Sunday, August 21, 2011

The Exterior of the Old Sauna

BEFORE PICTURES

This is a picture of the property when we purchased it. Buried in the overgrown yard was a little outbuilding (which I've circled) that the previous owners used as a sauna. 

This was the desert phase of our remodel! The renovations on the main house were mostly complete by then, leaving the arduous task of bringing the yard back to life

Here it is after we seeded the grass. I also had just planted an Endless Summer hydrangea under the little window. 



This is a closeup of the front facade, before we renovated the interior. 

You can see inside the old sauna here. 

AFTER PHOTOS

This is one of those projects that will probably be ongoing. But it's looking a little happier since we installed a new wood door (the old door was a hollow core laminate version from the 70's). 

Thanks to so many of your suggestions, we loved the idea of installing a Dutch door but it was out of our price range (over $1,000). So we went with a wood-paned door from Simpson (the same company that made the rest of our doors), which was less than $300. 

We also removed the metal awning, which highlights the building's desperate need of a fresh coat of paint (the ongoing part...). 

The front bed has an Endless Summer hydrangea and a climbing clematis. We planted a mature boxwood on the corner for some winter color, and a hedge of Limelight hydrangea along the side. 

In the top photo, you can see an Incrediball hydrangea at the left of the frame. There are three Penny Mac hydrangeas to the left of the Incrediball (out of the frame). 

The Limelight are very happy here. They were transplanted from a front bed by the house, where they received too much sun for their liking. Here they enjoy a mix of sun and shade.

We're so glad that we had this little outbuilding shingled when we re-roofed our house. It was one of those spur of the moment decisions that paid off - otherwise who knows how long it would have taken us to get around to it!

51 comments:

  1. It looks amazing! You've done an amazing job!!!

    B

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  2. I love it! I would love a retreat like that in my backyard. Your hydrangeas are gorgeous!

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  3. Hello Trina

    It looks absolutely beautiful - I think I could move into it :))

    well done and great results for hard work

    x
    Loulou

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  4. Beautiful! Hydrangeas are my favorite flower and yours are gorgeous! This little out building looks like a sweet little guest house. I can't remember what you use it for...is it a guest house? You'll have to do a post about the inside now!

    Hugs,
    Gail

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  5. So pretty! Love the flowers too. Great job!

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  6. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. What a fun outbuilding. lucky you!!

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  7. Since I'm relatively new to your blog, I wonder what you plan to do with The Sauna?

    Camille

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  8. That's gorgeous. What a dreamy little spot...

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  9. Love the new door Trina, it's perfect! And all the flowers really look beautiful with their greenery against the white...you both did a fabulous job!
    xo J~

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  10. It is great to have a small retreat away from the house and it looks so pretty. How do you use it? We have a tiny summerhouse and we use it for storage as we dont have a garge, but now I'm thinking perhaps I should make it into my little beach house?

    Debbie X

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  11. Reminds me of a little bungalow/shed at my now deceased Nanna's house. She had beautiful flowering sweet peas running up the sides. Your's is gorgeous with the hydrangeas. Job well done!

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  12. Just beautiful..is this a guest cottage? The flowers are just breathtaking.

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  13. So charming! And now I am wishing I had an adorable little outbuilding like that too! I love that shade of white. We have a treehouse in need of some painting. Can you share the color?

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  14. I'd love to have a little garden house like this, it's looks divine :)
    Our flat roofed carport has a storage room behind it I'm thinking of turning into a craft studio...one day...no pretty shingled roof though but my garden does abound in endless summer hydies!

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  15. Wonderful! Does it serve as a little gust cottage?

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  16. wow that looks great we redone a buildong as well we just started alittle blog of our own really new to this www.thelittlewhitehouse-andy.blogspot.com

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  17. Very pretty with the new door. Your hydrangeas are beautiful. A lovely little retreat.

