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The Kitchen Table

Wanna see some pics of my little house? (many pics)

17 years ago

The guys who built it for me call it, "The Little Mansion." My friend calls it, "Barbie's Dream Tool Shed."

The trouble started when I wanted a garden shed to store our lawn mower. We have a nice house but NO outbuildings - at all! The mower is currently stored in the back yard, chained and padlocked to the city's trashcan. We have a wheelbarrow thrown over the mower's motor to keep it dry. Real high class looking affair. NOT.

So, I went to the big box hardware stores and I didn't like the look of those prefab sheds. I talked to a local carpenter who is quite the craftsman and told him what I wanted: A little house that is a good match to the big house. :) This guy is a dying breed and one of the last true artisans.

He's also a patient soul and listened carefully and studied my primitive drawings. Here's what he built for me. And yes, that is a slate roof, just like the big house. :) I've wanted to build a little house like this my whole life. I'm so thrilled to finally have this dream come true!

There is nothing plastic or vinyl on this house. It's all wood and natural materials. There are many layers of crown molding and trim and it is all a perfect match to the trim on our 1925-built Colonial Revival home.

The windows and doors are from architectural salvage. This first photo shows the detail of how the eaves and soffit match on the little house and the big house.

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Comments (18)

lindyluwho
17 years ago
That's way too cute to store a lawn mower in. I love it.

Linda
User
17 years ago
Very nice, Hope you enjoy it!
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naughtykitty
17 years ago
SO cute!
ronf_gw
17 years ago
It's beautiful.

Ron
hayjud_mn
17 years ago
That is just perfect!
It is a cute as can be.

Thank you for sharing!
Jasdip
17 years ago
Lucky you! Too cute!
If we had that, we'd be fighting over who gets it. I would want to make that into a "worm house" and Tom would want it to use as a practice room for his drums.
lydia1959
17 years ago
That is really cute! It would make a fun playhouse for some little girls too.
User
17 years ago
Now that's a class act!
User
17 years ago
Okay, now that's just too cute! I wouldn't store garden tools in that at all. I'd be saving it for a future grand daughter to play in. LOL
phyllis__mn
17 years ago
That is just beautiful, and such a great addition to your big house.
glenda_al
17 years ago
Very very nice!

A big one and a little one!
grammahony
17 years ago
Great job. It is so cute.
Leslie
gramzeeinmd
17 years ago
SO Cute! I want one, can you send your carpenter over my way?
Thanks for sharing your 'Little House'.
Deb
mcmann
17 years ago
Your shed is just darling! Will you decorate it for the holidays?

And I really like that long ponytail on your carpenter.
susanjf_gw
17 years ago
that's awesome...our friend did something like that... but it sits further back on her property...told her to add a path thru the "woods" (aka a few trees, lol) to the gingerbread house. lol...

love the slate roof...
teresava
17 years ago
Oh yes, if my 4 year old saw that, she'd never leave "her house"!!!
sooey
17 years ago
Just beautiful. The detail is perfect. Have the lawn mower and wheelbarrow been put away? Love the deadbolt. I hope you decorate it for the holidays. I can see the Christmas lights now...

sooey
rosemaryt
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks for the many positive comments. Yes, I love my little shed. :) It's 8x12 (tiny) but I think it's just right. We've already had several neighbors ask about it.

Ever since I was a kid, I've dreamt of having a little playhouse of my own. This "little mansion" went way over budget but I've assured my husband that when it's time to sell the house, that wee house in back will probably be a major selling point.

It even has an attic with a ladder going "upstairs" and operable windows. I like to sit up there and just meditate on life.

The deadbolt is an extra-security deadbolt and the little house is connected to the alarm system in our big house. We even had a house-warming party last month to celebrate the completion of our little house!!

Here's a picture of the little house my first husband and I built for my two oldest daughter (built from a kit) in the early 1980s. The girls loved it - and so did the neighborhood kids. And now I have one of my own!

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