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One Room Challenge: The Modern Farmhouse Cottage Guest Shed Reveal

1915 Bungalow Room Reveals· Cottage Shed Guest (Tiny) House· DIY Projects· Most Popular Posts· One Room Challenge· Remodeling· Room Reveals· Room Reveals and Organized Closet Reveals· small home/ BIG IDEAS series

The time has come and the modern farmhouse guest shed is finally ready for it’s reveal!!!

It feels SO good to shout it and officially announce it. It would have been kinda awkward shouting, “Sorry guys!!! We gave up the middle of last week!”. I wouldn’t dream of giving up this late in the game. Especially since this past week has been all about adding the final details that make our cottage guest shed feel like a home. I can’t wait to show you all the work we put into our tiny 10′ x 12′ shed.

If this is your first time here, welcome! Here’s where you can catch up on the past week’s happenings:

 
It’s hard to believe that just 6 short weeks (actually 36 days) ago, we began this journey of transforming an unused garden shed into a guesthouse that has a modern farmhouse meets cozy, bohemian cottage feel. I honestly can’t believe we were able to pull this one off in such a short amount of time. It’s amazing what actual deadlines do to your motivation.
 

And now, I’d like to share the time-lapse video we did during the whole shed remodeling process. We’ll be following up with a video tour of the cottage to answer some of the most frequently asked questions and to show all the details. You can follow us on YouTube here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cabyD1lj7lM
It started off as a plea from my stepdaughter, Juli, to have her own space away from the boys’ rooms when she comes to stay with us. It’ll also be a guest house when our parents are in town.
 
I have to admit, I’m having a hard time not wanting it to be my own little getaway. Juli gave me carte blanche when decorating her room with the only request being to add the color blue. Knowing she’s a free-spirit who loves horses and farmhouse-style, this is the mood board I came up with.
Modern farmhouse meets bohemian cottage The guest shed mood board- Week 1 One Room Challenge
We began with just a shell of a room with OSB walls, drafty windows, a rotting ceiling, and a plywood floor.
The guest cottage shed before
And after working every weekend and late into the night after our for-real-bringing-home-the-bacon jobs we have a room that is complete and way beyond what we imagined. Let me present to you our Cottage Guest Shed!
A garden shed is transformed into a cottage guest house on a budget
My husband, Jason, had his own construction business for several years so he’s able to do a little bit of everything, from the beginning phase of construction to the end. I call him My Tall, Bearded Renaissance Man.
 
One of the things that brought us together when we first met is our mutual interest in DIY and love for the farmhouse style. We’re also both hard-headed when it comes to doing things ourselves versus hiring out work. Any remodeling project we do is 100% DIY as long as we’re keeping it up to code.

The most time-consuming part of this job was done the first 2-1/2 weeks as we installed new windows, reconfigured the wiring, insulated and then put up faux shiplap on the walls and ceiling.  The trick to putting faux shiplap over the studs with no drywall behind it is in ORC week 3’s post. It really gives the room the cottage vibe I was going for.

A bar area below the window gives you a place to eat or hook up your computer without taking up much space.

This past week, we added detail to the existing beam to make it look like it has metal bracing. We used 1/4″ luan plywood ripped down to 2-1/2″ strips. Then, we added hex screws to resemble the bolts that would normally be used to install the brace. We painted everything with flat black spray paint before we nailed the luan strips in place.
 
I love the way it brings your eye up to the ceiling.
The shed is only 110 square feet so we tried to make every bit of it as functional as possible. My husband made a built-in bed with a pop-up trundle so it can easily be made into a king-size bed when we have guests.
 
He also built the cabinets flanking the bed which add a ton of storage.
 
One holds a tiny kitchenette and the other is a closet. Since everything’s behind closed doors, the room feels less cluttered and the white paint makes the room feel more spacious.
 
The X-detail on the doors mimic the barn doors from the mood board. If you’d like to find out how we made the built-in bed and cabinets, click this link.
 
