The Shack

My husband Mike has many amazing qualities.  Outdoors man, sports man, and cook aren't among them.  Sorry babe.  Nor is he a builder.  Or, so I thought.  Not to say he doesn't do many impressive things, but his mad skills and commitment building our "shack" blew me away.  

It started with some plans from Readymade Magazine by Edgar Blazona for around $30.  The original plans call for a simple 10X10 modular dwelling with plexi glass windows, no A/C, and no insulation for about $1200 buying all your materials at Home Depot.  Pretty simple, right?

We met with our friend Rommel, an architect, to make a few updates including insulation, a window unit, french doors, and glass on the original 10X10 and a 3X10 shed on the back end.  This was a project we envisioned as a couple of weekends with a lot of hard work like a good 'ole barn raising enlisting the help of some great friends.  

 {Mike and the bros Brian and Darren}

{Choosing their position for the frame}

{power lifting}


{and then, beer lifting and build discussion by Brian, Mike, & Charles}

{working late into the night - Mike, Charles, and Brian}


You might notice, I am missing from the construction.  Never one to shy away from hard work, I promised Mike to be his partner in the build.  But, at the very beginning, he noticed that I was complaining of being really tired and not being of much help to him and his dad, Larry.  That's right, this little one was cooking....

{Iris Taylor Nicholson 10.15.06  6lb,4oz, 18" long}

So, every weekend and night available, Mike went to work with the help of some nice friends mostly Charles, his bro Brian, and dad Larry.  Did I mention I have the sweetest most helpful Father-in-law ever?!! 

 {Mike & Brian working while I try to be helpful bringing drinks & cheerleading from the sidelines and taking LOTS of naps, at like, any time of the day}

{Beautiful french doors by Kakki Keenan, our wonderful friend who spent half a day building the doorway.The almost finished product ready for polyurethane}

Here is the final product, 8 MONTHS LATER!!!!!:

 We later had drains and a rock entry done which is not pictured but, made all the difference for the final touches.  Note to self ** DO NOT forget drains since the rain overflow from the new structure might, meaning, probably, will cause flooding issues.  WE found out this with our first heavy rainfall with our garage apartment.  Thankfully, our tenant was understanding.  Below is the back of "The Shack", "The Shed" :)

There is an actual work area with fluorescent light above which Mike was pretty proud of.

He also built the doors himself, sans plans.  They do the job and have worked great for the past 6 years.  In fact, their is not a crack to be seen - A+ construction guys!

And, here is the inside.  We bought the furniture - acrylic table (not shown),2 metal and leather chairs and one wood and gray fabric chair from Aviary, floor lamp from Tar-jay, under bookshelf lighting from Home Depot and flooring carpet tiles from Flor.  We chose a light blue for the interior and green for the outside to match the green grass and blue skies from inside and followed the same theory on the walls (light green paint) and ceiling (light blue paint).  The bookshelves are by Mike :)

All these years later, we still love "The Shack."  The end product was about 1/7 the original simplified plans cost but, well worth the investment.  Originally intended as an outdoor office, since neither of us work from home, it has served more as a kid space... 

{Me, very pregnant with Iris and enjoying the shack.  

Thank you Wendy for this maternity shirt.  I LIVED in it, like 3 times a week lived in it}

{Iris's cousin Brooke (3) teaching Iris (7 mo) to take a step in The Shack}

{Me and my girl}

...and Mancave throughout the infant and toddler years when bedtimes were early and we still liked to have an occasional friend over (notice the beer fridge - a MUST have for any man cave)!

{Mike, Dave, June, and Kevin Triplett hangin' Shack style}