Buildings
About
Last fall we were approached by a woman who was interested in building a cottage in her son's back yard in St. Petersburg. We looked through the local zoning regulations and found that the property allowed for Accessory Living Units (ALUs), but not Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). The difference between the two in St. Petersburg zoning was that she could build a cottage, but would not be allowed to have a full kitchen with an oven. Other areas of St. Petersburg, mostly in the historic neighborhoods closer to downtown, do allow full cottages with full kitchens (ADUs).
When considering a secondary dwelling behind an existing home (carriage house, in law suite, granny pod, guest cottage, rental cottage, etc.), always check local zoning regulations first as it will tell you if you can build an accessory dwelling unit, if it can have a kitchen, where it can placed (setbacks), and if there are any size limitations. Most communities have their zoning regulations available online at: https://library.municode.com/fl and offer a myriad of information on what can be built where.
For this project, we adapted our 14'x16' Starlet Cottage plan for our customer's use, turning the kitchenette area into a walk-in closet and adding a roof extension over the front door to create a porch seating area. The end result is a comfortable and nicely appointed cottage. See details here, although the closet and bath ultimately were reversed: Starlet Cottage Plan In addition to meeting the zoning requirements, the cottage meets all Florida Building Codes and is legal for full time living.
The front gable roof was extended to 4' to create a covered seating area.
The 224 sf cottage is set on a concrete slab so she wouldn't have to deal with stairs.
The cottage interior under construction - bath on the right, closet on the left, storage loft above.
The front area of the cottage is an open room with cathedral ceiling and a storage shelf along the top of the wall.
A small seating area fits nicely along the side wall. The flooring is ceramic tile with a weathered wood look.
While the cottage was not allowed a stove/ oven, there is room for a small refrigerator and microwave.
The bath meets Florida Building Code requirements and includes a nice sized shower. A tankless water heater is located in the adjacent closet.
The cottage was designed with a windowless wall so that the owner could install this lovely Tuscany scene.
Once the landscaping goes in, this custom Starlet Cottage will be quite pleasant.
Historic Shed now offer the Starlet Cottage as a shell-only package with all required architectural plans: https://historicshed.com/cottage-packages/
The shed that gets the most "oohs" and "aahs" when we are out at shows is definitely the Snack Shack we built in Palm Harbor a few years ago. Painted in fun colors, it conjures up sunny days with umbrella adorned drinks in hand. With our latest Coastal Breeze Snack Shack, I think we have another ideal tropical back yard, and this one is available as a vacation rental.
Installing the Coastal Breeze Snack Shack
The bar features two awning shutters that open for cocktail hour. The front 4' of the shed is used for the bar, the rear is for storage. The bar has a 4' covered porch deck.
The 12'x14' Snack Shack Pub Shed nestles nicely by the pool.
A view from the yard looks rather inviting.
The shed is designed to complement the house and the yard.
The homeowners had to make sure it worked. The inside of the bar was finished with tongue and groove pine.
12'x14' Historic Shed Snack Shack Shed ready for company!
We are often asked if we can provide just a building shell that the owner can then finish out on their own. The answer is, of course, "Yes!" We don't often get to see the end results, but one of our historic homeowner customers recently sent us some photos showing how wonderful his new space is.
The 12'x16' shed was designed to complement the main house in the East Lake Morton Historic District in Lakeland.
The shed seen shortly after Historic Shed finished installation.
The homeowner built a wood deck in front of the shed and made it look "oh so homey".
The cozy inside features a futon sofa and a 3/4 bath behind the louvered doors.
The interior also has a storage shelf at the gable ends and a small kitchenette.
The 3/4 bath.
Several years ago I was contacted by a woman who was in the process of buying a house in the historic Gillespie Park neighborhood in Sarasota. The 1920s house came with a detached garage in not-so-great shape, placed awkwardly in the middle of the yard and she wanted to replace it. Then she had a few big life changes, including moving out of the country, and the plans for the garage were put on hold. When she called back last year, she no longer wanted to just replace the garage. Instead, since the main house was being used as a vacation rental, they wanted to add a garage apartment that could also be rented out. Historic Shed™ designed a two-story, two car garage apartment with details that complemented the main house with a one bedroom, one bath layout. We also included a large porch for a private sitting area for visitors, accessed by an exterior stair. The cottage is available for rent at: https://www.vrbo.com/811457 So far, it has some rave reviews.
