this before. My mind is a whirrin'!

Thanks, Lauren.

sharon santoni at my french country home said...

Garden sheds ad summer houses have always been synonymous with happiness for me. I'm sure this one will be a huge success - don't forget to let us see the photos please
Sharon

Karena said...

Lauren I am so excited to see where you go with this, you are so creative!!

Karena

Art by Karena

Tracy Watier said...

How fun! It's a playhouse! No, it's a hideout! No, it's mom's puttering potting shed! I want one!
And yes, I remember the pigeonnaire. I'd like to have one of those too.

Sharon Brown said...

Fun post - and project for you - thanks!

Sharon

Privet and Holly said...

Lauren, you will have to really THANK your husband for working on this project as it is truly a labor of LOVE. My husband put together a play house kit from Home Depot about ten years ago for our kids {me, especially!} and there was way more work involved than either of us ever expected for such a wee shelter. It has been sitting neglected near the side of our house and now I'm thinking it might be cute out in one of the gardens. It took four grown men to move it into place, though, so I will have to throw a party to get it moved!!
Looking forward to seeing how yours turns out. FUN! xx P&H

Razmataz said...

I can't wait to see what you do with it! Love the picture of the one with the gothic arches. They are all lovely.

Emily A. Clark said...

There was also a great project in Southern Living several years ago where they added french doors to a pre-fab building and a stone patio. It was really lovely.

We did something similar at our last house. I'll have to see if I can find pictures.

Anonymous said...

I remember that one from Cottage Living! Still bitter about about the loss of that magazine. :(

Melissa said...

I can't wait to see where this goes. We have a playhouse (shed, really!) that is a miniature ofour house. Right now the inside is bare, bare, bare-- and full of nails and wires and other scary things on the walls. I want an "Out of Africa" vibe in there-- draped netting and campaign furniture. Please share as you work on it!

Erika Ward said...

oh how i wish i could've had a playhouse like that! our shed was full of garden supplies and old bikes, boo! your cute little son should be thrilled!

Vanessa@decor happy said...

How fun! Can't wait to see the end result and I do remember loving the one from Cottage living and all of the beautiful pink fabrics she used.

Kathysue said...

Lauren what a fun idea, I like this idea a lot!! You will get to be creative and add some whimsy, that is my favorite thing, to add a little whimsy. You will have to keep us posted on some of your wonderful ideas, Kathysue

Jules said...

Ooooooh! I love sheds. Big enough to do something with, small enough to be able to do something with! Love all your examples!

Hey Laurel NM said...

I am loving the shed idea. Love your blog. Hey you can still watch 9 by Design. Just go to Bravotv.com. It is on their full episode list, all 4 that have been broadcast. Now, with two little ones, good luck finding the time.
debi
http://www.shopshelbylynn.com

JNoPie said...

Love the shed that looks like an old chapel!!! What a cute idea!
Good luck with this project, keep us posted on how it progresses!

Jennifer said...

"Tricking" out a shed ... what a marvelous and fun idea! I can't even think of a favorite of the ones you shared because they are all so grand. Thanks for the inspiration this Monday morning as I set out to do a yard work myself.

Have a great week!

Unknown said...

Well, how fun is that! I would have died for a playhouse/shed when I was growing up, but even more so now. I'm afraid we'd have to add an airconditioner here in Texas or it would only get used about 3 weeks out of the year...LOL. Keep us posted on this "playful" project.
www.divinedistractions.blogspot.com

LiveLikeYou said...

What a fun project. Wish I had not read this great post because now I want a shed!!!!Sure you'll have it looking smashing in no time.

Wendy said...

Oh my goodness Lauren...I love these sheds too. I'm excited to see yours all "tricked out".

Unknown said...

Fun!! I can't wait to watch the progress. My husband just started building (from scratch) a shed this weekend that will be our home office, since our current one will soon be taken over by baby #2. I'm hoping there might be another one for me (craft/project spot) in the future.

Velvet and Linen said...

Happy Belated Mother's Day Lauren!
We are on the same wave length right now. We're planning to put a shed on the side of our home as part of the garden project we are working on. Thank you for the inspiration! I can't wait to see how your shed turns out. I know it will be gorgeous.
Thank you also for spreading the word about Jasmina. It's so important!

xo
Brooke

Jan Jessup said...

Hi, Lauren--
It's Jan from Calico Corners here, just to pass along the fact that the bone marrow registry will not accept donors who are over 55 years old. That's not you, but it may apply to other readers of your blog.

