The Backyard House

The Backstory

After years of work, my garden looked great and my house was dialed.  It was all good until I became overly dissatisfied with a small corner vegetable garden that was doing poorly because of the shade.  I had an 11'X14' patch of ground to improve.  I wanted to create a setting that would draw people to the corner of the backyard throughout the year.  My passion for construction and design took over and the backyard house was born. 

Emphasis on Repurposing Materials

The backyard house is a unique structure made exclusively with reclaimed local barn wood (shown above) and copper roofing.  It is heated by a wood stove making it a year round backyard destination.  The detached residential structure in general is a great way to get that extra space (guest room, office, etc.), without trying to buy a new house.

Project Inspiration

The Mistake House (1931) by Bernard Maybeck was one of my primary inspirations for the Backyard House.  Looking back on it now, I'm aware of the striking resemblance between this and the backyard house.  The roof line, chimney and vertical lines bare strong similarities.

I'm a sucker for vines growing on old structures.  Now it's often referred to as a 'green screen' or 'living wall'.  As long as the plant is maintained and prevented from eroding the wall material then you can get the same effect.  The backyard house will have a 'controlled' vine on the trellis. The Little Red Shed, McMenamins at Edgefield

Sunset Magazine has a wonderful link to '19 favorite garden cottages and sheds'.  There
are so many dreamy project examples here.
Photo by Lisa Romerein