My Houzz: A Backyard Getaway Emerges From a Grain Shed
Cozy and brimming with country charm, this snug antiques-filled hideout encourages quiet pastimes
Emma Lyndaker always wanted a hideout. So when her Ohio farmhouse came with a shed used to store grain, she convinced her husband, Art, to help her transform the space into a cozy getaway.
Art used a lift to move the building across their land, where it would have better views of the countryside. Once it was situated, they removed two interior half walls and refinished the floors. A salvaged tin roof, fresh paint on the walls and a good power wash gave the space new life. When it came time to decorate, Emma hunted high and low for the perfect antique pieces. "Half of the fun is collecting things and then putting them all together," she says.
At a Glance
Location: Plain City, Ohio
Size: 112 square feet (8 feet by 14 feet)
That's interesting: The antique bed was purchased for only 50 cents at an auction.
Art used a lift to move the building across their land, where it would have better views of the countryside. Once it was situated, they removed two interior half walls and refinished the floors. A salvaged tin roof, fresh paint on the walls and a good power wash gave the space new life. When it came time to decorate, Emma hunted high and low for the perfect antique pieces. "Half of the fun is collecting things and then putting them all together," she says.
At a Glance
Location: Plain City, Ohio
Size: 112 square feet (8 feet by 14 feet)
That's interesting: The antique bed was purchased for only 50 cents at an auction.
A peek inside the 112-square-foot space reveals Emma's love for antiques.
Emma found the shed's cupola at a neighbor's house, where it was about to be picked up by salvage collectors. It now proudly sits on top of her hideout.
The kitchen and dining area sits to the right of the door. The two chairs once belonged to Art's parents. Others in the community have painted their porches the same minty green, so Emma fondly calls the chipping paint color "porch green."
Emma created the mosaic design of this window using sea glass she collected during walks along the beach in Key West, Florida.
Emma bought this antique Quick Meal Stove at an auction, thinking she would put it in a cabin someday. The stove was outfitted with electric burners prior to her purchasing it, and she'd like to eventually run electricity to the shed.
A vintage shelf in the corner houses some of Emma's jadeite dish collection, along with other treasures picked up at auctions and garage sales.
Emma bought the three-quarter-size antique bed for 50 cents at an auction. The size, between twin and full, is common for an antique bed.
In Emma's childhood home, this antique washstand served as a place to fill kerosene lamps. She stripped it down to the bare wood and removed the veneer on top.
Emma enjoys taking Sunday-afternoon naps, reading and relaxing in the space. "I love being out here," she says. "It's nice and quiet to read or pray." She also offers the space for use by ladies from church and the community.
Emma enjoys taking Sunday-afternoon naps, reading and relaxing in the space. "I love being out here," she says. "It's nice and quiet to read or pray." She also offers the space for use by ladies from church and the community.
This window, outfitted with a piece of stained glass, sits above the bed. The blue ceiling and whitewashed walls add to the space's calming feel.
Emma makes these decorative flowers with dishes from garage sales and sells them locally.
The shed-turned-hideaway sits behind the main house, overlooking the Ohio countryside. The couple hopes to add a pond someday.
Houzz call: Do you have a converted outbuilding? Share it with us!
Houzz call: Do you have a converted outbuilding? Share it with us!