• Contact
  • About
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
Simplicity in the South

Simplicity in the South

  • Home
  • Shop
  • Blog
  • DIY
    • Remodeling
    • Before + Afters
    • Catalog Inspired Knock-Offs
    • Built-ins
    • One Room Challenge
    • DIY Lighting
    • DIY Woodworking Projects
    • Paint Transformations
  • Organization
    • Closet Organization
    • Bathroom organization
    • Laundry Room Organization
    • Bedroom Organization
    • Pantry Organization
    • Crafty Organization
    • small home/ BIG IDEAS series
    • Built-ins
    • Cleaning Tips & Tricks
  • Crafts
    • DIY Artwork + Signs + Mirrors
    • Crafty Organization
    • Paint Transformations
    • DIY Lighting
    • Printables
    • Dollar Store Crafts
    • Decoupage
    • Seasonal Decorating Ideas
  • Decorating Ideas
    • mood boards + design boards
    • Room Reveals
    • Home Tour
    • Seasonal Decorating Ideas
    • Roundups
  • Recipes

Apr 05 · 7 Comments

ORC Week 1: Modern Farmhouse Meets Cozy Bohemian Cottage Guest Shed Plans & Before Pictures

Cottage Shed Guest (Tiny) House· DIY Projects· Inspiration· mood boards | design boards· One Room Challenge· Remodeling

Welcome, friends, to week 1 of our very first One Room Challenge!

Over the next month and a half, we’ll be tackling this renovation as a guest participant in the One Room Challenge, which is a 6-week room makeover challenge hosted by Linda of Calling it Home. Every Spring and Fall, bloggers from all over the internet take part and document their progress along the way.

I was a little hesitant at first to take on such a short deadline since we haven’t officially finished our master bathroom, which, by the way, has taken way longer than we expected. I went back and forth between choosing two different renovation projects. We could either take the easy route and add the finishing touches to the downstairs half-bath or we’d dive headfirst and tackle the 110 square foot garden shed and make it a guest cottage shed.

So which project did we decide to take on? We chose the guest shed, the more difficult and expensive remodel. Of course! Makes complete sense, right?

Why did we choose the garden shed?

Well, one reason is out of necessity. My stepdaughter needs a place to hang out when she comes to stay with us that feels like her own space away from the boys. It can also be a place for our parents to stay when they come into town.  They usually stay in a room upstairs but as they get older, the stairs will be more difficult to navigate. The other reason…we love a challenge, especially ones that motivate us to get a project done by a certain date.

So, usually, there’s part of the “before” where we all cringe when we see the before pictures and this is no exception. This was how the garden shed looked the first day I went and looked at our 1915 bungalow and after we cleaned it up last summer. It still needs much TLC.

Before pictures of garden shed

The inside remains untouched. I wouldn’t ever use it as a garden shed because I have black thumb syndrome.

One Room Challenge Week 1 Choosing Our Next Project and the Game Plan- Simplicity in the South

I wondered why the shed sat awkwardly at the side of the house close to the front porch until I got some history from a neighbor. He told us that the house used to be owned by the town’s loan officer. He would give out personal loans and used this building as his office.

Design Inspiration for the Cottage Shed

The vibe I’m going for is modern farmhouse meets cozy bohemian cottage. It’ll have a mix of vintage, modern, black, whites and creams. Wood elements will be mixed with some metal. The only request my stepdaughter, Juli, had was that I add some blue which I’ll do with fabrics and the dresser.

Modern Farmhouse via Southern Hospitality

via Southern Hospitality

Tiny House with shiplap and planked wood ceiling via Tiny House Swoon

via Tiny House Swoon

The ulitmate she shed via Ella Claire Inspired

via Ella Claire Inspired

This San Francisco home is a lesson in neutrals. Just wait until you see the stylish layering. Via My Domaine

via My Domaine

Cottage guest house via Jenny Wolf Interiors

via Jenny Wolf Interiors

Dresser via Miss Mustard Seed

via Miss Mustard Seed

Modern farmhouse meets bohemian cottage The guest shed mood board- Week 1 One Room Challenge

Dresser Inspiration // Similar Black + White Art // Wooden Hanging Plant Holder // Wood Slice Coffee Table // Blue Medallion Quilt

(affiliate links are included for your convenience)

The cottage guest shed floorplans

To keep the room bright, we’ll put white shiplap on the walls and ceiling. The floors will be covered with either wood-look vinyl planks or tile. A seating area for eating will be placed below the window.

Part of the One Room Challenge, a garden shed is turned into a guest cottage shed with a modern farmhouse meets cozy cottage vibe

Tall cabinets will flank a built-in trundle bed. The cabinet on the left side of the bed will house a kitchenette with a refrigerator, coffee bar, and sink.

Part of the One Room Challenge, a garden shed is turned into a guest cottage shed with a modern farmhouse meets cozy cottage vibe

The cabinet on the other side will be for Juli’s clothes.Part of the One Room Challenge, a garden shed is turned into a guest cottage shed with a modern farmhouse meets cozy cottage vibe

Before we can do all of the things that make the room functional and pretty, we have a list of projects that must come first such as:

  • Replace the leaky roof
  • Replace some walls that have been water damaged
  • Remove the single pane windows and switch to more energy-efficient double pane windows
  • Close the back wall once the window is taken out
  • Add more electrical outlets
  • Add insulation

This should all add up to a lot of fun! I may or may not have added a sarcastic tone to that last sentence.

