By Scott Naugle//
Think of the other space, the underutilized porch or the shed leaning south, within the realm of rejuvenation possibilities as your quiet, creative getaway. Reclaim and refresh an area of your home or property as your mood transition space, an after work respite or weekend hideaway for reading, cell phones and laptops banned, as the place where you can breathe and hear the quiet. Find your liminal space, intellectually, as you physically design your ideal sanctuary.
In “Porch,” Brian Vanden Brink notes, “The one important principle is that of proportion: a porch may be cozy, but should not feel crowded. Space should be left free for walking, for pets, for kids’ toys, and just to obviate any sense of confinement.” Decluttering is a prerequisite to destressing. Porches are for views, free and open, comfortable and breezy.
Flea market finds, from Adirondack chairs to wicker side tables, rest comfortably on a side porch. A light blue vase from last weekend’s yard sale converses with the knotted rag throw rug by the steps, reds against blues, visually energetic via the contrast. The style is random and unplanned, much like your calming thoughts as you sip Earl Grey tea while shaded by the live oak stretched over the sloping porch roof.
Design rule number one for your other space: there are no rules. Flow with your impulses. Is there can eyesore in your backyard? Is it unpainted, windows cracked, with an interior coated in dust and interlaced with cobwebs? Overlook the cracks and water stains to envision the potential.
It wasn’t that long ago that sheds were the refuge of crotchety older men, tobacco-stained plank floors, and empty whiskey bottles poking out from piles of lawn mower parts, where guys could be guys away from nosey eyes and questioning spouses. The fumes from empty oil and gas cans spiked the air.
In “My Cool Shed: An Inspirational Guide to Stylish Hideaways and Workplaces,” Jane Field-Lewis features thirty-five sheds, small cabins, and garden rooms — all transformed into mini-masterpieces — by their owners pursuing their hobbies, careers, creative endeavors, or seeking peace and solitude.
Why not consider the shed as an extension of your home, that one private room you’ve longed for? Step by step, toss, sweep, clean, paint, and rearrange, following your inspiration to create a cool small space of your own. The shed can be rebirthed as elegant, shabby-chic, or utilitarian. The only limit is your imagination. Now, close your eyes. Do you have a sense of floating on cool, crisp air? If so, you are resting in your perfectly imagined porch or shed.