Last year we built a storage shed for a south Tampa customer with a transom over the front door. Recently, he called us again asking if we had ever built a chicken coop since he wanted one that matched his house and shed. Our response was, "No, but we designed a nice one that we had intended as a prototype but haven't gotten around to building." With a few tweaks to the design, he ordered the coop and we set to building.
Chicken Coop Elevations
The new coop consists of a 4'x6' elevated hen house with a 6'x8' screened yard. the screened yard was set on 4x6 rails recessed partially below grade.
The screened yard has a full height access door.
The nesting box has a hinged door to access eggs.
The nesting box is subdivided.
A pair of doors allow access to the hen house for cleaning.
A ladder inside provides a nesting perch for the chickens to rest.
The new coop sits next to the shed Historic Shed built for the same owner.
The chickens had not moved in yet when our installation guys finished, so we will wait to hear how the future inhabitants like their new home. For now, we have to settle for it looking nice in the yard.
Many thanks to the backyardchickens.com website for providing a wealth of knowledge as we designed and built the coop.
One of our customer favorites is the tropical Snack Shack that we built in Palm Harbor with combination bar and storage shed. The shed design was recently adapted for a narrow site behind a historic Craftsman style home in the Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood in Tampa. The resulting shed was 8'x18' version with framing details that complemented the historic home. The shed was approved by the local historic preservation office.
Details from the main house that drove the shed design
Building the shed at the Historic Shed shop
Installation of the Craftsman Snack Shack shed on site
Bar interior
Ventilation door between the pub and storage areas
Awning doors locked down
Interior of the storage shed area
The finished shed with awnings closed
Pulleys that open the bar doors
The shed sits nicely by the pool
One of the perks of being in the preservation business is seeing all sorts of great historic sites that aren't always available to the public. When we worked primarily as historic preservation consultants under our Preservation Resource, Inc. mantle, we got to crawl in attics and private rooms of house museums, disused hotels, and even airplane hangers. Now, as we focus on making outbuildings for historic neighborhoods, we get to see private homes that aren't open to the public (I never say no when invited inside for a moment). One of the recent highlights was seeing a high-style Craftsman style bungalow in the Old Northeast neighborhood in St. Petersburg that was under rehabilitation.
The house has heavy timber framing details, great clinker brick porch piers, wide eaves and long, low lines.
Known as the Sargent House, 806 18th Avenue NE was recently designated as a historic landmark by its newest owners, Sharon Winters and Kendall Reid. Originally built in 1923 by LeRoy and Marjorie Sargent, the house is significant for its architecture as a rare example of higher-style Craftsman design and construction in the airplane bungalow type. (See the full report at: http://www.stpete.org/committee%20packets/Community%20Planning%20and%20Preservation%20Commission/2016-04-12%20Reports.pdf). A local landmark designation recognizes structures or places that have historic value or that exemplify cultural, economic, or social value to the city, state, or nation. The benefits of this designation include neighborhood stabilization, increased heritage tourism through the maintenance of our historic character, relief from some of the requirements of the Florida Building Code, and an ad valorem tax exemption.
Historic Shed was hired to design and build a small storage shed to be placed behind the house. The simple shed incorporated elements from the house such as the gable detailing, roof pitch, and outrigger design.
The shed is located within a flood zone and has flood vents along the back and alley side.
The roof outriggers are prominent on the main house. The shed has scaled down versions to visually complement the main house. The gable vents are also geometrically similar.
While the main house is covered in shingles, the shed uses cypress siding. The doors reflect the Craftsman design of the main house.
