Event producer and crafter Tammy Wheeler has a new place to run her homebased business, in an 10 x 15 she shed that gives her a sewing area, crafting space and tons of storage. Watch the video at the end.
Tammy Wheeler was tired of the mess her boutique business made in her garage and dining room. One day, she looked outside and asked her husband Jeff, “Could we clean out that corner near the fountain and build me an office space?”
Jeff saw the possibilities (and wanted a little less clutter around, too) so the couple started looking for a contractor to help them figure out how to fit an expansive design into a very tight space.
It was harder than they thought. “We had contractors say ‘yeah, sure, just sign here’ without even seeing the space,” Jeff recalls. “We also had some who just disappeared after a few conversations.”
Calling in the She Shed Specialists
In the meantime, as Tammy was browsing through Pinterest for ideas, she saw a pin from She Shed Living that looked similar to her idea. She gave the contact details to Jeff and he sent a few photos to us. The corner was indeed tight; after removing a corner planter area in the back, Jeff found out he needed to introduce another retaining wall that came out about a foot, further diminishing the size of the shed footprint.
She Shed Living came out to take photos and measure the slope of the concrete so that the builder they work with could come up with a revised plan and be ready onsite to modify the foundation to ensure good drainage underneath the shed.
Tammy wanted the front to let in as much light as possible so the search went on to find a French door with sidelites. A line of doors by Milgard offered very nice door styles; their Tuscany series included sidelites and came in a variety of widths. We also added two skylights on the eastern roof panel. The back wall was set very close to the border wall so we designed a back window set just high enough to clear the top of the fence, for breathtaking views of the canyon below.
Custom Design Choices
Tammy, a former cosmetologist who did a major career change during the pandemic, has multiple channels of creativity. She sells clothing and accessories as well as handmade quilts. She also runs multiple marketplace shows in her area. After painting the shed the same color as her house, she made a bold statement with near-black trim. Inside, the back wall has a splash of flowers painted on it, and there are several inspirational quotes scattered about.
The entrance to the shed was an important design point. The doorway threshold had about a six-inch drop to a plain concrete patio. Jeff asked his contractor to build a mini deck step to create a safer and more attractive transition.
Retro lighting, a cute metal “She Shed” sign and gorgeous wood-look porcelain tile flooring are just a few of the ways the Wheelers made their custom shed an impressive showplace. For Tammy, it’s all of the natural light, the pretty views from all angles and the plentiful space for working that bring her into the shed every day. “I got my house back,” she says. “I did a lot of research online about ways to organize and I spent a lot of time finding the furniture that would fit just perfect in there,” Tammy says. “Once the juices got flowing things just started falling into place.”
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