This 2′ X 2′ cabinet is not only a mini-kitchen but it can also be a place that Juli or guests can use to get ready. The vintage crate sitting on the compact fridge holds snacks so you can “Treat Yo Self”, just like the print I found on Etsy says.
The Cottage Guest Shed Reveal the kitchenette
To save money, we made the countertop out of plywood. I gave it a faux soapstone paint finish and sealed it with polyurethane. 
Treat yo self The kitchenette in the cottage shed
So, we haven’t gotten around to putting up the rod, but let’s imagine it’s already there and call this a closet.

the cottage guest shed closet 2

In the wintertime, this is where we’ll store the portable air conditioner. The exhaust for the AC unit is hidden behind a cover on the wall near the bar. I’ll add those pictures later.

If we decide that we need a composting toilet in the closet, we already have an electrical socket.

The guest house is right off the front porch so it’s not a necessity right now. But, I’ve already got it all planned out. If I need to convince Jason it’s time to get a toilet, we’ll just spend a night in the cottage mid-winter so he can get the full experience of running to the bathroom in 30-degree temperatures. 😉

(Update: Juli insisted after her 1st night in the cottage that she has a toilet so we went ahead and picked a composting toilet out. She’s 6-feet tall, so we’ll have to remove the upper shelf. I’ll add a curtain on a swing-out rod for privacy. We’ll follow up with a video tour of the cottage later.)

The cottage guest shed reveal closet

One of my favorite details of the guest shed is the reclaimed wood artwork that hides the TV.

Reclaimed wood sliding tv cover

The easiest DIY project was making the wood slice coffee table. Jason brought this slice of pecan home about a year ago and I knew right away we’d save it for this room.

Candles and succulents

I’m a minimalist in training but can’t part with some of my favorite vintage finds such as the black dresser I found at Habitat for Humanity and the blue fan on the wall.
 
In this room, there’s a mix of vintage and modern, black and white, and a healthy dose of texture through the use of reclaimed wood, baskets, plants, and neutral textiles. My life couldn’t be totally devoid of color or pattern so I threw the blue medallion quilt into the mix that can be easily changed with the seasons.

chenille fringed shams and blue medallion quilt.

geometric glass terrarium and hanging planter

There’s also a mix of metals such as the antique gold on dresser drawer knobs, the oil rubbed bronze knobs on the built-in cabinetry and the raw steel on the industrial pipe bar brackets.

glass knobs with antique gold accents

door hardware the cottage shed reveal

DIY industrial bar or countertop brackets

To make use of the top of the dresser, I added a coffee bar.

Coffee bar for the cottage guest shed with modern farmhouse industrial shelf brackets and barnwood shelves

Jason welded the frame for this shelf and we added some oak planks we had in our stash of salvaged wood. We have the modern farmhouse shelf brackets welded from steel for sale in our Etsy shop.

Modern farmhouse industrial shelf brackets and barnwood shelves

Farmhouse shelf brackets and barn wood shelves

Our last project was adding a small porch with corrugated galvanized metal sides to complement the light fixtures.

the cottage shed reveal- porch with corrugated galvanized metal and door painted in Chelsea Gray by Benjamin Moore

Galvanized farmhouse style lights and galvanized metal porch railing

We decided to join as guest participant a week before the One Room Challenge began and I had no idea how tiring the next 36 days would be. We’ve lost precious hours of sleep and have gained a few pounds from eating take-out more times than I can count on my fingers (and toes). Would we take on the challenge of completing a room from scratch in 6 weeks again? Absolutely!

The cottage guest shed reveal medallion blue quilt

Let’s talk budget:

We originally budgeted $2500 but with the addition of exterior improvements we didn’t plan on and some incidentals, we spent $3100. Luckily, the new roof was sponsored, so that was not included in those numbers. I already had many of the decorative items, the TV, microwave, fridge, and the air conditioner that we used in our garage.

