Shed photographed by William Wright for Debra Prinzing's book
Here at AT, we're quite taken with the notion of the garden shed. And why not? Something about building a little house behind a big(ger) house—a place to hide away, to work or do art or stash guests, or even just to pot plants—truly appeals to the imagination (even if you're an apartment-dweller). It's like the grownup version of a backyard playhouse. Debra Prinzing's book, Stylish Sheds and Elegant Hideaways, celebrates the creative possibilities of the garden shed. Bay Area locals can meet her tonight at a Garden Conservancy event at Flora Grubb Gardens (details after the jump). And for our other farflung readers, we've collected some garden shed photos and links for inspiration...
For San Francisco residents, building a garden shed is perhaps less of a pipe dream than elsewhere; as long as it's under 100 square feet, no permit is required (amazingly!). But even for those of us without gardens, the concept itself is interesting to ponder... is there a part of your home that serves as a getaway, where you've allowed yourself to play with design and décor that departs from your usual style?
Hear Prinzing talk about designing these sheds and more tonight at 5:30pm at Flora Grubb Gardens. Tickets are $30, which goes to the Garden Conservancy. The evening will begin with wine and hors d'oeuvre, followed by the design talk.
Prinzing's web site and blog, Shed Style, has loads more inspiration.
Some previous garden shed posts from AT:
Showy Sheds
Inspiration: Small Parisian Garden Shed Apartment
The Economist Profiles the Tiny House Movement
The Backyard Tool Shed Office
Outdoor Office
Photos: William Wright
With a view like that, you could rent that thing out!
view st@cy's profile
I'm a big fan of the do-it-yourself "7 day backyard shack" that ReadyMade proposed (and featured). If I get some time and money (and can figure out the zoning codes) I want to try my hand at customizing one.
Original article in issue 10 http://readymade.com/projects/issue_10/
Readers' cabins featured in issue 34 http://readymade.com/project/cabin_fever1/
(I'm trying to find the ReadyMade store to link to the blueprints, but their website has been un-updated lately, having much to do with the moving of the company http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/22/LVOV15VMIM.DTL&hw=readymade&sn=001&sc=1000 how unfortunate!)
view chrishelms's profile
That's awesome...I'm a sucker for these things. Big time.
view Erin Lang Norris/Yellow Canoe's profile