For many homeowners today, what once was simply the "backyard" is now an extension of living space - backyards have become mini parks, wildlife sanctuaries, Zen retreats, or recreation centers complete with swimming pool and hot tub. Homeowners want their yards to reflect their living style yet still function as outdoor living space for their family and friends. How does one achieve this and still have a place to park the riding mower?
Enter the backyard, pool, or garden accessory building. This is not your grandfather's tool shed, but a functional and attractive building that can serve as a pool house, game room, guest house, private studio, teen retreat, exercise room, library, entertainment center, or home office. It can function as an alternative to a public storage bin, or be the place to hold Saturday night's card game. Chances are, once you've added one of these buildings to your property, you won't be parking the mower inside.
The New Accessory Building
Built-to-order accessory buildings bear little resemblance to the pre-built garden sheds most people are accustomed to seeing at the local garden center. Today's backyard accessory buildings look like miniature mansions. Many feature French doors, arched windows, a choice of wall heights and roof styles; vinyl, stone, or wood siding; dormers, porches, window flower boxes, and a host of other decorative and functional options. Some are oddly shaped, or have unique exterior finish combinations, based on the homeowner's creativity.
Many Types
The Cabana, as most larger accessory buildings are called, provides a perfect, cozy and private studio for the artist, writer, or crafter, or a work space or office just a few steps from home. Construction of an accessory building provides added space and functionality without an expensive and disruptive home addition, yet adds to property values by adding attractive and useful additional outdoor living space.
Cabanas and other accessory buildings are available at local dealers, large home improvement stores, and of course, on the internet. Most companies ship throughout the contiguous United States, and most offer do-it-yourself kits. For smaller designs, the finished building is shipped and needs only to be placed on the prepared site.
Built-to-Order
One of the best features of most accessory buildings is that they are built-to-order, which means the homeowner can modify the design to meet their individual needs. Manufacturer's with online showrooms offer drop-down menus to pick and choose options, floor plans, and construction specs that allow the homeowner to design the building within a few construction guidelines. All sites also offer in-person assistance and customer help-lines.
Or Do it Yourself
Several manufacturers offer buildings with unfinished interiors, leaving the finished look limited only by the customer's imagination. Add insulation to provide year-round use for that artist's studio, or sound-proofing so the band can practice without disturbing the neighbors. Add a washer and dryer, bathroom and/or shower, or refreshment bar, and you've got the perfect pool house and a place to take care of the wet towels, swim suits, pool snacks and drinks.
Most companies also offer kits for the do-it-yourself homeowner that include prefabricated doors, pre-hung windows, attached siding, and pre-cut flooring, with roof structures completed on site. In general, the kit assembly is designed to be an efficient and easy project the homeowner will be proud of when completed.
A Little Planning First
When planning your accessory building, it is recommended that you first consider what the primary use will be, what features you would like to have available, and which location in your yard best suits the building's function. For example, you may want to consider placement that takes advantage of natural lighting, or you may want to locate the building farthest from the house for quiet and privacy. Whatever the intended use, there is a custom accessory building to complement your existing home's style and make your backyard a functional and beautiful sanctuary.
What is an Accessory Building?
When is a garden shed not a garden shed? When it's a gazebo, barn, carriage house, or cabana. Here's a guide to accessory-building terminology:
- Garden Shed - From the "woodshed" your grandfather had to classy, functional models, the garden shed is the old standby. It's a smallish building that houses the garden tools, lawn mowers, flower pots and all things for the backyard. Usually small, sturdy, and rather plain.
- Cabana - Technically, a cabana is a tent-like structure, small cabin or simple enclosure usually associated with the beach. Hence, the pool cabana. Pool cabanas are placed near the pool and may be equipped with a washer and dryer, refreshment bar, shower and bathroom facilities. The cabana recently has been expanded to include a building used for almost any other purpose besides a pool house.
- Carriage House - Long ago, this is where the carriage was parked, and it was usually close to the barn. Today's carriage house designs are used as garages, workshops, studios, and garden sheds.
- Garden House - These are usually open structures, similar to a gazebo. The garden house is a nice place to read, have a simple meal, and well, enjoy the garden.
- Gazebo - The gazebo gets its name from its purpose; an open structure with a roof and usually circular or octagonal shape, from which one may "gaze" out at the garden
- Studio - A building typically used for some creative endeavor, such as an artist, photographer, crafter, or writer's studio
