See How This Garage Was Turned Into an Instant Garden Shed

Connecticut contractor Arnold M. Karp devised this dream "shed" by taking full advantage of the wall space in a suburban garage—with shelves, cabinets, and peg rails. A poured concrete floor pleases the eye and provides a practical surface for parking cars.

Karp borrowed from kitchen design, outfitting one corner of the garage with lower cabinets, a granite countertop, and an apron-front sink to create a zone for cutting blooms and washing muddy hands. Up top, ornate iron brackets give painted lumber shelves a lift.

Dana Gallagher

Karp refined the garage walls with classic beadboard and molding, painted Restoration Hardware"s Silver Sage—but skipped fixed shelving. Instead, this reclaimed-wood piece here offers mobility and space for corralling everything from pot saucers to seeds. ($1,995; restorationhardware.com)

No need to tie yourself in knots—this convenient iron dispenser keeps twine from getting tangled and hangs from any hook. ($29.95; vintagetub.com)

Borrow from the library. A second- hand card catalog doubles as a brilliant filing system for seed packets. Want extra room? Any recipe box will fit the bill, too. (Card catalog, $58; etsy.com/shop/longbarnmercantile)

Dana Gallagher

Pull a bait and switch on the old tackle box. The fisherman"s friend proves ideal for all those little odds and ends— twist ties, nails, etc.—that tend to get lost.

The fix for wayward flowerpot saucers: a vintage dish drainer. This basic sink accessory, which rarely costs more than a couple of bucks at flea markets, organizes a bunch of basins in neat order.

Want to keep something hidden? These jute-lined bins mean you can toss a mix of stuff inside and still maintain a lovely, united front. (From $49 each; wisteria.com)

Soda-pop crates provide the perfect nook for pillar candles. The slots of a nostalgic beverage box are just right for hard-to-stash lights. ($24; potterybarn.com)

Dana Gallagher

A carpenter"s caddy finds a new calling. Tuck plant markers, stakes, and other small tools in one of these handled (read: easy-to-tote-outside) cases. ($39; wisteria.com)

There"s more than one way to recycle glass. Simply pop a cork in a beverage or condiment bottle and voilà—you have a spot for seeds or bird feed.

Give your stuff a stylish label—literally, with these supersweet zinc tags. ($15 for six; areohome.com)

Don"t get locked into a long- term commitment. The chalkboard end panels on this rustic wooden carton free you up to change the contents as often as you"d like. ($94.99 for set of four; Hubert, 800-543-7374)

Dana Gallagher

Karp set up an inventive organizing scheme for outdoor essentials with three rows of Shaker-style peg rails. Underneath, familiar containers put dirt in its (attractive) place.

Make the most of multiples. In addition to single pegs, Karp doubled up to create spots for hanging tools, like the broom and rake above, by their heads. With three closely spaced pegs, even boots have a home. (For similar custom peg rails, $17.50 per foot; Shaker Workshops, 800-840-9121)

Rid your floor of plastic soil bags by pouring the contents into Ikea"s indispensable trash bins.

Then gussy up the cans by downloading and darling labels—sheet 1 and sheet 2—and printing them on sticky paper.

Dana Gallagher

Original article and pictures take http://www.countryliving.com/outdoor/gardening/garage-turned-garden-shed#slide-5 site


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