Lastly, I’d like to share a few tips I’d give homeowners who want to tackle a project like this:

1. Before you get started, I recommend using an app like this one to space plan. I used this same app to make the 3D digital after pictures in week one’s post. It allowed me to see that built-ins were the way to go with this small space. I could also visualize how deep the cabinets needed to go in order to give us the maximum amount of depth without blocking the sightlines of the room.

2.  Even though it might seem daunting to do everything yourself, there are advantages to this if you’re an experienced DIY’er. You’re not at the mercy of your contractor’s timeline. This may mean doing the work at night after the kids have gone to bed and working weekends, but you set your own schedule for when things get done. You also save yourself a ton of money. On our tight budget, we couldn’t afford to hire out the work.

3. Make yourself a punch list a couple of weeks before your expected completion time. It’s easy to underestimate the time you have left to get everything done. If your list is in plain view, it’s easier to stay on track and your partner can see what they can work on when you’re not there. Plus, there’s something so satisfying about scratching another project off the list.

Update: Here’s a before picture of the exterior and a picture a couple of months later when the flowers were in full bloom!

before picture of shed converted to guest house tiny house (1) the cottage shed guest house exterior (1)

Sources:

**affiliate links are included for your convenience**

Thank you, Linda, of Calling It Home, for allowing all of us guest participants to be a part of the One Room Challenge! Be sure to check out all the other room reveals. I’m sure you’ll find something that inspires you!

Have you tackled a room remodel recently? Please share your tips on what made it easier on you.

Modern Farmhouse Guest Cottage

Catch up on all the Modern Farmhouse Cottage Guest Shed Projects here:

 
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Comments

  1. what a fantastic guest suite from practically a blank raw space in 6 short weeks! I love how to max out the functions in this small room and packed the “vanity” area within one unit while more adoptable storage on the other + a casual dining zone with a bar!! you have thought of it all!

    congrats on week 6 of One Room Challenge!

    Reply

    • Thanks, Tim! It was quite a challenge fitting everything we wanted in this tiny room but space planning is one of my favorite things about designing a room. Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply

  2. Beautiful! I want to stay in your cottage, it’s so me! Too many great details to pinpoint just one in this space. Great job!

    Reply

  4. this is just so pretty! love the blue bedding for a great color pop! love the dresser, the little table… everything! i am packing my bags to come stay!

    Reply

    • I’m reserving a spot for you! We all need a break after the past 6 weeks. 😉 Thank you so much for sweet comment.

      Reply

  5. What an amazing transformation!! Such an awesome space now – love that artwork that hides the tv!

    Reply

  6. It turned out beautifully! I love all of your attention to details. It is going to be just right for all of your guests. Great work!

    Reply

    • Thank you, Stacy! My parents are coming to stay soon and I’m so excited about them being our 1st official guests. I hope they love it as much as we do.

      Reply

  10. This is so crazy cool! I can’t believe how this all came together, it’s just gorgeous. I know this was a huge project to tackle especially after working all day but seriously you guys should be so proud. It’s completely amazing – I love it all! Hugs, CoCo

    Reply

  11. What?? This cottage rocks! I love everything about it! I felt like I was watching an episode on HGTV. Nicely done!

    Reply

  12. I love how this turned out! The metal accent on the beam is amazing. Adds the perfect amount of detail .I bet your step daughter is super happy that her room is all done and ready to live in!

    Reply

  13. You really thought of every little detail. I love that you hid a kitchenette in one of the built-ins, and all the live edge features are just so gorgeous. And that faux metal beam accent is perfect!

    Reply

  17. Uhm, is your shed on Airbnb, because I want to move right in! So many thoughtful details – the welded shelves, the vintage fan, the hidden mini kitchen. Love it all! And as one DIYer to another, I appreciate you putting the time and effort to do it all yourselves. Great job!

