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A Room of One"s Own
When it came to being creative with the outbuildings dotting your yards, the entries for the fifth-annual Reader Remodel Contest did not disappoint. Whether they were colorful playhouses for the kids, beautiful garden sheds for extra storage, or lavish outdoor kitchens, the entries this year proved that your backyard can be a haven for more than just plants. Take a look at the top sheds and outbuildings, as chosen by the editors at This Old House.
After taking a look at these clever outdoor spaces, you can see all the entries for this year here.
Winner: German-Inspired Playhouse: Before
Winner: German-Inspired Playhouse: After
Who: David T.
Where: Newport News, VA
The pointed playhouse is for my two daughters and is built around a pair of 200-year-old doors that my wife and I purchased about 20 years ago, while living on the middle Mosel River. I saved money by using the delivery service from the home center and not breaking down and hiring help when I thought something was too difficult. I did not cut corners, but doing all the labor by myself (and periodically with a neighbor or family member) really saved the Deutschmark. The best part was the look on the faces of my two daughters when they went into the loft and looked out the window for the first time.
Who did the work: I did most of the work myself.
Cost: $1,000 to $5,000
From 1930s Playhouse to Garden House: Before
From 1930s Playhouse to Garden House: After
Who: Bob J.
Where: Thornton, PA
This 80-year-old playhouse, now a garden house, is on a historical property with an 1809 stone farmhouse and wagon house. Repurposing the structure while maintaining as much original material as possible is an imperative of our stewardship for all of our buildings. We saved money by doing all of the finish work once the structure was soundly in position. It is not only very useful now, but also an eye-catching attraction of the property.
Who did the work: I did some of the work myself, but a contractor did most of it.
Cost: $1,000 to $5,000
Bespoke Pool House: Before
Bespoke Pool House: After
Who: Debbie L.
Where: Zionsville, IN
This was an area that was underutilized. We are not able to vacation very often, so now we can vacation at home with family and friends. We ordered the pool online, and my husband dug the hole and installed it. He did all of the design and most of the work himself. My husband's idea to add a pool house just maxed things out!
Who did the work: I did most of the work myself.
Cost: $10,000 to $25,000
Swing Set for Triplets: Before
Swing Set for Triplets: After
Who: Sean W.
Where: Reynoldsburg, OH
Extra time does not exist for my wife and me, so I started building the playhouse portion in my garage over the winter. Early spring, I managed to build the deck and moved the playhouse (by separating the wall sections) onto the deck. I'm pretty sure I actually wasted money by having to rebuild a few things due to my "fuzzy math" skills.
Who did the work: I did all the work myself.
Cost: $1,000 to $5,000
Who: David S.
Where: Simi Valley, CA
This project started as washer and dryer boxes we made into a playhouse, which led to the pictured model. From there, I couldn't resist the urge to go all out for my granddaughter and make a safe place for her to play with her friends. After what she went through, she deserved the best I could do! Seeing the faces of our granddaughter and her friends from school when it was finally finished and she had her friends over for her 7th birthday—priceless! Besides, the yard is now beautiful to look at, especially at dusk when the solar candles light up.
Who did the work: I did all the work myself.
Cost: $1,000 to $5,000
Fun Family Project: Before
Fun Family Project: After
Who: Lorraine G.
Where: Billings, MT
Two things stand out as a result of this project: One, it was a confidence-builder. I now build items, albeit very rustic, but I get better every year. Working with tools is an absolute joy. Two is the importance of the emotional connection with my granddaughters, who love working there with me. It brings an entirely different "feel" to our backyard. It is cozy. I especially enjoy all the knowledge I gleaned and now have my own wood workshop. Finally, the garden shed is a place of joy and contentment, as my granddaughters and I almost live there in the summers building and doing crafts.
Who did the work: I did most of the work myself.
Cost: $10,000 to $25,000
Ghost Town for Kids and Adults: After
Who: Kelbe C.
Where: Portland, OR
Some projects are just fun. It was like building a really cool fort when you were a kid. Once this project started to come together, it attracted small crowds from the neighborhood walking by to sneak a peek. We saved money by using damaged shop-grade 4-by-8-foot sheets of siding. We wanted the finished building to look a little rustic anyway, like it could have been built a hundred years ago. We also used recycled paint. There's just something about this project that the kids and adults all seem to love. I haven't seen anybody yet who couldn't resist going inside of each building and looking out through the jail bars or the bank-teller window.