The shed nestled behind the main house
Earlier this year we built a custom garage in the historic Lake Lawsona- Ferncreek neighborhood in Orlando, Florida. Unfortunately, when the garage was first finished, we didn't get very good photos. Luckily, when we went back in April for the Lake Lawsona Garden Tour, we were able to swing by and see the garage nestled beautifully in the finished yard.
The new garage looks like it has always been in the yard
The 14'x20' garage has an overhead door that is faced to look like a traditional carriage house door
A board and batten cypress beadboard door leads off the side of the garage
Garage double hung wood window
Carriage House style overhead garage door and classic outdoor lights
The Lake Lawsona - Ferncreek Garden Tour takes place every other year, alternating annually with the Lake Eola Heights Neighborhood Garden Tour and is well worth attending. This year, we were given booth space near H. H. Dickson Azalea Park, which is a phenomenal historic natural landscape park comprised of a ravine down the middle of the neighborhood. It is a great asset that complements the lovely 1920s homes that make up the neighborhood.
"Dickson Azalea Park began as a natural stream, later named Fern Creek, in a deep ravine surrounded by native ferns, palms, and oaks. It once was a watering hole for cattle herders driving their animals south. State Senator Walter Rose (1888-1958) purchased 40 acres of land here in 1916 and platted most of it for development. He set aside five acres adjacent to the creek for a park, called Senator Rose park, which he deeded to the City of Orlando in 1924. In 1933, the Civitan Club presented the City Council with a proposal to beautify the overgrown park and asked the city to re-name it in honor of Colonel Henry Hill Dickson (1849-1935). An Orlando business pioneer and civic leader, Dickson devoted his energies to the beautification of Orlando, and was instrumental in planting azaleas throughout the city. In 1935, ground was broken for restoration of the overgrown property. Local landscape architect Mulford Foster designed the scheme for the park's plants, water features, bridges and paths, and Works Progress Adminsitration labor built the park's walls and steps. Dickson Azalea Park was designated an Orlando Historic Landmark in 1991."
One of many natural style bridges in Dickson Azalea Park in Orlando
Tree emerging from the ravive in Dickson Azalea Park Orlando
Some home details are just so lovely they just have to be replicated. For this 10'x12' shed that Historic Shed built in the historic Duckpond Neighborhood in Gainesville, Florida, the eave brackets and unique gable vents were replicated to create a one of a kind shed. The result is a main house and shed that harmonize very well. The shed design was reviewed and approved by the local historic preservation office.
10'x12' custom shed with French doors and interesting eave brackets
Shed vent detail complements the main house
Craftsman eave brackets being prepped for for a Historic Shed storage shed
Historic Shed installation
The original Craftsman bracket detail on the historic Duckpond house
The existing gable vent on the historic home - note the different outrigger detail on this side of the house
Every time we are approached by an artist in need of a studio, we end up with a unique shed design that is worthy of showing off. In this case, a local artist in Citrus County requested a fairly large 14'x16' shed with lots of windows. The design has great balance, is filled with light and looks lovely with a great set of accent French doors. It will serve as a great "She Shed" for the owner.
This clasic shed is accented nicely with a fun colored set of French doors.
The front elevation has nice symmetry.
The shed has a nice bank of three windows on the left side.
The rear of the shed has two operable transom windows, allowing light, but also wall space inside.
Retractable screen doors were installed behind the French doors to give protection from bugs but not taking up interior floor space.
The interior walls were insulated and tongue and groove pine installed.
The finished interior has exposed roof framing with board sheathing and pine T & G walls with simple trim.
The finished interior looking out.
The interior after some fun creative moments - photo courtesy the Owner.
Ready to move in - photo courtesy the Owner.
And a beautiful view of the shed in the yard, courtesy the Owner.
Historic Shed™ recently completed a lovely flamingo pink shed set by a pool in a well landscaped backyard in Dania Beach. The shed had SmartSide smooth lap siding, cypress trim, 4x4 eave brackets, JeldWen double-hung wood windows, and a pair of French doors.
