Per request, I'm starting this thread to show the progress of my new potting shed location. I can only take credit for the design and future planting of this area. We hired out the hardscaping.

I've searched for a good pic of a true 'before'---and I don't have one. Envision the dirt areas in this pic as all grass. Also in the pic is our chicken coop with surrounding cedar fence, which we will stain this summer.


Hardscaping now done. 50/50 bedding soil is in place. Compacted, level gravel pad for shed in place. Irrigation moved. 2 new water spigots installed. Very large planting beds. Although summer isn't the best time to plant, I plan to do so anyway.


Close up of potting shed location. Shed will be built on site next week. It will block our view of some of our neighbor's less attractive out buildings.

Thanks Stephanie, you have done so much. Planting will be the fun part. Will keep watching!!!!! Love a project!!!!!

Nice Stephanie!! I will be watching your progress.

Shed in progress. In background you can see some of the less attractive outbuildings in our valley that I am looking forward to blocking from our view. This will also give me privacy from the house directly behind the shed, where the neighbor has said she watches me work in the yard from her kitchen window. I don't like that feeling of being watched.

Love your new shed!!! Looks like it will have lots of natural light coming in. When your plants get big she will not be able to see you.

Ha ha, Stephanie -- I too have a stalker neighbor. He's across the street from me and regularly comments on when I came or went, how many bags of groceries, etc. I keep telling him how creepy that is, but I think he now just does it to irritate me. We've been actively planting a visual screen barrier between his place and ours, and have told him exactly what it is there for. Weirdo.

Nice shed! Will the dormer be windows or skylight or... ??

That's great Stephanie! I think we all know people who need to get a life. I had a neighbor like that at the old house, I took the chairs on the front porch and painted them neon pink to give her something to look at.
After that she thought I was weird. I don't know why. LOL.

Dormer is windows. Totally just decorative.

Shed is being built by "Better Built Sheds". The last couple of years they have been expanding the cute feature options on their sheds. (they used to be just very plain structures). Now you can add window boxes, shutters, dormers, french doors to give it a more custom look. The interior will be unfinished, however. I'm hoping to eventually insulate it and put up white beadboard walls. maybe black and white checkered floor tile. Not super original, but I love that country cottage look. I've already spent way more than my husband was expecting, so the interior may have to wait.

Isn't that the way on projects. You will love it and spend many happy hours in there!

Shed is done. Next task: getting it painted and have a step-up built. Husband and I will be doing a small stone patio out front also, plus some other stone paths in the new beds. Husband has requested yellow, but I think I'll go more with something in darker shades of green. Top half a darker shade.

What a lovely shed. A great peaceful place to spend a private afternoon

Wow, that sure went quickly. Keep posting as you work on the finishing touches, painting, etc. Will/does it have electricity and water? What a great get-away place.

Beautiful shed!!

kosk0025 said:the neighbor has said she watches me work in the yard from her kitchen window. I don't like that feeling of being watched.

You can paint huge eyes on the roof of the shed facing the neighbor! You won't see it from your side but it will give her the creeps!

That's good Sue!!! Lovely shed and moving so fast on the project.

@Calif_Sue: You had me in splits of laughter with the "paint huge eyes on the roof of the shed..." comment.

@Stephanie: I love your landscaping project! The "potting shed" is a little haven. Did you design the shed too?

Best wishes,

Reem

Stephanie, how is progress on your shed? Did you get it painted? Patio? Planted out? Pictures, please...

Yes, do tell!!!

Getting it painted this week......just too hot to plant anything this summer (I put in those hydrangea serrata.....and while they are still alive the month of 90's fried the leaves, so I have halted putting anything in). I'll post pics when the paint is done. After that, I'll have a small wooden step up platform built. Then this winter I'll do the stone paths myself. Plus planting, composting, etc. I have a gopher or something out there who is wreaking havoc that I also have to deal with.

So next up: post paint pics.....choosing colors is always a challenge. Looking at a 'Windsor moss' and 'bahia grass' color combo from Behr.

Shed update.

Here is pic of how it looked after it was painted last summer in August. Darker green on the top.


Today I carved out the paths and patio. You can see those in this pic. Will lay down gravel/sand/stone. Should be done in two-3 weeks. I'm doing this part myself, plus hiring one assistant.


Another view. I've started purchasing shrubs and some trees for this area. I will be putting down 3-4 inches of compost over all of the beds also. That will make things look tidy, and cover the irrigation hoses. You can see I planted lots of tulips here last fall. I'm glad I thought ahead to do that.


View of the expanse of new bed that goes along the chicken fence enclosure. My plan is to install more formal shrubs/grasses in front of the shed---then it will flow into this bed and gradually become all cottage garden on this end. With lots of perennials, annuals, and maybe some pumpkins, too.

That's a beautiful shed!!!!! Thanks for the update. Going to take loads of plants so happy shopping.