And if time allows, we’ll improve the landscaping, replace the steps with a small porch, add some exterior lighting, and a window box.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed we can get it all done in 6 weeks since we’ll be doing all the work ourselves. Wish us luck!

P.S.

If you aren’t already familiar with Hometalk, check them out here. We’ll be doing a time-lapse video for them of the whole renovation process that we’ll share on reveal day.

Thanks so much for following along! Please follow us on Instagram so you can catch some sneak peeks of the cottage shed renovation. 

P.P.S.

If you love small spaces and built-ins, then you’ll love seeing how we added a built-in bed and dressers using stock kitchen cabinets in my oldest son’s bedroom.

How to make a built in bed using stock kitchen cabinets

Day 1 One Room Challenge The Cottage Shed Guest Room

Pin this idea for later!

One Room Challenge Modern Farmhouse Meets Cozy Bohemian Cottage- Guest Cottage Shed

 

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

how to make a built in trundle bed

How to Make Your Own Built-in Trundle Bed and Cabinets

how to make your countertops look like soapstone with paint

DIY Soapstone Countertops Using Paint

DIY Live Edge Bar and how to connect planks of wood using basic tools

DIY Live Edge Wood Bar & An Easy Way to Join Wood Planks Using Basic Tools (Video Tutorial)

One Room Challenge: The Modern Farmhouse Cottage Guest Shed Reveal

One Room Challenge: The Modern Farmhouse Cottage Guest Shed Reveal

We've almost completed converting our shed into a living space. We added a built-in bed, a kitchenette, a live edge bar for eating. All that's left is decorating!

Progress with the Modern Farmhouse Cottage Guest Shed: One Room Challenge Week 5

the cottage shed guest house exterior (1)

What a Difference a Weekend Makes: Exterior Improvements to The Cottage Shed Guest House

DIY Reclaimed Wood Sliding TV Cover: Now You See It. Now You Don't

DIY Reclaimed Wood Sliding TV Cover: Now You See It. Now You Don’t

built in trundle bed

ORC Week 4: The Cottage Guest Shed Flooring, Live Edge Bar, Roof, and the Beginnings of Built-Ins

DIY industrial bar or countertop brackets

How to Make Industrial Bar or Counter Brackets From Steel Pipe

Faux shiplap in the cottage guest shed

ORC Week 3: The Cottage Guest Shed Shiplap Walls, Painting & Lighting

Fixer Upper floating metal shelf

ORC Week 2: Progress With The Guest Cottage Shed

Modern farmhouse meets bohemian cottage The guest shed mood board- Week 1 One Room Challenge

ORC Week 1: Modern Farmhouse Meets Cozy Bohemian Cottage Guest Shed Plans & Before Pictures

Related Posts:

  • Progress with the Modern Farmhouse Cottage Guest Shed: One Room Challenge Week 5
    Progress with the Modern Farmhouse Cottage Guest Shed: One…
  • One Room Challenge: The Modern Farmhouse Cottage Guest Shed Reveal
    One Room Challenge: The Modern Farmhouse Cottage Guest Shed…
  • ORC Week 2: Progress With The Guest Cottage Shed
    ORC Week 2: Progress With The Guest Cottage Shed
  • ORC Week 3: The Cottage Guest Shed Shiplap Walls, Painting & Lighting
    ORC Week 3: The Cottage Guest Shed Shiplap Walls, Painting &…
Previous Post: « Simple + Cheap DIY Project: Dollar Tree Succulent Candle Centerpiece
Next Post: ORC Week 2: Progress With The Guest Cottage Shed »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Bernadette says

    Nov 26 at 1:53 pm

    what were the dimensions of the cottage?

    Reply
  2. Yohanna says

    Apr 20 at 8:03 am

    It is looking great! Did you have to get permits for this?

    Blessings ?

    Reply
    • Tricia says

      Apr 20 at 9:10 am

      Thanks, Yohanna! Our county doesn’t require a permit on pre-existing structures as long we don’t change the footprint or foundation of the structure nor the electrical panel service previously installed.

      Reply
  3. Brittany Goldwyn says

    Apr 07 at 8:42 am

    What a cute little space! I am really looking forward to seeing the progress on this one. I love small spaces.

    Reply
    • Tricia says

      Apr 07 at 9:11 am

      I love small spaces too! Even though they’re more difficult to design, they really make you use your creativity.

      Reply
  4. Debi @ Add Value To Your Home says

    Apr 06 at 5:52 pm

    Good luck! That is going to be a great space when you’re finished! Looking forward to see the reveal.

    Reply
    • Tricia says

      Apr 07 at 9:08 am

      Thanks so much, Debi! We’re gonna need all the good luck we can get. It’ll certainly be a challenge but it should be worth it.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

shop our home

Shop our home _ Simplicity in the South

looking for something?

Categories

Footer

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

As featured on

  • Home
  • Shop
  • Blog
  • DIY
  • Organization
  • Crafts
  • Decorating Ideas
  • Recipes

COPYRIGHT © 2012-2022 · SIMPLICITY IN THE SOUTH · DISCLOSURE & PRIVACY POLICY · TERMS & CONDITIONS