    Reply

  18. What a lucky stepdaughter! So much functionality in one small space, well hidden away and yet so very lovely! Kudos!

    Reply

  30. Such a brilliant transformation! You should feel so proud of yourselves. And you did it all on such a tiny budget which is really inspirational for us non-millionaires out here. I loved the time-lapse video too! xx

    Reply

  31. What an amazing transformation! We have an old shed that we converted into a farmhouse guest house also, so I know the challenges you were up against, and you pulled it off beautifully!
    Thanks for sharing it at Talk of the Town – your guest house is my feature pick for next week’s party’

    Angie @ http://www.knickoftime.net

    Reply

    • Thank you so much! I’ve been dreaming of having my own guest house since I found yours a couple years ago.

      Reply

  34. It’s me again! 🙂 Just wanted to let you know I chose this as one of the features tomorrow at the Farmhouse Friday link party!

    Reply

  35. Gorgeous! Do you have any instructions/plans for the day bed your husband made? We need a bed like that at our lake house and my husband is also a carpenter. Did I miss a link somewhere? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Thank you! I’m working on the post for the trundle day bed and cabinets we put in the guest house now. The post should go out either tomorrow or Wednesday. The link for the built-in daybed we put in my oldest son’s room is here: Built-in bed with trundle drawers I hope that helps! 🙂

      Reply

    • That’s the most common question. ? We’re adding a toilet like you’d find in a tiny house in the closet on the right within the next month. The closet on the left has a kitchenette with a sink. For now, we have keyless locks on all the doors and the guest house is less than 10 feet from the front porch.

      Reply

      • Curious how you mounted the fan on the wall? I have a wonderful vintage fan and no real space for it. This could be a wonderful solution. Fantastic job, by the way.

        Reply

        • Thank you, Penny! I was happy when I could finally find a permanent home for one of my vintage fans so I’m hoping this will help you with yours. With this model, there’s a keyhole hook at the base. See the picture below.
          Base of vintage fan Then I had to loosen the bolt at the base to adjust the direction it faced.

          Reply

          • Oh my goodness, thank you! I just looked and I have that keyhole as well! I’m so excited about this. My fan works, but it gets crazy hot, plus it’s totally unsafe for fingers. But I love the way it looks so much and putting it on the wall like that is so genius. Thanks again! I can’t wait to copy you. lol.

  42. Your guest cottage is adorable. I also love small spaces and downsized from a 2800′ home to a tiny 570′ vintage farmhouse a few years ago. I also own a tiny house on wheels that is 8′ wide and 18′ long. I love decorating and up-cycling used items. My style is farmhouse, shabby chic and french country. I really like your amazing use of space and that you painted it white inside. Every detail is just perfect. Your daughter is one lucky girl. Many blessings.

    Reply

    • Thank you so much, Tonita! I checked out your tiny house and cottage and they are adorable as well. Too bad we’re not neighbors cause I can tell we’d do a heck of a lot of shopping at flea markets together! Thanks for stopping by 🙂

      Reply

  43. I know this is an old post but I absolutely love what you did here! I have an old shed in my yard as well and am looking to do something similar. My questions is about your ceiling joists. It looks like you removed some to have a raised ceiling look. How did you know how many could be removed without risking the roof sagging?

    Reply

    • Thank you, Bethanie! I had Jason explain to me the technical side of how he knew he could remove the other ceiling rafters. The roof on our shed is a hip roof (for a slightly rectangular shed), so the roof is essentially 4 equal triangles that meet at a peak and is shaped like a pyramid. A hip roof is self-bracing, requiring less diagonal bracing. The weight of the hip roof requires bracing at the peak. Before he removed the other 2 ceiling rafters which weren’t needed, he strengthened the center rafter by sandwiching 2 boards together and then added 2 center supports going diagonally and one up to the center of the roof. So, to make a long story short, if your shed has a hip roof, then you should be able to remove the extra rafters as long as the center one is reinforced. Good luck and have fun with making over your shed!

      Reply

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