This Potting Shed Is “Beautiful,” Thanks to Checkerboard Floors and Antique Art
Sheds tend to get a bad rap because, more often than not, the inside is dark and covered in spiderwebs. But Kevin Brost and Ian Hampton decided not all garden sheds have to feel like that — instead, they can be an outdoor escape to enjoy during warm temperatures.
Kevin and Ian’s Door County cottage is their home away from their Milwaukee, Wisconsin, home. Located on half an acre of land across from Lake Michigan, the cottage was built in the 1940s and has been slowly restored by the couple. “The cottage had not been renovated in several decades, so we had a chance to make it our own,” Kevin explains.
But without a garage and with their garden quickly growing, they needed a place to keep all of their equipment close and accessible — “without having to trek to the basement to retrieve it,” Kevin says.
Storage space was the main reason for the shed, but design quickly became a close second.
No Assembly Required, but Practicality and Vintage Decor Are
Kevin and Ian had the shed delivered and assembled professionally, but inside it was just a blank OSB wood box. They quickly got to work painting the interior walls a mix of leftover Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace and Cloud White from their cottage remodel, and Behr’s Ultra Pure White.
Then Kevin and Ian stenciled the checkerboard floor, and Ian was able to finish painting the pattern in one day using Benjamin Moore’s Dunmoore Green.
Painting the walls a shade of white made the 126-square-foot shed feel larger and brighter than it actually was. Because the shed does not have electricity, Kevin and Ian also hung numerous vintage mirrors with foxing, or patina, to reflect the daylight.
Plus, they already had a large antique collection that was ready for the spotlight. “Long before we’d decided on a shed, we’d been collecting vintage art at local antiques shops and on vacations,” Kevin explains. “So once the floors were painted, we just got at it.”
But the couple had a few doubts along the way. “Did a checkerboard floor with half white squares make sense where we’d be walking with muddy boots? Is it smart to hang original art in a shed?” But now they couldn’t be happier with the results.
“The shed is more beautiful now that the checkerboard floor shows evidence of use,” Kevin says. “Quality garden tools crafted from real wood and brass make striking art hanging on the walls beside still lifes.”
Their Passion for Design Continued in the Shed with Design Risks
“Decorating the potting shed also gave us an opportunity to continue designing an interior space even after the cottage itself was complete,” Kevin reflects.
They had fallen in love with the style of British interiors and gardens, and felt themselves drawn to that decor aesthetic after the cottage was finished. “The shed became a place we could continue our passion for decorating and take risks we wouldn’t in the cottage itself,” Kevin says.
For instance, the checkerboard floors were a design risk Kevin and Ian wanted to take. Kevin, who had long admired painted floors, was worried they would grow sick of them in the cottage. So the couple painted the shed’s floor, as they wouldn’t be exposed to it every day.
The shed soon became the perfect place to experiment with their design style without fear that they’d regret it.
A Comfortable Space to Work and Relax
Not only is Kevin and Ian’s potting shed beautiful, but it’s also comfortable, which they say is equally as important. Kevin’s favorite part is the feeling it gives him and Ian — creating a serene place to relax while in their garden.
“Vintage art shows signs of age; the floor and tools show evidence of use; a wall of dried hydrangea blossoms reminds you that you’re near nature,” he describes. “Together, these factors put you immediately at ease.”
While it’s still primarily their potting shed, the space is loved in other areas of their life. Either to enjoy a drink in the shade during the summer or to play with their young nieces when they visit.
“[It’s] become a place where we spend more time than we’d ever imagined,” Kevin shares.
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