Shed Chic
Written By Amy Maclin
print
single page
Lofty Ideas
Kurt and Jenna got the inspiration for the loft from small apartments in Hong Kong, where Jenna once worked. "There, it's all about maximizing the space you have," she says. The loft gives the 10- by 14-foot playhouse a little extra room and gives rise to a range of dramatic scenarios: Up top, it's a lookout nest; down below, it's a marionette theater.
If you don't have a milkshed to spare, a loft can also transform a corner of the garage, Kurt says. This one was made with standard-sized lumber; Kurt attached a ledge to the existing wall studs, then nailed the loft into the ledge. He added a balcony railing for safety, of course; experts recommend leaving no more than 4 inches between the rails. A childproof gate at the top of the loft's ladder makes things even safer.
Floor ShowThe platform under the loft was part of the shed: The floor lifts up to reveal the old milk repository underneath. Now Kurt and Jenna use the containers as storage for games and seasonal toys that are out of rotation. The corner of the platform makes a snug napping spot, with a red futon mattress (at walmart.com, full-sized mattresses start at $135, covers at $30; secondhand deals can usually be found in the classifieds) and body pillows (Jadyn's are from Costco; target.com also sells them in blue, turquoise, lilac, pink, and tan for $25 each).
On the floor, Kurt put down interlocking foam mats so Jadyn can spread out with her dolls. (A package of four 1-square-foot tiles is $7 at wondermat.com; mix and match the colors to create your own design.)
For the walls and ceiling, he went with rustic pine tongue-and-groove paneling (about $24 per 4- by 8-foot sheet at Home Depot) that snaps together; he says it's a less messy option than hanging sheets of heavy drywall.
