Inside details

This is the desk corner, as it stands now...there will be some sort of vertical cubby or shelves  or cabinet above it, we just haven't found/built it yet.  So far the only out of sight storage is in this desk drawer, though, and it won't do!

Art supplies and tools on the shelf  along the west side, under the eaves--now I've dragged a set of colored pencils, watercolor pencils, and gouache out there...

Trying to decide if I want an artists' lamp for the desk or just make do with the paper Japanese lantern that's on order.  Since it was wildly inexpensive, we'll give it a test drive first!

Obviously the desk works fine for what I need.  Finished editing my book out there the other day...the top of the desk will raise like a slanted drawing board, if I want that...will probably bring my lightweight table easel over, though, it's versatile...

We tried out a gel-fuel "hot pot" with citronella for the mosquitoes, in lieu of screens on the doors and windows.  Charming, pretty, and the mosquitoes loved it.  Fooey.  The smoky old mosquito coil worked better...but I do enjoy the little fire on the deck (NOT inside.)  Plus I feel the need to monitor it constantly...if it got turned over and that burning gel fuel ran all over?  EEEP.

Interior IS filling up...WORTH IT!!

Soooo...this is a fan, a camp chair and a TV table, plus the folded camp chair in the corner.  Definitely filling up...

But we decided we really needed AC if I'm going to work out there at any time but morning!  (After hitting the emergency room with heat exhaustion a few years ago, I don't do hot really well...) 

We've only got the one window  that could have fit, but it's awning type.  Won't work for AC and sure not going to get central air for a shed!

I hated to cut a big enough hole for a window unit in that south wall, and we didn't really want to make it too obvious anyway...so we found a small freestanding portable unit on sale.  It came last week, and it was finally cool enough this morning to work on installing it!  MUCH smaller hole necessary than for a whole unit...

My handy man lined up the holes and cut the second one from the outside...electricity ROCKS.

Fine-tuning the hole...I'm inside, he's outside with the saw...

And yep, it DOES take up more floor space than either of us imagined.  WORTH IT. 

Especially later this morning!  For some reason the electricity went out at home while J. was out running errands, and though I thought I switched the errant breaker in the basement back on, nothing happened.  It was nice to go to the shed and be cool till he got home.  (Guess guy fingers are better than mine for flipping that switch--it worked immediately for him!)

Now if we could just figure out WHY the breaker blew...

Dreaming and planning

Just noodling a bit...room for the small drafting desk, 2 chairs, and a stand for coffee, plus shelves for storage. So far, after living with it for weeks, looks like this should work...




Meanwhile, a progressive page, the top two sketches done weeks ago before we found the back window, and the bottom one today, thinking about how interesting it would be to use that odd board that mark offered me as backing for the security/deck light. We have to put something there, between the two trim boards, why not something cool like this?

A peek inside the shed...

The doors are trimmed out, now...we used 2-bys for the French doors since we had to enlarge the opening a little. This gives added strength and support. (That's my broom in the corner..)


This is looking in the French doors toward the back wall...all trimmed out and ready to paint.


...we used leftover underlayment meant for under vinyl floors for the walls; it's less temperamental than drywall and better for a shed, I think. It will be painted with leftover warm white paint we got for the rehab project, which will make it even lighter inside. (I'll miss the fresh wood smell, though.)

That's the Coffee Corner at left--just room beyond the French doors for a little stand with coffee on it. We'll put storage and book shelves on this big blank wall...looking for inexpensive brackets, now...

I had hoped to paint over the weekend, but still just wiped out and very achy, so not today, anyway. Still, it's looking good and nice to go out there and sit in the cool of the morning...

Nice little space...

Ten by ten IS quite small, but we plan to use the space well and keep things in scale. I might actually even stick with foldable chairs (though not THIS one, it's not comfortable) so I can have room to do yoga inside when the weather changes. The desk/drawing table is quite small and light, so I can move it against the wall if I want.

It's a delightfully cool, fresh morning, after our days of heat and humidity; this morning on the tiny deck with birdsong, leaf-whispers, my coffee and yoga (don't say it!) was a rather wonderful glimpse of things to come.

I will be glad to be finished, though...I know it's moved quickly, but still...this week should bring the steps outdoors, the doors fitted, the back window in place, insulation and interior walls. We're using thin wood underlayment meant for floors, because it's simple and inexpensive and we had several sheets on hand, left from our other projects. Mark is afraid it will be boring, but once it's painted and has shelves, etc., it will be fine. We can always add texture if we're so moved, but I don't think we will.

Feels like the start of a lovely week.