Cristin // Simplified Bee said...

Can't wait to see what you do with this little shed. The examples you posted are amazing!

Happy belated Mother's Day!

xo,
cristin

Susie @ Maddie G Designs said...

Some amazing inspiration photos...cannot wait to see what you do with your shed...it is sure to be fabulous as well!

Hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day with your boys.

Chic Coles said...

I always wanted a shed or a "fort" of some sort...it would be such a fun place for my sisters and I to go and hang out/play...as if we had our own house! Sadly, this never happened but I can't wait to see what you do with yours!

Mary Ann said...

i love potting sheds, can't wait to see your finished work! have a great week..verbena cottage

LindsB said...

I want a shed now!! All of those examples are amazing, but I know that yours will be 100 times better then all of those combined! You have the best eye for these things!

Post progress pics and you move along in the project :)

Jennifer Sergent said...

Ever since I wrote a story about sheds and outbuildings for Washington Spaces, I've been turned on to beautiful sheds. Our neighbor had a great one built by the Amish!
Here's a gorgeous design book called Shed Chic, where you will find even more inspiration:
http://amzn.to/boSRf9
--Jennifer/ DC by Design http://dcbydesignblog.com

debra @ 5th and state said...

one of my fave topics lauren, and your images are amazing. i grew up with a "playhouse" and every neighbor kid wanted a dad like mine.

a friend has a former shed/playhouse (kids grown) and whenever she hosts an outdoor adult party it is the center for magic; candles everywhere, music, bar, flowers.....

can't wait to see what magic you create
debra

Anonymous said...

This has been one of my obsessions too. And now you're going to have one! So exciting! Here's an old post of mine with some more cute ones:

http://www.fromtherightbank.com/2009/03/maybe-a-shed-is-all-i-need/

There's even one photo that I got from you(!)

MFAMB said...

shitballs this is going to be good.

i remember that pigeonnaire like it was yesterday.

kayce hughes said...

Loving all of those sheds! Can't wait to see what you do.

DesignTies said...

Who knew sheds could be so fabulous?! I remember when you first posted the Heather Cameron's shed -- I thought it was beautiful then, and I still think it's beautiful now :-) I'm sure your shed will be just as nice when you're done :-)

Have fun!!

Kelly

Mona Thompson Providence Ltd. said...

Lauren, I love this post. It is so timely for me. We just started a new job with a couple that have bought some property in the country. We are meeting with the architect tomorrow to start on the house plans. There is already a work shop and another building that we are calling an "outbuilding " since that is what Greet from Belgian Pearls calls hers on the property. It will be so fun to marry all this together. You have just given me some fabulous inspiration. thanks. Also many thanks, for visiting my new blog. Much appreciated. I hope you will come back and visit. Mona

Developing Designs said...

LOVE this post, LOVE sheds and the fun things that you can do. When I put mine in last year (replacing something that looked even scarier than your old one) I obsessed with the options. It's such a fun project and we know you will do something amazing with yours. Can't wait to see it! I'm adoring Ann's "tricked" out shed and really swooning over the one with the gorgeous church like windows. Great images, great post (as always) xo

Gwen Driscoll said...

These are all beautiful. Our playhouse is falling down and just a mess. I keep not wanting to move it because I don't have anything to replace it with. I think you've just given me a great idea my friend. Hope you are well.

G

Unknown said...

I'm flattered to have my shed included in your list!

Anonymous said...

I am *dying* to put a shed/garden cottage up, just can never seem to come up with the right location or the right structure. These are really great and give me lots more ideas. Thanks!!

Haven and Home said...

How fun to have a shed to decorate! This images are so inspiring!

The Gimlet Eye said...

I am tuning in now to "Nine." And, love this post...could never forget Angelle Parlange's pigeonnaire. She is a Louisiana girl!
Great post!

Maria Killam said...

Totally fun Lauren! Can't wait to see what you create in there!!
xo
maria

allie said...

where is the image with the giant fountain in front of the shed from? that fountain has just made my 'must have' list...

HyunChard said...

I have kept this post open all day long so I can keep looking at this gorgeous inspiration! I've loved backyard sheds and cottages since I was a kid and my grandparents had TWO in their backyard,Tough to beat that level of adorable. Neither, of course, looked as lovely as these. But really... I'm not sure I've ever seen any cheap sheds this amazing in real life.