Photo of a country detached barn in Other.

Small modern detached shed and granny flat in Toronto.

Lauren Rubenstein Photography
Design ideas for an expansive country detached shed and granny flat in Atlanta.

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional detached garden shed in Minneapolis.

Our client needed her own space to create her art. This beautiful "she-shed" has made quite a lovely crafts studio! This particular she-shed of ours was also featured on the cover of a book, "She-Sheds: A Room of Your Own, by Erika Kotite!

What our clients needed: • Create a garden folly that doubles as a well-built shed for crafts and storage. • Size the structure large enough for comfortable storage without dominating the garden. • Discreetly locate the shed in the far corner of the rear yard while maintaining existing trees. • Ensure that the structure is protected from the weather and carefully detailed to deter access of wildlife and rodents. FUNCTION • Construct the shed slab close to grade to permit easy access for bicycle storage, while building shed walls above grade to ensure against termites and dryrot. • Install a French door and operable casement windows to admit plenty of daylight and provide views to the garden. • Include rugged built-in work bench, shelves, bike racks and tool storage for a rustic well-organized and efficient space. • Incorporate GFIC electrical service for safe access to power at this distant corner of the yard. • Position energy-efficient interior lighting to ensure space can be used year-round. • Switch control of exterior light from house and from shed for ease of command. AESTHETICS • Design and detail the shed to coordinate with the Arts and Crafts style house. • Include an arbor for future flowering vines, further softening the shed’s garden presence. • Simple and rustic interior surfaces ensure that the space is easy to clean. • Create an aged and softly weathered appearance, and protect the exterior siding by finishing the cedar with a custom-colored semi-transparent stain. INNOVATIVE MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION • Factory-built components were pre-assembled to allow for a speedy assembly and for a shorter on-site construction schedule. • Each component was easily transported through the yard without disturbing garden features. • Decorative exterior trim frames the door and windows, while a simpler trim is used inside the unadorned shed. OBSTACLE OVERCOME • The structure is located in the corner of the yard to avoid disturbance of a curly willow tree. • The low-profile structure is positioned close to property lines while staying beneath the allowable daylight plane for structures. • To comply with daylight plane close to fence, the roof form combines hip and gable forms, with door located at gable end. • The height of the modest interior is maximized, without exceeding the allowable building height. CRAFTSMANSHIP • The concrete slab was precisely formed and finished for ease of shed assembly before the factory-built components were delivered to site. • Precision planning meant the pre-framed door fit exactly between raised concrete curb.

Mid-sized detached garden shed in Sussex.

Photo of a country detached granny flat in Other.

Ercole Salinaro
Contemporary detached shed and granny flat in San Diego.

Nathalie Priem
Mid-sized contemporary detached shed and granny flat in London.

The cottage style exterior of this newly remodeled ranch in Connecticut, belies its transitional interior design. The exterior of the home features wood shingle siding along with pvc trim work, a gently flared beltline separates the main level from the walk out lower level at the rear. Also on the rear of the house where the addition is most prominent there is a cozy deck, with maintenance free cable railings, a quaint gravel patio, and a garden shed with its own patio and fire pit gathering area.

A wide open lawn provided the perfect setting for a beautiful backyard barn. The home owners, who are avid gardeners, wanted an indoor workshop and space to store supplies - and they didn’t want it to be an eyesore. During the contemplation phase, they came across a few barns designed by a company called Country Carpenters and fell in love with the charm and character of the structures. Since they had worked with us in the past, we were automatically the builder of choice! Country Carpenters sent us the drawings and supplies, right down to the pre-cut lengths of lumber, and our carpenters put all the pieces together. In order to accommodate township rules and regulations regarding water run-off, we performed the necessary calculations and adjustments to ensure the final structure was built 6 feet shorter than indicated by the original plans.

Design ideas for a mid-sized country detached garden shed in Charlotte.

Photo of a mid-sized country detached garden shed in Charlotte.

Contemporary garden shed with a parapet roof and extra wide steel doors.
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary detached garden shed in Toronto.

Open Homes Photography
Design ideas for a small contemporary detached studio in San Francisco.

This is an example of a mid-sized country detached garden shed in Salt Lake City.

Photo of a country detached barn in Philadelphia.

Photography by Mat Clayton
Contemporary detached studio in London.