Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Backyard Shed Transformed Into a ‘Shedeau’
A once-crumbling outbuilding is now a personality-rich guesthouse for visiting family members
When Joe and Teresa McDonnell remade a crumbling shed behind their home, they were laying family bait. “We have three grown sons,” says Joe. “We were looking for a way to lure them and their families to visit us. By building a guesthouse, we made it possible for us all to be together, but apart.” The couple had remodeled their primary house, which stands just 130 feet away, with the help of architect Scott Meland. When they turned their attention to the shed, they called him back. Meland designed a simple structure that left plenty of room for the McDonnells’ fun touches. After the hammering stopped, Teresa rechristened the once-humble building by making a play on the term “chateau.” What now stands in the backyard is now known as a ‘shedeau,’ and the architectural lexicon may never be the same.
When creating the space, Meland drew on his and Teresa’s Scandinavian heritage, creating a building with a steeply pitched gable that’s reminiscent of a Norwegian farmhouse. Of course, the corrugated siding is the stuff of barns and sheds, but given its countryside location, it’s totally appropriate.
Although Meland specified standard windows, he chose varying sizes to give the building an eclectic look. A Marvin window factory is nearby, and the McDonnells shopped the company’s seconds outlet for deals.
Although Meland specified standard windows, he chose varying sizes to give the building an eclectic look. A Marvin window factory is nearby, and the McDonnells shopped the company’s seconds outlet for deals.
A look inside shows why the eclectic approach was the correct choice for this family. Working with Mark Geroy, their contractor, the McDonnells installed some woodland-inspired features. The also put in a chimney pipe for a future woodstove.
Support beams are tall tree trunks harvested from Geroy’s own wooded acres. “We left the branch stubs on one pole,” says Joe. “We let the grandkids climb up to the second story, but only while we supervise them. They love it.”
Boards for the stair treads and bookshelves were milled in a way that left their bark edges intact. Joe says that the treads are losing bits of bark, but the shelves have kept their woody skin.
Peeled poles make up the stair rails and newel post.
Teresa had the idea of using rustic branches for the uppermost balusters. She and the contractor painstakingly pieced rails together — with Geroy sawing off branches and placing them one by one for Teresa’s approval. “I didn’t think it would work,” says Joe. “I was pleasantly surprised.”
“I thought the way they treated the stairs was just wonderful, and I was delighted to see it,” says Meland. “It makes what could be a very basic space dynamic.”
The shedeau has stained concrete floors and a small kitchen. To save money, the McDonnells shopped estate and rummage sales for furniture and accessories.
The kitchen island is on wheels, so it can be moved around the room. “When it’s in this position, it’s a room divider,” says Joe. “But when we want to open up the space, we just push it away.”
The kitchen island is on wheels, so it can be moved around the room. “When it’s in this position, it’s a room divider,” says Joe. “But when we want to open up the space, we just push it away.”
A screened-in porch is also on the lower level. “There’s a river that runs by, and you can see it from the porch,” says Joe. “Mosquitoes are terrible for a few weeks in the summer. So it’s nice to sit here in the evenings and put on some music and pour some wine.”
Upstairs, the couple whitewashed the ceilings, allowing the wood grain of the knotty pine to show through. Teresa, who is described as a secondhand-shopping champion, found this quilt pieced with vintage ties in a thrift shop.
One of Meland’s favorite features is the roofline of the upstairs bathroom. “It has a lot of life,” he says of the space, with its steeply pitched ceiling.
The small space called for a petite tub. Luckily, gigantic tubs are modern inventions. Vintage tubs, such as this 4-foot-long model, come in sizes for space-challenged bathrooms.
The small space called for a petite tub. Luckily, gigantic tubs are modern inventions. Vintage tubs, such as this 4-foot-long model, come in sizes for space-challenged bathrooms.
As an aside, Meland mentions that his clients are “Minnesota nice.” When asked about the term, he explains that people from the North Star State have a reputation for being pleasant. “I think the guesthouse reflects that,” he says. “It’s warm and welcoming, just like Joe and Teresa.”
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Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: This the guesthouse of Joe and Teresa McDonnell.
Location: Wannaska, Minnesota
Size: 1,200 square feet (111 square meters); 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Because this was not a primary residence, the McDonnells wanted to keep the costs in check. Meland made it happen by specifying off-the-shelf materials, such as corrugated siding and standard-size windows.
“From there they kind of elaborated on the design,” says Meland. “It was like their canvas.”
The nostalgia starts before you walk through the door of the structure. Joe had moved from Boston to be with Teresa in her home state, and he says this 1968 Volkswagen Beetle was like his modern-day covered wagon. “I drove it out in 1972 and used it until it wore out,” he says. “Our boys used to play in it, and now their kids play in it.”