If rustic garden sheds could tell stories

Rustic garden shed with old signs, tools and a grapevine, on FunkyJunkInteriors.net
You guys are so sweet! After my Less Than Pinterest Worthy post yesterday, some of you were consoling me over my poor, barren yard. Thank-for being so thoughtful!

But I did a little something about it today. The rustic garden shed got some new accessories AND flowers. It’s still early in the year, but things are looking up! At least in this one little corner anyway. 🙂

Coke sign and vintage license plates / Rustic garden shed with old signs, tools and a grapevine, on FunkyJunkInteriors.net
The shed is wearing a few new swanky accessories too. Can you spot them all as you scroll?

Rusty old lantern / Rustic garden shed with old signs, tools and a grapevine, on FunkyJunkInteriors.net
This old lantern is going to get a solar light inside, I decided just today. It would help for those late night stumbles for more firewood. And it would look cute and welcoming at night.

Vintage aqua wheelbarrow / Rustic garden shed with old signs, tools and a grapevine, on FunkyJunkInteriors.net
Galvanized flower pot bucket / Rustic garden shed with old signs, tools and a grapevine, on FunkyJunkInteriors.net

With each pressure wash every spring, the shed loses a little more colour. It’s nearly all barn wood looking now. But I’m ok with that. 

The shed now puts me in mind of the barn I grew up with, along with those crazy grapevines going slightly and beautifully out of control.

This shed has morphed into a mini rambling old farm.

Rusty canning jar wreath on a shed / Rustic garden shed with old signs, tools and a grapevine, on FunkyJunkInteriors.net

Back on the farm, my mom loved a nice, pretty paint job. But it was rare that big ‘ol barns looked that spiffy. But she got after my Dad, and they had the house and barn colour coordinated so they were perfect.

Rusty canning jar wreath on a shed / Rustic garden shed with old signs, tools and a grapevine, on FunkyJunkInteriors.net

What makes me laugh is how beat up I love my stuff. What would my mom say about this…

Red geraniums in an old crate / Rustic garden shed with old signs, tools and a grapevine, on FunkyJunkInteriors.net

I can hear her loud and clear.

She’d come over, wear a silent smile, lean back while glancing, and nod along with her sing song voice, “That’s very Donnaish!”

Dad? He’d just smile and say, “Ohyeah…”

Red geraniums in an old crate / Rustic garden shed with old signs, tools and a grapevine, on FunkyJunkInteriors.net

You never really completely knew if they were actual compliments or not. I think more acknowledgements. But it didn’t much matter… they were both right. 🙂

Red geraniums in an old crate / Rustic garden shed with old signs, tools and a grapevine, on FunkyJunkInteriors.net

Funny thing though… I kinda think I must have snagged a little more Dad in me. He had this one particular shed that was ready to fall over. Inside was a big metal bucket of rusty nails. That he actually used.

Red geraniums in an old crate / Rustic garden shed with old signs, tools and a grapevine, on FunkyJunkInteriors.net

When he needed to fix something, he’d grab that bucket and go to town on some repair. But I could never really figure out what he just repaired, because it all kinda looked the same to me.

His building methods were… a little rustic. He wasn’t a finishing carpenter type. But he got the job done.

Sounds a little like someone else I know…

Red geraniums in an old crate / Rustic garden shed with old signs, tools and a grapevine, on FunkyJunkInteriors.net

My mom’s deal was clean with pretty flowers all over the place. Maybe I got the flower thing from her. 

Large Coca Cola bottle sign / Rustic garden shed with old signs, tools and a grapevine, on FunkyJunkInteriors.net

I honestly think I got a ‘make do’ mentality from both of them. We didn’t have fancy things, nor even brand new. Everything kind of had a weathered patina about it. It may have been repainted, but it was rarely if ever new. You could feel and see the layers of time on everything.

Rustic. Comfortable. Home. A story. Loved.

From greenhouse to rustic shed on FunkyJunkInteriors.net
Read how the shed came to be HERE

Rustic garden shed with old signs, tools and a grapevine, on FunkyJunkInteriors.net
If this little rustic shed could tell a story, I think it would say that it’s become a thing in my world, because it’s a reminder of where I started. And as each year passes, it encourages me back, growing and learning while tinkering on it yet again.

Rustic garden shed with grapevine in spring on FunkyJunkInteriors.net

Rustic garden shed with grapevine in fall on FunkyJunkInteriors.netRustic garden shed with grapevine in winter on FunkyJunkInteriors.net

This little shed is like an old friend. It’s my first ever build, and it’s weathered every storm I’ve ever had alongside me. Right from day one.

 I may not have my big ‘ol dream barn I long for…. but then again, maybe I already do.

– – –

Do you too have a special something? What story does it tell you?

