Archives for July 2023

DIY – Painting Shed with Paint Sprayer

07.23.2023 by btslingerie // Leave a Comment

Testing tools

Painting the shed was a great way to dry run tools that I planned on using in the build of the garage and studio – here I wore a tyvek and respirator for the first time. I also learned the angle limitations of this particular sprayer were not going to work for the much larger garage.

Sale paint & Learning Curves

Did you know that tinted paint gets returned or abandoned and that stores mark it down? Well serendipitously on one of our trips to the hardware store I found *both* colors I wanted for this shed. The green is not the same green as the studio and I wouldn’t be able to recreate either but hey, it’s a shed! Of course I’m making it fancier than the average shed so here comes the first part – a white wash interior.

It took some time figuring out how much to water down this particular sale paint to get a nice coating but then it was good to go. What I learned… your shoes and anything under the spray will get coated in a fine mist. I wish I had saved that drill I used to mix the paint from that misty fate, the speaker that was too close to the opening got cleaned and so did my glasses. My sandals… not so much. We invested in booties for the larger garage paint part as a result of this learning curve.

Layla suited up in a tyvek protective suit with a respirator mask in hand, preparing to paint the shed.

Layla on the porch of the house suited up in a tyvek protective suit with a respirator mask in hand, preparing to paint the shed, but first coffee.

We also added wiring for a solar shed light which you can see in one of these pictures, the final result in the shed reveal.

Find full round up of all the project that went into transforming our shed Shed Makeover Series.

Get inspired to do it yourself with more projects in our DIY series.

DIY – Shed Potting and Storage Table

07.16.2023 by btslingerie // Leave a Comment

Shed Makeover

As part of our Project to build a studio for Between the Sheets and garage, we decided to add on a matching shed. While we were working with Grey’s Woodworks to plan the build for our Project, we visited one of their locations to look at example garages and take a look at their shed designs.

Knowing how many tools we would need for the build I didn’t want garden stuff to take up space in our basement or the garage. So the shed became part of the overall planning for the Project, and we couldn’t be happier with the result. In preparation for the shed/garage I made lists of what I could store in the shed and what I couldn’t (ex. we couldn’t store the electric lawn mower or tools so that we planned a nook under stairs in garage) and laid out a floorplan and researched storage options for both.

While we had people working on plumbing and electrical I tackled the shed and landscaping projects. This post covers the first project which was a shed table for potting and storage. And don’t get me wrong, this shed is already so beautiful bc it matches the house and garage and then the windows, the dormers, the door hardware perfection, but I’m one of the people who likes my cabinets and closets organized and this will be absolutely stunning inside and out when it’s done!

Green garden shed with two white doors and dormer on roof. Stone path in front of shed and landscaping tools.

Green garden shed with two white doors and dormer on roof. Facing from right front corner

Shed table

I planned the custom shed to match the garage and since I knew I wanted windows on the south side to catch the light since the dormer and doors face west my sketches and plans for the space had wall storage on the north and a table under the windows on the south. This we sized a few inches shorter than the full length of the wall so we could slide it in easily.

4×4’s for legs and 2×4’s for frame
Framing nailer for body
Finishing nailer to add plywood top
Miter saw for legs and frame, circular saw or jigsaw for plywood top and shelf

ps. This was the first time we got to use the garage to build something, and the first time we had a place to build where we didn’t have to put everything away at night. What a joy.

Wooden shed table under construction in garage. Table is upside down and various tools are seen on work tables.

Wooden shed table under construction in garage. Table top is clamped on to frame and various tools are seen on work tables.

Shed storage plans

In a separate post I’ll cover the loft and wall storage DIY’s but once the table and those were in it was easy to see what if any additional storage was needed. A few more bins, and another set of hooks and bins that were for smaller hand tools.

DIY shed table is fit inside shed and storage boxes are tested on middle shelf.

DIY wooden shed table is fit inside shed. Items are stored on table top and middle shelf. A broom is on the shed floor.

Adding color

I’ll cover painting the shed in a separate post but while I had the table out of the shed to paint I added some color to the sides.

Shed table is moved in front of shed to be painted. The edges are painted green.

Painted shed table drying outside of garage.

Find full round up of all the project that went into transforming our shed Shed Makeover Series.

Get inspired to do it yourself with more projects in our DIY series.

building BTS studio – design & build with Grey’s Woodworks

07.16.2023 by btslingerie // Leave a Comment

Design Build

To build a studio for Between the Sheets we pursued a traditional design & build for about a year, created plans, and shopped around with individual general contractors who would manage a potential project before we approached the Grey’s Woodworks team. Their team ran with what we had created and adjusted it their portfolio of offerings and created a mockup of our project.

Rendering of BTS studio design build, back of building

Excavation and Foundation

One of the reasons we chose Grey’s was that they would handle the excavation and slab pour, it made sense to have the people building the structure be responsible for the base it’s supposed to sit on. We handled hiring people to make the plumbing and electrical connections to the house. I feel a deep sense of awe that this project took place just feet away from vegetable garden and flower beds and that they remained undisturbed through all this. A true testament to their skilled operators and professionalism keeping this place so clean and managing their equipment and work flow so well. It was a joy to watch.

BTS studio design build markout for foundation

BTS studio design build markout for foundation in driveway

Framing and roof

Again if I can’t sing their praises enough on the ability to navigate giant equipment without trampling my peonies and barely disturbing the gravel next to the veggie garden, here is where Grey’s excels, we went from no structure to a building in just a matter of a week. They bring in a giant crane and lift the prefab parts of structure into place. With the final touch being the windows and doors going in.

BTS studio design build side wall placement

BTS studio design build front and side walls

thanks to Grey Woodworks (this was not sponsored in any way I’m just a very happy customer)

BTS studio design build exterior rear of structure. Wrap up

BTS studio design build exterior patio with furniture

On a future post I’ll cover the landscaping bc moving this much soil did change the layout of the garden and we did have to remove some trees. They even helped us move our propane tank and the gas company rerouted our gas line which minimized the eyesore of a tank and added a beautiful matching shed which I’ll cover in other posts as well. And of course there’ll be lots of DIY and vintage sprinkled in as we finish the space.

Want to see all the stages of building our new BTS HQ in the Hudson Valley? Find the whole series here BTS Studio Build