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  18. The flowers are drop-dead gorgeous. A true showstopper! I want some! Andrea @ townandprairie

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  19. So very beautiful - what a cute cottage it is! I love your hydrangeas as well - they accent it perfectly!
    Blessings
    Renata:)

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  20. So beautiful! I can picture the twins playing in there in the near future!! It would make a lovely little art/reading room for them.

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  21. So pretty... would love the see these photos in the fall I'll bet they are breath taking enjoy your week

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  22. Totally charming...adore the limelight hedge!!

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  23. It looks lovely. Those hydrangeas are so beautiful. Can't stop looking at them.

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  24. It is so lovely- fresh and simple! I love the plantings you chose and door is perfect. I enjoy this blog so so much!!

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  25. Perfect little outbuilding! You did a great job sprucing it up.

    The plantings really make it feel inviting; if you didn't say it's a sauna I would assume it's a guest cottage!

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  26. So quaint, I love it. Your home and gardens are really beautiful!

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  27. Oh very nice! Matches your house perfectly. What are you going to do with the inside? Or is it going to remain a sauna? Kit

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  28. Once again Trina, just a beautiful post of the hard work you all have done. Looks absolutely beautiful, I wish I had something so quaint and unique to fix up and enjoy!

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  29. Hello!

    We call this building the sauna because that is what it was originally used as. Go here to see those photos: http://acountryfarmhouse.blogspot.com/2009/11/sauna.html

    We converted it to storage and a home gym a year or so ago. http://acountryfarmhouse.blogspot.com/2010/03/sauna-turned-gym-etc.html

    Our guest house is above the barn and one day, I'll get around to posting on that!

    xoTrina

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  30. It looks absolutely beautiful. I love how the white glows near the lime green and background of green grass. Lovely like the author of the blog.

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  31. It looks just great really sweet and pretty..all the new plants...Happy Monday..

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  32. Gorgeous!!!!! And those hydrangeas?! They look like they've been there forever. You are my favorite blog, I visit often and can't wait for an update! I'm also the mommy of three month old twins~ and we have a Margaret too :)

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  33. It's absolute heaven over there. :) Every project just gets better and better. I can see that being the perfect playhouse for those sweet babies one day.
    xoxo Dianne

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  34. Beautiful. That last shot is magic.

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  35. Beautiful. That last shot is magic.

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  36. it's a charmer! love the new door, and of course;) all the hydrangea!

    xojoan

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  37. I love the whole setting! Especially the hydrangeas...

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  38. Lovely....just lovely...:)

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  39. The cutest little shed I have seen in years. The plants are just perfect.

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  40. So pretty! Do you know what you are going to do with it?

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  41. I just love "stopping by your house", there is always something we have not seen before, or something that has been updated. This is a great little space, good for you for using it as a gym :)

    I am going home to Denmark this September, looking forward to spending time in my parents garden - well, it's actually more my mothers.. - and your garden remind me a lot of hers :)

    Keep up the good work! -and thank you for always sharing.

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  42. I also love the cottage, and also especially the hydrangea!!!! (do you have any tips or advice on growing them?) I am going to have to get myself some limelight ones!!!

    Hugs from Michigan - Diane

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  43. Wow, as a person who comes from the country where the whole concept of sauna has been created (that is Finland), I am amazed and very happy to see that you guys have one! And it's pretty as a picture. :) I've been a reader for long but lazy to post comments, but now I had to. I love reading your text, cause whatever the topic, there's always depth and you always write with such feeling. Thank you! EmJei

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  44. This cottage looks lovely - how big is it?
    Your hydrangeas have inspired me to plant more.
    I enjoy your blog.

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  45. Here in Georgia, I attend the Penny McHenry Hydrangea Festival in Douglasville, every June, named for the woman who founded the American Hydrangea Society. Beautiful garden tours feature all types of hydrangeas. Your Penny Macs are named in her honor. Penny passed away in 2006, but the town still benefits from her energy and enthusiasm for this beautiful plant.

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Thank you for leaving your thoughts. Kind regards, Catherine