The tropical color contrasts nicely with the relaxing blue of the pool
A pair of French doors makes an inviting elevation
The shed helps frame in the outdoor kitchen and seating area
The shed from above
Last summer we built a shed in the historic Village of Longboat on Longboat Key, which was the talk of the neighborhood according to our customers. The home where the shed was built is the oldest building on the island, built in 1902 and was originally an Inn and Restaurant. The shed we built for them used elements of the main building, including novelty wood siding and a metal roof. It was the first one we built with a transom over the shed doors, which turned out to be a really nice architectural feature.
Sign commemorating the first house constructed on Longboat Key that has unfortunately been lost
The shed was set to the rear of the main building, along the side yard with access to the rear alley. It was set far enough from the side property line to allow storage of kayaks and other equipment, so the owners had the concrete pad extended to the side.
Setting the 10'x16 shed on a concrete slab
The shed had a very steep roof, gable vent that complemented the main house, and a double set of doors that faced the rear alley.
Custom 10x16 shed as seen from the alley
The side of the shed has a central doors flanked by two 6/1 windows. There are also flood vents since the area is located in a flood zone.
And a year later, with lighting to set it off nicely.
About 9 months after completing the shed, we were contacted by a neighbor in Longboat Key who also lived in a historic home. His home was originally the one-room school house for the village, which had been transformed into a residence in the 1950s. He liked the neighbor's shed just the way it was, so asked for something similar, using elements that complemented his home.
10'x16' custom shed with 6/6 wood windows set on a concrete slab
The shed also features a transom over the double shed doors
The shed sits nicely in the lushly landscaped yard
The Village of Longboat Key has an interesting history and is worth a walk around if you are heading to the beach in that area (which is definitely worth visiting as well). For a walking tour, see: http://www.longboatkeyhistory.com/tour-route--history.html and http://www.longboatkeyhistory.com/map--details-of-tour-route.html. As you walk around, keep an eye out for the roaming peacocks, which add a nice eccentric touch to the area.
We were approached by someone in the historic Duckpond neighborhood in Gainesville looking to add an accessory cottage in her back yard. After some design iterations, we ended up building a 16'x20' version of our Starlet cottage with elements that complemented her historic home. The design was approved by the Gainesville Preservation Board.
The cottage under construction in the Historic Shed shop
16'x20' Cottage Floor Plan
The cottage shell installed on a concrete block pier foundation
The cottage was set on concrete block piers with lattice panels
A French door and arched gable window add extra light into the space
Interior framing
The cottage was insulated with batt insulation on the walls and spray foam on the ceiling and under the floor
The steep roof allowed a storage loft to be placed over the kitchen and bath area
The customer chose Ikea cabinets for the kitchen
A small corner sink fit in behind the washer/dryer closet
The loft is over 5' at the peak and gets light through the gable window
The 5'-6"x5'-6" bath has a shower, vanity and toilet, as well as a washer/dryer closet
A mini split AC system provides heat and cooling
A 2' deep storage shelf was installed opposite the loft
A batten door leads to the bath
A gas tankless heater is located on the rear of the building
What do you do with a recessed planter at your house? Aside from growing some measly flowers, you might consider scrapping the planter and add some attractive storage.
Recessed planters are common features in concrete block homes in Florida, but they rarely allow attractive plantings to grow since they are shaded and sheltered from the rain
A small shed fits nicely into the planter space, under the main roof
The owners' response after the shed was complete: "It looks fantastic...it's looks like it was part of the original house ... Love it!... "
Historic Shed recently completed this new heavy timber pool pavilion with exposed rafters set on a concrete pad, with a 5-V Crimp metal roof. Set in a new neighborhood in Florida, the shelter will provide much-needed shaded seating near the pool. The owner is having the area professionally landscaped and we hope to show off finished photos of the yard when it is complete.
The 10'x14' residential pool pavilion was constructed to give shade in a new neighborhood with few mature trees near Orlando.
6x6 posts and beams give the building a strong presence. Blue brackets give it some whimsy.
The building has a metal 5-V Crimp galvalume roof.
The 1x6 cypress roof sheathing was left exposed and unpainted to accentuate the 3x6 rafters.