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The rustic garden shed series…

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Categories: DIY, Outdoors, Reclaimed wood projects, Spring
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48 thoughts on “If rustic garden sheds could tell stories

  1. Donna, I love your old woodshed and the red geraniums look perfect next to it. I think it’s a beautiful sight in all seasons even though some might think it not so. 🙂 I love it!

  2. I love your little shed so much! If I wasn’t constrained by having my elderly mother live with me (who sounds like she has the same taste as your mom), I’d be out in the yard with my hammer and nails right now! J

  3. I was due to paint our shed this year but after serving yours I have to let it go! Love the weathered look.I esp like the seasons of the shed! Great photos & coke signs soooo cute..

  4. I LOVE this look. So many things take me right back to my childhood and you have it all wrapped up in one place. Thanks for the journey back in time. 🙂

  5. My husband was just reading over my shoulder and said “that needs to be painted”. Lol. He’s with your Mom. I think it looks great! As you can see, decorating at my house is a challenge for me to meet both our styles. But, for the most part we work it out.

  6. Love the seasonal pictures of the shed. Sounds to me you are definitely a chip off the ‘ol block – bot parents. I’m certain they would be proud. -Bev

  7. I wonder if your rustic shed knows how far and wide it has given pleasures and to how many? Love it! Wish I had one.

  8. I love your little garden shed, and your yard is so pretty and that view is worth a million bucks. I would love to have a garden shed like yours, it is so rustic and goes perfect with the surroundings.

  9. Donna – your little shed has become an old friend to many of us, your readers. I love the story it tells!

  10. I LOVE your beautiful shed. We broke down and bought a Rubbermaid shed. I like it but I LOVE yours.

  11. You BUILT that shed? I can’t even build a 6 inch box lol – but I’m absolutely in love with it – gives me a little hope for the 80 year old one in my back yard that’s ready to fall down –
    It’s covered in particle board that peeling and flaking off everywhere – I’m going to rip that off and recover it in pallet wood –
    Then I HAVE to find a coke sign like yours – that’s just fabulous !
    I think the perfect compliment anyone could give would be the word
    ” Donnaish ” !!!
    XOX

  12. I love every.single.thing. about your little shed. But I did happen to notice the gate you originally put behind the big white flowerbox of geraniums is missing. I loved that gate there. Where did it go? Probably, knowing you, in some even greater spot! 🙂

  13. Looks like my kind of place! I love it! You’ve given me some ideas, too! Thanks for sharing.

  14. Hi Donna, I love your garden shed. If it wouldn’t be filled with wood, I would move right in, lol. You’ve decorated it beautifully. If I ever have a shed, I’d like it to look like that. Weathered wood and rusty bits and pieces are just perfect.
    Have a great weekend!
    Julia

  15. I think about this shed all the time and it inspires me to work around my yard and garden more. My mother always complained about my rustic furniture explaining that after WWII she couldn’t wait to have nice new things, not things that had chipped paint, and that’s what’s in my house. I understand her thinking, but I love my “old” stuff.

  16. I love your shed. It really has a charm about it. It’s pretty challenging to grow grapes here in Alberta but I am doing it. I even made a small batch of wine from them! Your grapevine is amazing and so much further ahead! Do you eat them?

  17. I have shed envy! I have been wanting a rustic potting shed–even an old outhouse to use for one. Haven’t been able to convince hubby of that yet. And I love your garden area with the bike in your other post–whether you think it is Pinterest worthy or not!

  18. I would love to know where you sourced the coke bottle on the side of the shed..I think it’s awesome. We have planted some red geraniums this year in a little part of the garden that needed some TLC.

    • Hi Lizzie! If you’re re referring to the big coke sign, they were given to me by a friend. They aren’t authentically old, just reproductions. He was gifted with them as well. Sorry I don’t have a source!

  19. Oh my gosh I just love this shed, and that saw on the side brings back memories and for all of the same reasons you do. I’ve known for some time that my attraction to old worn out tools and buildings just makes me feel like I belong there.

  20. Great idea, wonderful!!! We have a really small garden, but in this garden is small wooden house for our kids. Thanks to your nice pics I have an idea how to change this “building” 🙂 Really great! Thank you for sharing it! Jolana

  21. I have such shed envy. I really like what you have done with it (wish it were in my backyard) and it really shows with the honor of Country Living Magazine. Congratulations!!!! The season transitions pictures you have given us are wonderful.

  22. Nice post. The shed reminds me of my Grandma’s wash house. The secret was the freezer was out there and that’s where she used to keep the ice cream! So many great memories.

    Thanks for sharing!

  23. As they say, ‘It’s all in the eye of the beholder’, and I’m liking what I see. Great job.

  24. I just came across this post about the shed, what a wonderful story. Such a beautiful peaceful looking setting too.

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