And We’re Off! Week 1: One Room Challenge
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I’m pleased to announce that today’s “Before” picture might just be the worst I’ve ever shared here on the blog. There have certainly been others, but this is pretty bad. However… it’s also the honest reality of where this project is starting! Like I took these pictures on MONDAY. (The One Room Challenge is a 6 month project, right? Kidding… I know the drill.)
As many of you know, we moved into this house in April of 2015. It’s literally around the corner from our old house but it suits our family perfectly and I love it. There are lots of projects that we are saving up to tackle… updating bathrooms, updating the kitchen, updating the landscaping… but two things that we knew had to be addressed when we bought the house were the garage/ barn and this little shed. Both were at legit risk of collapsing and because of building codes and real estate mumbo jumbo… we wouldn’t be able to rebuild because of proximity to property lines bla bla bla. Long way of saying, we brought someone in to help reinforce the shed, replace the roof, add a window and generally make it a non-hazard. BUT… that’s it. This was the shed when we moved in.
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This is how they’ve left it. As you can see… it’s a BIG space. I’m not sure why the previous home owners put it in, but I *think* they used the barn as… a barn. Like for horses. So this may have been where they stored the yard equipment and gear? Dunno… Here’s what I plan to use it for. EVERYTHING.
It will hold all my tools. It will store all my craft supplies. It will store all those things I buy ‘just because’ and use for photo shoots… accessories. It will store paint. It will be a studio. It will be a workshop. It will be an office. So… in a nutshell, I need to organize and bring things together in a major way. How the heck…? You might be asking. Totally with you, bee tee dubs. NOT SURE.
But this is my mental To Do list:
PAINT!
I *was* going to tackle this myself. But then I consulted with my painter and he looked at me like I’d mixed my cold medication with KoolAid and Pop Rocks. Here’s why I’m turning it over to the pros:
1. The shed is pretty dirty. I’m pretty bad about prep work. That combination alone means I wouldn’t clean it well enough.
2. It requires priming because of the raw wood. This is a messy proposition requiring the right solvents and brushes and paint suits… I have none of these things.
3. It’s actually really big space to cover with a super high ceiling that has nails sticking through it because of the cedar roof shingles. I can’t reach and I don’t know how to handle all of those variables.
4. It would take me a WEEK of straight painting/ prepping. I don’t have a week. Even a little bit. So the painters should be here in the next couple of days.
Lest you think I’m going to be sitting back with a pumpkin spice latte and Sun Chips… here’s what I AM going to be painting… the shelves. Maaaaaybe the floor. A storage dresser. An armoire… so yeah. Don’t worry about my paint game… it’s going to be ON.
STORAGE
Right now I have things corralled but it’s ugly. I have screws and nails and staples and tape in random baskets and containers. I have paint on an old shelf. I have brushes in a tupperware. I have scrap wood in a trash can. Does it work? Yep. Is it fit for public viewing? Not really. I’m hoping to up my storage game big time. Without spending a kajillion dollars. Totes reasonable? No idea.
FUNCTION
I want this space to have a few different areas and serve different functions. I don’t want to justify hoarding, but I also want to have accessories and room for storage so I can grab things for staging and photo shoots. I’m always scrambling for a place to take photos so I’d love to have a legit area with ok-ish lighting where I can set up things for pictures and videos.
COMFORT
This shed is outside. And it’s not 100% weather proof… we are bringing in some baseboard heat so that I can store paint out there, but if we get heavy rain… the corners leak a bit and no question, mice can get in. So it’s a rustic space. I can’t bring in anything fancy, but I DO want it to be comfortable. Think indoor/ outdoor carpet… furniture that’s not too finicky…
DISPLAY
Last but not least, there are a handful of things I’ve bought (ok… maybe more like 5 handfuls, but still… I have this pretty pretty stuff) that don’t fit into the house. I’m hoping to display these in MY space just because I love em and they make me happy!
Nows about the time when I wish I could slowly back out of the One Room Challenge room… holy moly this is a big project! Baby steps to the finish line, here. Tune in each week as I scrape and paint my way to the finish line. It could get ugly. Not gonna lie. Thanks again to Linda from Calling It Home for hosting the One Room Challenge… always a treat to see what the big dogs come up with in their rooms!!
Wish me luck… hopefully the BEFORE will look like my after!
