Outdoor structures from Tuff Shed are new focal points

A member of four local garden clubs, she envisioned a little garden-house hideaway where she could look out over her Roseville, Calif., backyard as she planned garden projects – or daydreamed.

“I always knew I wanted one, but with kids in college, we couldn’t afford it,” Owendyk said. “I bought the cupola and (tulip) weathervane 10 years ago, and they just sat in a box in our garage.”

Last year, Owendyk got her wish. Recently retired, she ordered a prefab Summerwood kit from Canada online. Once it arrived, the kit took three days for a crew to assemble, and her “Tulip House” was born.

“In a way, it’s a glorified tool shed. But I can bring my portable computer out here and write,” she said.

Extending living “room” into the great outdoors is a popular trend, particularly in fair-weathered parts of the country. Such garden structures are a way to add some special space with personality – as well as extra storage. For structures smaller than 100 square feet, they usually don’t need special building permits – just a flat slab. (But check with your city before starting.)

“Adding structure to your outdoor life can help erase the boundaries between the outside and inside of your home and make your outdoor areas the family’s favorite – and healthiest – place to be together,” said Paul Ambrose of Garden.com.

That structure may be a playhouse – designed for children or grownups. Or it may be a cabana by the pool or a garden “shed” with everything a gardener needs, including space for a library, sink, electricity and computer access.