Michael Pelkey - Transformed Shed

Michael Pelkey’s Key West cottage had everything he needed -- except a guest bedroom. So he didn’t waste any time transforming the shed out back into exactly what he knew his visitors would love.

“It was just a flat-roofed shed, but it did have running water and a washing machine,” he says. At 8 feet by 9 feet, there wasn’t a lot of floor space, but he wanted his guests to have a full-size, comfortable bed.

To accommodate the need for sleeping space and storage, Michael built the bed on a platform with drawers below. On all the walls, he added built-in bookshelves to display reading materials and decorative objects.

To add extra light, Michael chose a gabled roof over its flat predecessor. Now, sunlight pours through arched, Gothic Revival-style windows, and a small one tucked in a bookshelf gives guests a peek at the brilliant hibiscus in his backyard.

Words of Wisdom: Install a tin roof in your backyard retreat. “It’s such a peaceful place to relax when it’s raining,” he says.

About This Cottage
Location: Key West, Fla.
Size: 8 feet by 9 feet
Who designed it? Michael Pelkey