In my experience, the greatest designs are born out of creative solutions for the most awkward spaces. Our new garden shed is a perfect example of that. We had a covered entrance on the back of our garage that always looked a little out of place. While we initially thought about removing the gabled peak, Chris wondered what beauty we could create if we instead leaned into its quirky nature. Soon, plans for a garden shed took shape, and after some light construction, we now have an unexpectedly delightful spot to store our garden tools. We call it the Rose Shed (for the roses that will soon climb up the walls).
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The back of our house is long and flat, and the garage door portico looked like a disproportionate remedy to that. Our garage will one day be converted into a primary bedroom, so the garage door will eventually be removed. When Chris had the brilliant idea of enclosing the portico and turning it into a garden shed, it suddenly felt like an opportunity to add charm to the home in a practical way.
Chris started by pouring and packing a gravel base. He then built a treated lumber frame and screwed pine boards over top for the floor. The walls are sheathed in pine tongue-and-groove, so the interior has some character. The shed was then wrapped in both Tyvek and a Mortair Vent rainscreen (a mesh backing needed for cedar shakes).
With the intention to infuse as much storybook charm as possible, I clad the walls in cedar shakes. There’s something about a small building with cedar shakes that exudes playful whimsy. I matched the 4″ reveal from our clapboard siding so it flowed naturally.
While I love the look of natural cedar, I felt that the garden shed would look more connected to the house if it was painted the same color. So, we primed and painted the cedar shake siding. Oyster White by Sherwin Williams is the color!
While I generally prefer squared or elliptical doors, a full arched door looks the most appropriate for the scale and size of the garden shed. I LOVE a plank door, and it’s wonderfully fitting for the style of our home. It’s also pretty easy to make yourself! Chris built the plank door and hung it with hand-forged iron bean strap hinges.
The brass sconce is an antique ship light, and it’s truly the cherry on top! We found it at a boutique in Maine and knew immediately it had to go above the arched door. Its smaller sister is fitted inside the shed to brighten the room on cloudy days.
I wouldn’t classify this as a finished reveal because there’s still much to do! We have plans to build a trellis on the side of the shed and plant a climbing rose that will eventually ascend up and around the arched door. The perennials are freshly planted, so after a couple years, this view will look much fuller and more colorful! A stone path will soon replace the stepping stones, and the large garden bed to the right will someday be filled with flowers and trees. Each new layer will be a delightful addition, but I couldn’t wait to share the Rose Shed until then. It’s too darling to keep secret! 🙂
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