My "life quandary"and FINALLY the shop reveal....

Occasionally I go back and reread some of my posts from the last eight years. Man i have transformed some awesome pieces of furniture and spaces!!!

Now that I am “semi-retired” I have been trying to decide what I want to do “when I grow up.” After a year of binge watching “Gilmore Girls” and finishing the little projects around this house, I desperately need something to do.

I still haven’t decided what.

I love refurbishing furniture but honestly my body isn’t exactly cooperating these days. After just one day of projecting, I am usually hobbled for at least two days.

I don’t like to golf, I don’t knit, sewing is NO WAY JOSE, I raised four kids so while I will eventually help with my future local grand kiddos, I don’t think I want to take them on full time.

Volunteer…an option, but where. I love animals but if I volunteered at a shelter I would have a house full of critters. I would love to work at a zoo, but sadly we don’t have one!

Sick kids…they make me sad. I just don’t know if that is something I could do.

Old people. Hum….to close for comfort?

A real job? Nice idea but I don’t want to work nights, weekends or holidays. Brian and I like to take little vacations so I need lots of flexibility. Not exactly an ideal employee.

Besides I have NO idea what I want to do and I don’t want to spend 20 hours a week doing something I don’t enjoy.

I am blessed. I was blessed to own a business for 23 years that darn near killed me but allowed me to care for my family and “semi-retire” at a relatively young age.

So what do I do?

This blog is a wealth of information and I am sure there is a way I could turn it into a “business.” But truthfully, I like sharing my experiences with those who need the guidance. And I don’t want to make people pay for that help.

Which bring me back to my first love….building, creating, repairing, helping, sharing, instructing…my blog logo says it all….I hope I can share with you a passion and desire to easily create a home you will love!

All this whining and moaning to finally share one of my favorite things about this house…the shop. A space I have wanted for decades, finally got, and now really can’t use to it’s full potential!

For YEARS I worked out of my garage…what a mess. When I saw this house had an amazing shop I was stoked! A place to keep all my tools and work on a few small projects and I would still be able to park my car in the garage.

It is insulated, it has electricity, large doors, windows….the only downside was it was SERIOUSLY ugly!
Like baaaaad ugly.

As with every inch of this house, I could see the potential.

I knew I had to make it pretty!

The windows were old aluminum windows so those had to be replaced. I even moved the front one to the left to make it more “aesthetically pleasing.” New light fixtures inside and out were a must. The doors were aluminum and vinyl siding and not real attractive so I did just enough to make them look a little better. New cedar posts, some shutters…

And the biggy,,…brick. No I am not a brick layers so I was super fortunate to find someone who would take on a few small projects. Finding brick to match the brick on this 22 year old house was dang near impossible, but I was able to find one that was close enough and it made all the difference in the world.

We went from having a big ugly vinyl shed in the yard to having a super cute building.

The inside…it’s a storage shed in spite of what it looks like from the outside. Lawnmowers, tools, yard stuff…nothing fancy. I love the workshops that are all perfect and spotless….but it is a shop/storage shed, plain and simple. (Note Brian’s big fancy grill/smoker….God forbid it sit on the patio and get wet like a normal grill)

As I shared HERE when I spruced up the storage shed at our old house, I firmly believe storage sheds should enhance your space…not just be a big eye sore where you store you mower and shovel.

GET CREATIVE…make it pretty. Take a little time to doll it up and make it something that is aesthetically pleasing rather than just a huge eye sore in your back yard. Pinterest (my “go to” inspiration") is full of outdoor buildings that have been transformed into something other than just big ole’ eye sores!

No, you do not have to do something as fancy (or expensive) as mine…but a Pinterest search and a little “oops paint” can really make a difference.

Do a little “storage shed” search, then let your imagination run wild. Remember, we have lived in this house almost a year and I am just now sharing…transformations don’t happen over night!