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B R E A K I N G N E W S A T L E A D E R P O S T.C O M S EC T I O N D
S AT U R DAY, J U LY 25, 2015
Shed owners swap spiders for chic Storage spaces reimagined CHRIS LACKNER OTTAWA CITIZEN It’s that instant when you decide it’s time for your own backyard hideaway — when you buy into the fact that sheds aren’t just for storing junk and hosting cobwebs anymore. Backyard sheds are being reimagined as elaborate outdoor living spaces. The trend has laid a foundation in Canada just as it explodes south of the border. Just last month, U.S. cable network FYI ordered production on a new series called He Shed, She Shed. Is any poor, simple storage shed truly safe? Move over lawn mower. Find a new space to squat, rusted paint cans. Sheds are getting a highend upgrade, transformed into areas for entertaining, lounging, studios, hobby workshops and home offices. “People don’t think of using a shed for some purpose other than storage … a lot of people think, gross, spiders and bugs or whatever else,” says Ottawa de-
JEAN LEVAC/ C Ottawa Citizen C/
Designer Kristi Blok, left, has created a ‘she shed’ out of a backyard garden shed for her sister, LLynsey Bennett. signer Kristi Blok of Kiki Interiors. “(But) the possibilities are endless … and what you’re seeing with the whole shed trend is people are keeping that rustic, outdoorsy look.” Ottawa’s Lynsey Bennett is a case in point. Since buying her home in the city’s Little Italy area about four years ago, she’s slowly trans-
formed her backyard into the perfect outdoor garden, relaxation and entertainment space. At its centre, a 14x20-foot shed. Blok is Bennett’s sister and they put their heads together to rethink the property’s storage shed. The result is a countrified, laid-back, livable space ideal for Bennett to lounge and read with
her cocker spaniel, Maddy — one of the shed’s biggest fans — or to entertain company, whether sizable or intimate. Bennett’s shed features a wooden bar with three stools, a fridge, couches and chairs — and some rustic chests and tiny antiques thrown in for good measure.
The barnyard wood floor has been whitewashed and reclaimed to provide texture to the front and back walls. And two patio doors were added that open up to her colourful garden and loungers — the ideal spot for sunbathing. Of course, Bennett’s shady retreat and a cold beverage are only steps away.
“It’s another extension of my home,” Bennett says. “When I do entertain, I don’t have to have everyone in my house. I have the deck or people can hang out in here … It adds another dimension. “It surprises people when they come here because I’m living in the middle of Little Italy but I have all this square footage.” In fact, Bennett just hosted her annual Italian week party and the she shed served as an outdoor bar and lounge area for her 30 or so guests. It was important for the sisters that the shed wasn’t an afterthought. The beige and black colours were chosen to match the exterior of Bennett’s home. “We wanted it to feel like it was part of the house, intentional, and part of the whole design,” Blok explains, adding the space could easily double as a home office or a place for crafting and hobby art — from sewing to carving and painting. While existing sheds can be renovated, some people prefer to build from scratch or have a structure custom made. David Dunn certainly gets a lot of use out of his shedturned-art-gallery, which he bought from North Country Sheds in Merrickville, Ont.
See OUTDOOR, D2
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