Itching for something to do now that the garden is on autopilot and we’re gliding into the last days of summer? Now’s the perfect time for a garden shed makeover. Here are five awesome inspirations I discovered on my recent travels, snooping in other people’s awesome gardens.

Palladian folly

You can’t really even call this beauty a shed although (believe it or not) it is the typical dimensions of one. Perched on an elevated terrace at one side of a garden in west Toronto, this storage building has some classic hallmarks of Palladian architecture: columns and symmetrical detailing with a peaked and decorated facade.

Rustic chic

Weathered shiplap walls and a farmhouse-style door makes this garden shed tucked into the back of a garden in west Toronto so charming. Sheds don’t usually have windows and neither does one but that doesn’t stop the owner from adding a glass-less window frame to one side of the door for extra interest.

French finery

An elegant fanlight window over an extra tall multi-paned window on a shed? Why not. But while you’re at it, why not add shutters, a window-box and panelled door all painted in a perfect accent shade of French blue.

Multi-purpose marvel

This absolutely wonderful “shed” is in a garden featured this summer on the annual Gananoque garden tour. We were so impressed not only with its adorable decor but also by its versatility. It’s a fantastic she shed for sure but it’s so much more: a place to hang out, a work-from-home office (of the most delightful kind) and can be turned into a bunky for overflowing overnight guests if needed. I just wanted to move in.

The more-than-a-shed shed

Technically, this wonderful outbuilding is not a shed. I got the impression, actually, that it was once a small car garage. But it has since evolved into a beauty of a garden building that the gardener has used to full advantage. A patio feels cozy and intimate because it’s tucked to one side of the building. Are we in Ontario or somewhere in Provence?