Sabrina’s open-air she shed is a prime example of how good things come in small packages. Everything about it invites a woman to come in and shed her cares. So Sabrina is going to take it from here.
Hi everyone, there is more to my shed than meets the eye and I’m going to point out some of the ideas and decorative touches that you might consider adding to your own personal space.
Have Fun with Stain and Paint
One of my favorite pieces of advice is that “paint is the most effective (and least expensive) way to refresh a room or piece of furniture.” I love to experiment by using both flat and enamel paint to create antiquing effects. The siding and floors in my shed are painted with a dry brush technique. That means: don’t overload your paint on the brush and stroke lightly so that lots of wood grain is still exposed. For the floors, I used a cream paint mixed with cabinet enamel in a similar hue as the base. Then I added light strokes of dark gray cabinet enamel. The sides are dry brushed with black paint and finished with a few coats of polyurethane. Another idea: Try painting with tinted polyurethane to antique new wood.
Embrace Your Openness
My shed is not air and water tight. It is uninsulated and lets chinks of light and breeze in pretty much everywhere except the roof (that part is water tight). Your shed can still be a place of quiet and repose as an open-air structure–think of it as a cross between a pergola and a shed. Plus, you can add all kinds of interesting materials and textures. On mine you’ll find salvaged wood, old doors, chicken wire, glass and metal. Nothing is symmetrical but everything works cohesively.
If the Table Doesn’t Fit …
The one thing people comment on the most about my shed is the little built-in table I use for correspondence and as a checkout area during our events (see “Wheels on the Shed” below). It was a decorative console table in its first life. To make it feel “built in” we simply cut a slice off of each end until it fit snugly into the side of the shed. The carved legs really add a lot to the look, in my opinion!
Wheels on the Shed
Because the shed is small and relatively lightweight I was able to add heavy-duty castor wheels at each corner. Erika and I sometimes bring my shed to events and shows. It makes things so much easier to be able to wheel it out of the trailer and into its position. Most sheds need a sturdy foundation in order to stay put in the back yard. But if you have a business where you’re thinking about doing pop-ups then wheels could be your new best friends.
Show Off Your Nooks and Crannies
I like to change up my displays whenever the mood strikes. Today I felt like showcasing books about cocktails and high tea. Soften the rough edges of the shed with lots of richly colored textiles like this colorful Turkish towel I found on one of my greatest adventures, in Turkey. I have a cute little built-in box where I can arrange dried florals or even put in some indoor plants. I never get tired of playing around with my space and I actually give myself good ideas for my home as well.
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