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Renovation Detail: The Shed Dormer
To expand living space and maximize light at the top of a home, consider adding a shed dormer to the architecture
Houzz Contributor. I'm an interior designer, homeowner and founding blogger of the before + after super-site, http://www.raenovate.com/.
Houzz Contributor. I'm an interior designer, homeowner and founding blogger... More »
My single-gable roofline is crying for the addition of a shed dormer or two. Like all dormers, the shed creates usable space in the roof of a home by adding headroom, windows and architectural interest. The shed in particular features a single-planed roof with an eave line that is parallel to the eave line of the main roof, yet pitched at a less severe angle.
If I were to expand my home, I would head up to my attic and add lots of shed dormers. The dark, unfinished space would come alive with the addition of shed dormers and windows. Often found on gable homes, the shed extends the living space in both height and width. Shed dormers work at varying sizes; they can accommodate a single window and act as an architectural punctuation mark or feature five windows in an entire attic addition.
If I were to expand my home, I would head up to my attic and add lots of shed dormers. The dark, unfinished space would come alive with the addition of shed dormers and windows. Often found on gable homes, the shed extends the living space in both height and width. Shed dormers work at varying sizes; they can accommodate a single window and act as an architectural punctuation mark or feature five windows in an entire attic addition.
| The addition of a shed dormer on a gabled roofline provides much-needed headroom to the building's second story. |
A shed dormer has the power to add visual height to your home. Centered above the entrance, large shed dormer windows draw the eye upward on this Philadelphia home.
By adding a shed dormer, Krieger created room for the homeowner's dream soaking tub.
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| A shed dormer strategically located above the entryway perfectly complements the gables on either side of the home. |
by Brooks Ballard
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A shed dormer provides visual interest to the roofline, thus creating a front-and-center focal point on this Craftsman home.
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| This Maine property is brimming with shed dormers. I spy five. |
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| Shed dormers allow for light-flooded rooms. Three large casement windows grace this lakefront home's master bedroom. |
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A house may feature multiple dormer styles. Here a shed dormer and gable doghouse dormer combine to create a striking roofline.
| Since a shed dormer's roof is pitched differently than the main roof, it's a great place to mix materials. This Vermont home sports a red cedar main roof and a copper shed dormer roof. Tell us: Has your home been enhanced by a dormer? Do you wonder if it should be? Join me in my shed dormer mission and share your dormer plans in the Comments section. More: Making More Living Room in the Attic |
Comments
Nat Love the Maine house
12 months ago · Like
fredericklc Awesome idea. Love the look.
12 months ago · Like
sadiesattorney What is wonderful about all of these dormers is that they do not overwhelm the roof line, and stay in scale. It makes them look original, and not add-ons. While this limits the interior space, when you consider the space before, this is a great addition without making the house a monster from the outside
12 months ago · Like
C. Douglas Lane Great examples Rachel, you have a great eye for quality designs and material utilization. Doug Lane
11 months ago · Like
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Fran Mele i love dormers
11 months ago · Like
Michael Eric Dale sometimes the roof of a shed dormer is not really that attractive. I often design the roof "flat" so that it commands very little attention; instead the focus is on the windows as an accessory to the main roof. The dormer detailing needs to be carefully worked out and implemented, however.
11 months ago · Like
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Ideabook published on May 15, 2012.
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