This is going to be AWESOME! Excited to be following along! BTW I would LOVE to have a shed like that!
Isn’t it great?! It’s SO much bigger than I expected when we bought the house and I could really stand inside and inspect!
This is going to be such a fun space!
HOPEFULLY! The white primer is on and it already looks better so a before after would probably be OK even at this point. 🙂
That is quite a project, looks fun! Good Luck! It will be a super useful space when it is done.
Hopefully! Organized storage makes SUCH a difference!! THanks!
Charlotte you have got your work cut out for you. But when it is done it will be awesome. A special space just for you.
HAHA! Yes I do! The white paint is really the biggest difference, but lots of organizing in my future! Thanks, Mary!
Girl, I don’t envy you on this project! It’s going to be a HUGE project but has the potential to be amazing!! Can’t wait to see this.
Well now I’m nervous. 🙂 Thankfully, I have lots to choose from in my hoard!!
Are you sure that’s the same room/building? From the outside it looks like a small shed; but the inside photos make it look like it’s a large barn! What a great space it’s going to be. I’ve been telling my husband for years, I need a barn!
I KNOW! Isn’t it incredible?! We were able to store the entire contents of our barn in there while they were repairing everything… it’s sneaky big! Thanks, Vicki!
hooooray! this is going to be so much fun- what a great space!
THanks, Cassie! It IS a great space, so hopefully I can make good use of it. Gulp. 🙂
Best of luck! This is going to be so good! Love that armoire!
THanks! It needs quite a bit of work, but it’s fundamentally a lovely piece!!
Very excited to see how you transform this space!
Thanks so much!!! I’m eager to pull it together!
Any thoughts of insulating? Even with baseboard heat, I’d think the CT winters would make this exceptionally wonderful space unuseable. I’m jealous of the space and can’t wait to see the end result!
Yes! But… because it’s such an old space, we would essentially need to reframe the entire thing to make room for the insulation. Spray insulation might have been an option, but it’s a real eye sore without sheet rock on top… our contractor essentially said it would be a crazy expense. I’m hoping it will be above freezing in there to preserve the paint and then I’ll bundle up in the winters to do work. So it won’t be an year round ‘office space’ but will still come in handy!
This is quite an undertaking!!! I can’t wait to see what you do with it. Going to be fabulous! See you at the end of our arduous six weeks!!!! xox, Emily
Haha! You too! Can’t wait to go trawl everyone’s plans!!
Oh my gosh – what a super fun project!! I want to come hang out in this soon-to-be-fabulous shed of yours once it’s done! And good call on having someone paint for you – I think you’d still be painting within days of the reveal!
There is NO question I’d still be covered in paint. Agree! 🙂
Wow, this is one heck of a project girl! But I have no doubt you can do it. Can’t wait to cheer you on and see more!
Thanks, Brit! I think it takes a village for all of us to pull these rooms off! Love the cheering squad! xx
What a great way to bring this shed back to life. We love your style and know you will rock it out. We too are doing a shed makeover for the ORC. We had a good laugh about the painting of the raw wood…you have no idea LOL
Oil based primer is what we learned. :/ Can’t wait to see yours! Good luck!!
Charlotte, I’m so excited you’re participating and can’t wait to see what you do! I LOVE watching people do unique spaces like this!
Can’t wait to see yours either! No biggie… 5 weeks is a piece of cake. 🙂 Gulp!
Love the global vibe and wringing every last bit of function out of a single space. Can’t wait to follow along!
Hopefully!!! It’s such a big space that I’m cautiously optimistic that I can make something work out there!
That IS a big project! But what a great space to have to work with–exciting!
Thanks, Gretchen! Fingers crossed! :0
Oh my gosh! You have some kahunas, and I love it!! It looks like a huge space! And did I spy a baby Buddha in your stash? Love it. Can’t wait to see it progress. Smooches, H
Spray insulation would been great for a year round set up ….look forward to week 2 with it all primed up
Thanks so much!
This is an awesome space, Charlotte! I have no doubt you’ll work your magic on it. And I completely agree that we all need a space to display stuff we love. I’ve been hoarding stuff I love that my husband doesn’t for my home office for years ;-P
HAHA! I didn’t realize *quite* how many things I’d been collecting, but…. it’s still nice to have a display space. 🙂