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Topic: Outdoor Structures



Date Posted: Thursday, October 01, 2015
Posted by: Tanya Zanfa (Master Admin)
Source: http://jacksonville.com/homes/2015-09-24/story/backyard-bungalows


Backyard bungalows


Backyard bungalows

The once-humble garden shed is having a moment.

These simple structures have basically been around since the invention of the backyard, housing everything from lawn tools to children’s playhouses. Now grown-ups are getting into the act, and a cottage industry has developed, turning basic utility sheds into tasteful, high-style outdoor living spaces.

For those non-believers, consider this:

■ In June, the FYI Channel (part of A&E Networks) began production on “He Shed, She Shed,” a new reality show pitting two homeowners, friends or neighbors in a contest to see who can create the best shed conversion.

■ At the Better Homes & Gardens website, readers can find a host of slideshows illustrating unique ideas for garden sheds, playhouses and other outdoor structures.

■ A Seattle company, Modern-Shed, specializes in customized milled out-buildings for people wanting to add livable square footage to their residential property.

Modern-Shed was featured in a July wire story that went national, which described how the structures are made specifically to serve as stylish garden getaways. While the company claims to be the first to produce mid-century-style outbuildings that are compliant with the International Building Code, they aren’t the only ones to capitalize on this growing trend.

Tuff Shed, a company known for its barnlike and traditional-style sheds, also offers a contemporary Premier Pro Studio shed, which can be purchased nationwide.

First Coast homeowners can get a glimpse of the trend at the 2015 Jacksonville Fall Home & Patio Show, set for Oct. 1-4 at the Prime Osborn Convention Center. During the show, local designer Christy McCarthy, owner of Interiors Revitalized, will team up with Cook Portable Warehouses to rework a trio of simple sheds into unique, livable spaces.

An Illinois native, McCarthy initially pursued a business degree in accounting “that really was not the right fit” before eventually turning to interior design and earning a B.A. from Harrington College of Design in Chicago. She started her business after moving to Florida nearly nine years ago, with clients who are equally divided between home staging and interior design services.

McCarthy was inspired by her aunt, who was a decorator, and always dreamed of becoming one herself. Times were tight growing up, McCarthy said, so her niche is budget-friendly design.

“Some people hire me for one hour because that’s all they can afford,” she said. “I want to make great style attainable no matter what your budget.”

According to McCarthy, Cook needed someone to decorate their booth, so Marketplace Events, producer of the Home & Patio Show, reached out to her. It turned out to be the perfect fit. Like food trucks, stylish outdoor sheds are an idea whose time has clearly come.

“Twenty years ago, did you ever think you would eat delicious food prepared and served from a little truck, other than ice cream?,” said McCarthy. “The Home & Patio Show is a great opportunity to bring these ideas to Jacksonville.”

The concept is ideally suited to Florida, she added, where so much of our living space extends to the outdoors; sheds are easily adaptable and not too challenging for a DIY project.

“They’re perfect for the pool area; you just open it up and you have a bar for an instant party space. Or you can turn it into a yoga studio,” McCarthy said.

Three models from Cook will become the Parents’ Getaway, the Grounded Treehouse and the Home Office. Or, as Jonathan Bevis, Cook’s director of marketing put it, a Man Cave, a She Shed, and a Pub Shed.

“Most people are familiar with the concept of a Man Cave, and a She Shed is simply the same thing for ladies; a quiet place to get away from everything and pursue your hobbies,” Bevis said. “A Pub Shed is created by converting your shed into a space for socializing.”

McCarthy explained that everyone can use a shed for storing tools; but say you’ve been using the spare bedroom as an office, and now have another child on the way. If you don’t want to move because you love the local schools, or can’t afford a larger house, this idea allows you to turn the extra bedroom into a nursery and, with a few changes, can create the perfect workspace in a shed — still on the premises, yet private and a bit removed.

This is McCarthy’s first time participating in the event, although she has been an avid attendee for many years. While Cook is also new to the Jacksonville show, Bevis said the company participated in the Orlando Home & Patio Show last year with great results. Both companies are sponsors of next week’s event, so both McCarthy and Bevis are looking forward to their unique opportunity to work together.

“We really wanted to do something new and exciting with our display this year and someone suggested that we build it around the trend of converting sheds into miniature retreats,” said Bevis. “We want to show people that sheds don’t have to be boring.”



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