Who did the work: I did most of the work myself.
Cost: $1,000 to $5,000
Greenhouse Inspires Small Farm: Before
Who: Susan T.
Where: Wevertown, NY
We are so thrilled to have this! It inspired us to start a small organic berry farm. And we also have a place to store our canoe and kayaks. We love that our growing season has been extended and that we used so many recycled materials. We were able to buy the windows from Home Depot for $10 each (special order that was wrong for someone else). We got a door for $40 from Lowe's. We got log seconds from Log Home Builder. And we used discarded windows in the other parts of the greenhouse.
Who did the work: I did all the work myself.
Cost: $1,000 to $5,000
Extra Storage: Before
Who: Julie H.
Where: Olathe, KS
We love the amount of storage it provides. No more mowers in the garage! We saved money by doing the entire project ourselves. We love to do home improvement projects and we love to watch This Old House to get ideas. The hardest part of the remodel was the heat. Temperatures in Kansas were triple digits when we were laying the roof shingles. Hot, hot, hot!
Who did the work: I did most of the work myself.
Cost: $1,000 to $5,000
Who: Larry J.
Where: Mount Sinai, NY
The shed looks like a cottage overlooking a pond. It has many focal points and looks equally good up close at the edge of the pond or from my kitchen window. It has color from the plantings throughout three seasons. It has even brought two mallard ducks to the pond every day the past two springs. There is no greater satisfaction than taking an idea in your mind and transforming with your hands into something that gives you pleasure each time you look at it. It makes you realize anything is possible if you put your mind to it. This project was well worth all the time and effort put into it.
Who did the work: I did most of the work myself.
Cost: $10,000 to $25,000
Who: John S.
Where: Anoka, MN
The playhouse garden shed has two stories. The lower was my daughter's, and the upper my son's. We combined the two with a window, and use the upper for storage. The porch conversion garden shed utilized a part of the open porch we never seemed to use. Besides the enjoyment of the project itself, we have also installed a fireplace in the porch garden shed. We call it our cabin, and spend many evening out there, and many weekend coffee breaks.
Who did the work: I did all of the work myself.
Cost: $1,000 to $5,000
Reflecting Pool Focal Point: Before
Reflecting Pool Focal Point: After
Who: Lanet D.
Where: Mobridge, SD
We love the beauty of the flowers and wildlife. It truly is a sanctuary to enjoy. It was a labor of love for our house and yard! We have lived here for 23 years, and both just get better with each passing year and project.
Who did the work: I did all the work myself.
Cost: $1,000 to $5,000
Fun to Design and Build: Before
Fun to Design and Build: After
Who: Jack W.
Where: Stockton, CA
I love the additional storage space and the looks, and I certainly enjoy all of the positive comments. Also, the adjustable shelving, baked-enamel metal roof, and the fun of designing and building it. No need for gutters, because the roof drains to the planters. I am a retired sheet metal worker. A picture in This Old House magazine was all it took to get me started. I was told by the county building department that anything less than 120 square feet did not require a permit, and the workbench was made from 2x4 scraps and skid material, all saving money.
Who did the work: I did all the work myself.
Cost: $500 to $1,000
Tree House for Kids and Adults: After
Who: Matt P.
Where: Kingston, TN
The yard now comes to life. The kids have a place to play and adults seem to enjoy it even more! When people drive down the road, they always slow down and look in amazement into the trees. The zip line is a hoot as well. The tree house just seems to bring back the kid in us all! We saved money during the build, with good old-fashioned elbow grease. Besides the occasional help from the kids and my wife, my dad and I built the entire tree house ourselves. The biggest savings came from my designing and fabricating what could have been costly metal brackets needed to support the structure.
Who did the work: I did all the work myself.
Cost: $1,000 to $5,000
Who: Lou A.
Where: Jamul, CA
It came out looking better than what we first envisioned. We just wanted three arches on the wall you see from pool. Then things seemed to happen on their own. More arches popped up on the other walls. The project just evolved, ending up with 13 arches. The only two things we didn't do ourselves were the countertop and the stucco. We put adobe brick patches on the wall and made adobe "falling" brick walls. Found a stucco company that knew the style we wanted—that old California Mission look—and fulfilled our vision.
Who did the work: I did most of the work myself.
Cost: $10,000 to $25,000
Original article and pictures take http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20598411_21165225,00.html site
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