Garden Shed Eden in the Pacific Northwest

Gardener. Stylist. Blogger. Influencer. So, how does a busy woman like Kim DeCamp Robinson keep track of her time? Why, with a She Shed Living calendar, of course. Robinson is Miss February in this year’s calendar, and she keeps it hanging next to her office desk. She marvels at how much her business has grown since she was selected to be part of it. Coincidence or … ?

A huge part of Robinson’s stage is a tiny garden shed she had built when she started getting serious about plants and design.

You wouldn’t know it by the pictures, but Robinson’s iconic garden shed is actually in her front yard, not in the back. That’s because her home, which is a showcase of style and coziness in itself, has a large level garden area in front (and lots of shade and a hill in the back). It’s also nice because she gets an unfettered view of Carr Inlet, part of the great Puget Sound, as she tends to her showstopping garden.

“Our area is literally called ‘Home,’ ” says Robinson, who is a self-taught gardener and blogger and has been featured in numerous magazines, including Sunset and Cottages and Bungalows. She explains that an exhausted woman immigrant stepped off the boat in 1895, took a look around and proclaimed “this is Home.”

The shed came out of the mind of Robinson and came to life through a local builder. He looked at a few pictures from Pinterest that Robinson had gathered and then ran with it; most of the shed was built in an old boatbuilding structure that is also on the property. It is 8 ft. x 10 ft. and equipped with temperature control, a water source and a fan. Large skylights and windows on every side bring the outdoors in and help tiny seedlings grow. Her shed is also a key shelter for her profusion of geraniums during the winter months. Robinson is a dahlia whisperer and discusses the best way to grow these and many other cut flowers in her blog, Shiplap and Shells.

Special Touches

Besides the obvious (cottage-y style, abundant and colorful gardens, waterfront location), what other special elements make Robinson’s heart go aflutter when she thinks about her shed? Some of her favorite things include the chandelier (“from Pottery Barn!”) and the Dutch door she insisted be a part of the design.

Another part of the shed that ended up being a very important aspect of what Robinson does? A brick porch and stairs on either side of the shed are key “stages” for Robinson’s spectacular seasonal decorating, which has helped garner her nearly 50,000 followers on Instagram. These transitional spaces are very often the distinguishing factors that turn a she shed into something truly Pinterest-worthy.

Magical Transformations

If you look at the many captures of Robinson’s shed on her feed, you’ll no doubt be captivated by its many faces. Between the fabulous light variations of the Pacific Northwest, the vast changes that come about with the garden in each season and the clever photos that Robinson patiently takes week after week, the shed and its surroundings change shape shift dramatically.

It creates a never-ending source of beauty and inspiration not only for Robinson but for her many fans. Despite her very busy schedule, Robinson somehow finds the time to engage with hundreds of people on Instagram, liking and following and participating in tablescape-sharing adventures. Her spirit of sharing and supporting has brought her much success and satisfaction in return.

Think about YOUR favorite part of a private space. What is it and why does it make you smile? Comment below.