Shed revival: looking for more living space? These homeowners found the solution in their own backyards - Home: Design - using detached buildings for living space - Brief Article

Sunset, June, 2002 by Mary Jo Bowling

* Many Western lots have small, shedlike buildings that aren't used much anymore. But look again. That backyard shed or detached garage might be the perfect place for a home office, family room, or playroom, as the following examples demonstrate. And if there is no shed on your property, maybe it's something to think about adding. Detachment from the house can be an asset whether the need is for peace and quiet or for a place to make noise.

RELATED ARTICLE: 1. Pigeon coop to playhouse

Architects Geoffrey Holton and Matt Gilroy helped a young family convert a backyard greenhouse and aviary into a kids' play structure.

"This building had been abandoned long ago, and it was falling to the ground," says Holton. "The structure sits at the end of the lawn. It screens a view of the neighbors' yards and balances the house. The family wanted a play area for the kids, so it made sense to save it."

The architects opened up the building by adding a large window, a skylight, and a pair of French doors. Walls and the concrete floor were repaired and cleaned.

Now the children use it as play headquarters. "It's great because they can play in the backyard and run in and out of the building," says the owner. "We think it's a building that will grow with us. Later on, we might make it a studio, office, or a guest house."

DESIGN: Matthew Gilroy and Geoffrey Holton, Geoffrey Holton and Associates, Oakland (510/663-9797)

2. Water tower to work space

Another couple asked Holton to evaluate their 1950s ranch house for the possibility of adding a home office. Instead, he ended up turning their 1920 water tower--built when the property was part of a ranch--into the needed work space. "The first time I saw it, it was very close to falling down, but I thought it was fantastic," says Holton. "It was like a little piece of history on a typical suburban lot."

First, the practical: Builders stabilized the tower and added flashing to make it waterproof. Next, they restored the windows and added a ring of transomlike windows at the base of the tower. The floors were patched and refinished, and the walls received a fresh coat of white paint. The formerly dark, musty building became light-filled and bright.

Holton designed a desk, shelves, and cabinets using recycled wood and other green materials. Boards were installed between existing beams to make artful bookshelves. The tank was preserved for future use as an observatory for the kids. "The whole project has the spirit of sustainable building," says Holton. "We all saw the value of saving what was there."

DESIGN: Geoffrey Holton and Associates, Oakland (510/663-9797); S.E.A. Construction, San Carlos, CA (650/802-9585)

3. Garage into getaway

The building in Aaron Crespi's backyard started life as a small garage. A previous owner did the original conversion, which was somewhat primitive, adding electricity, running water, and a shag carpet. After a small fire damaged the building, Crespi decided to make it a guest cottage.

The project became a creative outlet for Crespi, a furniture designer and builder. His love for wood is evident in the finishes. He used 13 different kinds of wood to build the cabinets, floors, countertops, and shelves. "I think the natural colors of wood are really beautiful," he says. "When you mix them, they give an interior a rich quality."

He added windows and a skylight to let in maximum natural light. A small room with a slate floor at the front of the building creates a sense of entry. An interior window brings the natural light from this space inside.

Crespi saved money by designing the building around materials he could get inexpensively. "The windows, the sink, and the faucet were floor samples," he says. "They were good quality and had the aesthetic I wanted, so I made them work in the design."

To maximize space, Crespi used built-in storage units and added a sleeping loft over the bathroom. He also built a deck and painted the building the same color as the main house for a unified look. "When I don't have guests, I like to hang out on the deck or in the house," he says. "It's a very harmonious space."

DESIGN: Crespi Woodworking, Petaluma, CA (707/778-6022)

4. Summer living room

The Massengale family of Washington calls their home WHQ, short for World Headquarters. With two adults and three kids, schedules can get complicated. That's why it's important that the residents of WHQ have a nearby retreat. They created one in their backyard with the help of interior designer Carleen Cafferty and garden designer Karla Arnold.

The plan included a structure for storing tools and potting plants. But it kept growing. First, the family decided to make it a kids' hangout. Then, they decided to make it an adult retreat. When it was done, it was more like a satellite family room.

"The whole family uses it," says Cafferty. "The kids and their friends like to sleep there. Mom uses it as a retreat. Dad holds business meetings there."

Although it is new, the structure looks old, thanks to recycled wood and comfortable furnishings. Painted platters and an old chandelier give the room a funky elegance. "This space appeals to the little kid in all of us who always wanted a tree house," says Cafferty. "It's a cozy space, not a formal room. The denlike spaces are the rooms people gravitate to."