[All images via Better Homes & Gardens.]
[I love a lot of elements from this—the cottage-y barn doors, blue trim, and hey, yellow spicket: get out of my dreams and into my yard.]
Rob and I frequently talk about what it’d be like if we could design a home from the ground up some day. Or, rather, have some sort of say in things that you do not when living in a condo. This would include really big deals like the pile of the door mat. Once I heard a rapping at the door and murmurs, and looked out the peep hole to see two tiny, white-haired ladies kicking at my violation mat with their toes. This was shortly after a letter had gone out explaining maximum dimensions for door mats. I didn’t answer the door.
[Architectural genius.]
[Breathe, Carey. Breathe.]
Yep. Pretty glamorous stuff.
I find it sort of bizarre that—in all my clippings and saved images for home design inspiration—the only inspiration I’ve gotten for the exterior of a home comes from images of garden sheds. Maybe it’s the noncommittal aspect to their size that makes them feel more accessible to me. In any event, these sheds are so over the top, and all have elements which I think are easily translatable to actual living spaces. I love the siding, the architectural details, the doors, the windows, and the brilliant use of color. Some are like carriage houses—mimicking the parent style of the homes they accompany—or eclectic, kooky playhouses for pots and trowels.
[These could be quite literally transposed into elements of a larger structure: think mudrooms, entryways, outdoor showers, or a pool house. The image on the right has my OCD organizational tendencies blaring at DEFCON 5.]
I’m in love.
[2 “needs” and 1 “want…?“: Cedar shake siding! Shutters! Succulents growing on the roof!??!]
[Funky shed nestled in rows of gorgeous flowers; a church-inspired shed with fabulous distressed siding, a picket fence, and Gothic cathedral-style windows. I want to climb that ladder into the tree immediately.]
I can’t wait to have a house someday. Not that I mind Mr. Segway buzzing through the lobby. But it will be nice.
{BTW, I dabbled with gardening with my mom as a kid, and am an avid weeder. But someday ,we plan to have a (small) yard and I want my own little patch. Any avid gardeners out there? Can you direct me to any good beginner books? Suggestions for favorite varieties? I’m all ears. [This comes on the heels of our having disassembled the rotting Chia pet this morning—but don’t weep for him.]}
Happy Monday on this Spring day.
-Carey
[She & Him, “Home”]
Corks and Caftans 
Now you’re speaking my second favorite language besides fashion…gardens. Mainly English cottage style gardens with lots of old fashioned roses, hollyhock and foxgloves. My favorite time of year is late May, early June when my English roses bloom for the first time. I call them “my girls” and there is nothing better in this world than sitting on the front porch on a summer evening with a glass of wine and smelling their old rose scent. Heaven. I will have to send you a picture when they bloom.
One of my favorite garden magazines is actually an English Garden magazine that you can pick up at B&N. I think it is called The English Garden. Better Homes and Gardens also puts out some good gardening books. David Austin has beautiful books out on roses. For true beginners, I know it sounds cheesy, but Gardening for Dummies has a lot of basic information to keep you from killing anything. Also, just pick up a garden magazine with a picture on the front of a garden that captures you. I have found a lot of helpful info from just magazines. But I think the most important thing is to plant for your climate zone or you could lose everything.
God, I rambled, didn’t I. Sorry! I told you it was my second passion. 🙂
oh man, this has made me so happy! I cannot wait to start soaking all this info up.
love it…love it all! so fun!
fab post xxxx
off subject (and email to follow…if not tonight, tomorrow!)…she and him are going to be at millenium park on june 7. sigh. just sayin…..
wow! Pretty…”sheds”? Reminds me of modular style living stuff I’ve been checking out lately. A friend of mine actually has her art studio in a “shed” in the backyard, added a good amount of square footage for her.
I want the mini cathedral – very thoughtful post, I liked the foray into architecture!
As for gardening, I am potted plant lover and go for the nose-pleasing varieties: petunias are easy and some varieties smell so good, nicotina (tobacco flower, also very delicious smelling and hardy), and my personal favorite…moonflower! It only blooms at night and smells so tropical (don’t let your cat near it, seeds are poisonous).
FOr some reason a “real” garden plot scares me off – pots are more approachable and managable – sort of like the sheds v. houses, lol
What beautiful garden sheds! I would prefer living in there. Garden storage sheds these days can really be a place where you could live in because of their beautiful designs. It will not just serve storage space needs but also living or shelter needs. There are varied styles and designs of storage sheds that we can find online through the internet.
How so.. Cute
Nice garrden shed. I have never seen before that
Thanks for sharing this with us…