Wander Into a ‘She Shed’ Inspired by Wedgwood Pottery
Tucked above a creek in the woods in Ohio, this tiny cottage is a gardener’s favorite spot to host friends for tea
Somewhere in the woods between Cleveland and Akron, Ohio, there’s a secret shed full of delightful surprises. From the main house, a winding path with lots of intriguing little spots along the way leads to this little tea party cottage. Built by a homeowner who loves gardening, Wedgwood and tea gatherings with friends, this is the ultimate “she shed.”
The shed is a 10-by-14-foot prefabricated building. Lobalzo added a small deck for viewing the creek. The glass railings keep the views clear. The deck and posts will be painted eventually but were not done on photo shoot day.
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Photo by Susan Lobalzo
This is the view from the deck. The homeowner has three Saint Bernard dogs who also love the woods.
This is the view from the deck. The homeowner has three Saint Bernard dogs who also love the woods.
“My client wanted the outside of the shed to look very simple,” Lobalzo says. “Every time someone new opens the door they say, ‘Oh my God!’”
The two Wedgwood pieces on the mantel are vintage pots from the homeowner’s collection. Their color and design inspired the decor of the shed. The figurines are from a local antique shop, and the sconces are new.
The mantel was originally cherry wood. Artist Paulette Grubb painted it to look like marble, then painted the floors to match. The fireplace is an electric box and throws out enough heat to warm the shed. “But you do need to wear a jacket out here on cold days,” Lobalzo says.
The mantel was originally cherry wood. Artist Paulette Grubb painted it to look like marble, then painted the floors to match. The fireplace is an electric box and throws out enough heat to warm the shed. “But you do need to wear a jacket out here on cold days,” Lobalzo says.
Louis XVI and Wedgwood inspired the style of the shed. “The main house is formal but not so fancy,” Lobalzo says. She and her client shopped at local antique shops, estate sales and online antique sources for the furniture and accessories. She had all of the furniture pieces reupholstered, and she brought in toile for the window treatments.
Fully insulating the shed and adding drywall and electrical wiring were part of the project. Lobalzo had the existing ceiling altered from an asymmetrical vault to a symmetrical one. “That way we were able to center the window treatments and moldings off the peak,” she says. An antique crystal chandelier hangs in the center of the space.
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Fully insulating the shed and adding drywall and electrical wiring were part of the project. Lobalzo had the existing ceiling altered from an asymmetrical vault to a symmetrical one. “That way we were able to center the window treatments and moldings off the peak,” she says. An antique crystal chandelier hangs in the center of the space.
Browse crystal chandeliers in the Houzz Shop
Determining the scale and arrangement of the moldings was a challenge. “This is not exactly the kind of project I work on every day,” Lobalzo says. The moldings emulate the detailing of Wedgwood pieces. “They are a mix of plaster and resin pieces from Decorators Supply in Chicago. They have been in business since 1883,” the designer says.
The homeowner hosts large fundraising parties for charities in her garden, but she also loves to gather a few close friends for tea parties in the afternoon. She serves tea sandwiches and pastries just like the ones in this photo. “We included enough seating for five people, but four is really the limit out here,” Lobalzo says with a laugh.
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The homeowner hosts large fundraising parties for charities in her garden, but she also loves to gather a few close friends for tea parties in the afternoon. She serves tea sandwiches and pastries just like the ones in this photo. “We included enough seating for five people, but four is really the limit out here,” Lobalzo says with a laugh.
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In addition to painting the mantel and floor to look like marble, Grubb painted the ceiling to resemble the sky and chose a trompe l’oeil rug for the floor. It took her about a month to complete the faux painting.
The wall color was tricky to get just right. “Blues are difficult because they change with the light all day long. It needed to be a meld of the blues in the upholstery, the faux rug, the window treatments and the Wedgwood,” she says. She worked with a trusted painter to custom tint just the right shade on-site.
The homeowner could not be more thrilled with the results. She loves to surprise and delight her friends when she has them over for tea parties.
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The wall color was tricky to get just right. “Blues are difficult because they change with the light all day long. It needed to be a meld of the blues in the upholstery, the faux rug, the window treatments and the Wedgwood,” she says. She worked with a trusted painter to custom tint just the right shade on-site.
The homeowner could not be more thrilled with the results. She loves to surprise and delight her friends when she has them over for tea parties.
More on Houzz
Read more stories about sheds
Hire a local design pro
Shop for your home
Shed at a Glance
Who lives here: An avid gardener
Location: Bath, Ohio
Size: 140 square feet (13 square meters); 10 by 14 feet
Designer: Susan Lobalzo of Lobalzo Design Associates
The structure is on a 4-acre property. “It is so woodsy and there are so many winding paths that you feel like you are in a park here,” Lobalzo says. “The homeowner loves nature, and working on her beautiful gardens is her outlet.” The homeowner planted ferns around the shed to maintain the woodsy feel.
In addition to the shed, there is a potting shed on the property, as well as a pavilion where she likes to host dinner parties on nice nights.
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