A 1950s lake house tool shed was converted by the owners into an sweet bunkhouse guest cabin.
A 1950s lake house tool shed was converted by the owners into an sweet bunkhouse guest cabin.This adorable brown-painted shed is different from the fanciful themed sheds in my Backyard Shed Crazy post primarily because it’s electrified and beds are built in. Strictly speaking this one falls into the category of a guest cabin — as opposed to a folly — at least by my definition.
But the fun of having a shed of any kind is fixing it up and finding a way to use it. At our pal Marsha’s Lake Camp in Maine, the bunkhouse was converted for use by her grandsons, family and friends of this military family.
The style is rough and ready and the lake-house theme is perfectly expressed in a vintage “Maine Boys” poster Marsha found on Ebay and hung on the gabled wall above the top bunk.
A mere 8 feet wide and 12 feet long, and 16-feet high, this little bunkhouse sits steps from the main camp house.
The original interior was unfinished and patinaed, then electrified.
Pine board and batten was added to finish the walls and ceiling along with an essential Hunter fan for summertime ventilation.
What’s especially clever is that the way the beds were built in. The bottom bunk is queen size. The top bunk is a twin, accessible by a wooden ladder. Common plumbing pipe was used for the railings and grab bar of the top bunk.
Each bunk has a nautical style reading light and, because space is so tight, neat metal wall racks to hold books, phones, keys and a flashlight plus other personal items.
No antiques dealer could resist the sweet red liftoff chest Marsha found and added as a miniature night stand for the bottom bunk. Like the main house, the bunkhouse color theme runs to red, white and blue helped along by the blue Stars hooked rug from Chandler 4 Corners Stars and Stripes Collection.
An antique chest in the corner, near the door, adds another touch of Marsha’s special talent for finding vintage and antique American furniture.
When the family is in residence at the camp it’s a given that Old Glory flies from the house and from the bunkhouse, too!
Copy and Paste to Quick-Share this Post: http://bit.ly/1zEYiJu
Thanks, Jane, for a nice article. We love our little Bunkhouse
I love this little bunk house!! Its the perfect way to house some grandkids for some summer fun!
I love it! Fresh air & camp fun during the day; staying warm & cozy and telling scary stories at night 🙂
This is exactly what we are doing to our log cabin shed right now for next summer! So great!
My top bunk has a comforter (for looks) tucked around the mattress. On top of comforter lays a rolled up sleeping bag, a fresh sheet and pillowcase tucked in the pillow. Cozy fleece throw at end of bed. Ready for next sleeper to easily make his own bed.