I say ‘we’. Our friend built it for us, as Rob has his hands full with the never-ending rustic greenhouse project, and I don’t do manual labour. Anyway, didn’t he do a great job?
It’s based on the metal shed in Monty Don’s veg garden, which has always given me major shed envy. Rob and I are both convinced it was our idea to copy Monty Don’s shed. (He’s wrong. It was my idea.) But no matter who’s right (I’m right), we both agree it’s turned out well.
Clearly, we got a bit carried away and added some very twee embellishments to our version. I couldn’t help myself. I just had to add a pop of yellow. Then came the hanging baskets. Then a sign for the door (pilfered from our bathroom). The embellishments kept coming. But I think we’re done now. All we have to do is move our crap inside.
In our defence – because I accept it’s weird to get this excited about a shed – we’ve never had a garden shed before. Our house didn’t come with one so we’ve made do with temporary (if 10 years counts as temporary) solutions. For all these years, Rob’s tools have lived in an old, upended wooden chest in the garden, dubbed ‘the tool shack’. Elsewhere, the chainsaw lives in the spare room. Our bikes live at the top of the stairs. Rob’s winemaking stuff lives in the attic. The strimmer lives wherever Rob left it last. Trying to find a simple screwdriver is a bloody nightmare.
Having a proper garden shed feels like we’ve finally arrived at adulthood. Even if I have dressed it up like a doll’s house. Oops.
While I’m here, have some pictures of the rustic greenhouse as it stands this week (click to enlarge). There are still lots of holes to fill in and missing panes to replace, but the front is getting there. It’s definitely ‘a statement’ at the end of the veg garden. But I love it already.
-
- We’re going for the ‘industrial meets 19th century orangery meets Mondrian painting’ vibe. As you do.
-
- Tomatoes and seedlings (and Rob) enjoying life inside the greenhouse.
What do you think of the shed: shed of dreams or twee nightmare? (I’m going to regret asking this, aren’t I?) And what garden projects have you got planned for this year? Do tell.
I really “enjoyed” how Rob is reduced to a parenthesis item… 😀
Don’t worry, Bobby. He doesn’t read this anyway so I can say what I like!
Oh and you skipped the most interesting bits about the shed – how was it constructed? Materials, sizes, schematics? Anything at all?
Why is the overhang so small? Anything less than 60-80 cm won’t allow you to smoke your pipe on the bench, relaxing in a torrential summer storm, contemplating life as hail destroys the garden…
Construction isn’t my strong suit! But it’s got a concrete base. A rear wall made of brick and lime render (because that wall is visible from another part of the garden, and I wanted to have a wall where I could grow climbing roses). The other three sides are timber structure with metal cladding on top – just the basic metal sheets you find at any builders’ yard. We primed and painted the metal a dark grey (it’s less shiny and reflective in real life than it looks in the photo). And the roof is made of the same metal sheets. I think it’s 5 x 2 metres. There were no schematics as such – we basically gave our friend a picture of Monty Don’s shed, a pile of metal and wood and said ‘go for it!’
The summer kitchen is our place for relaxing during a torrential storm, as it’s got a huge roof and open sides. We were sat there yesterday afternoon, both of us and all four cats, watching the rain and lightening. The only thing missing was the pipe (and hail, thankfully)!
I love the shed. It looks better than Monty Don’s.
Thanks, Cherry. I like the way Monty Don’s shed looks aged and weathered, whereas ours looks so new! But it’ll settle and weather in time.
It’s a very nice shed ( on the other hand, we have 2 sheds and a barn….)
…. but no greenhouse !
Two sheds! That’s just showing off…
So it’s gone twee. it’s your shed and does it work for you? I like the overhang for pipe smoking although I don’t do pipes I d’o have other ‘bad’ habits which would require some protection!
Love reading your blog, I know that there is another world out there
Thanks, Marilyn, nice to hear from you! Yes, it’s twee, but it works for us. No doubt it’ll get a bit scruffier over time. Which also suits us…
I’ve always fancied buying one of those caravans you see in fields in Bulgaria, the ones that look a bit like railway carriages but with big wheels. One would easily fit in our garden, I’d enjoy doing it u and it could be a place to retreat to or guest accommodation. Just wishing. I’m really hoping to get back to our little village home in the next few months.
Yes! I love those things. It would make a great little guest house or garden studio. I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed that you can travel this summer, Kath.