It seemed so hip, so NOW… half a century ago, anyway. As a kind of a bridge between the Contemporary style of the mid-twentieth century and the Post Modern movement of the late-twentieth century, the Shed style had a brief moment of glory in the early 70’s. Shed style houses were simultaneously rustic and sophisticated; warm yet chiseled… the contradictions must have been part of their short-lived, but great, appeal.
Characterized by boxy forms clustered together, Shed houses typically have single-plane (shed) roofing with minimal overhangs (or none at all) and stained wood siding – often on the angle. While gabled examples do occur, they are not the norm. The “natural” look required a lot of maintenance, however, and many surviving examples are now being painted in more currently fashionable colors. And some are getting entirely new skins… giving the style a contemporary twist!
The style first emerged in the 60’s and examples were still being built well into the 1980’s. It found favor with builders of apartments and condominiums as the style appealed to younger renters more than middle-aged home buyers. Today, if you look around at new construction in your nearest upscale subdivision, you may see houses which are clearly taking cues from the Shed aesthetic! Yes — for better or worse — some attributes of the style have been experiencing a revival.
The woodsy look of the Shed style sold a lot of magazines and plan books in the 1970’s and early 80’s. Home Planners, Inc. 1980.
By the 1980’s, masonry veneers were beginning to creep into the exteriors of Shed houses. Best Home Plans, 1979.
This plan seems to anticipate the now-prevalent “open concept” floor plan; there is just one wall separating the living area from the dining/kitchen area. These space are connected visually through two openings. Best Home Plans, 1979.
A classic example of what the Shed style was all about. Cabins and Vacation Houses, a Sunset publication, 1967.
This architect-designed house in Kansas was built for a narrow, wedge-shapped, city lot. Its front has lots of glass to soak up a river view. Photo courtesy Google Street View.
The rear of the same house – this side does not have a river view! This is one of the few Shed style houses I have seen which still retains its original stained finish. Photo courtesy Google Street View.
A modest and late example. Here, board and batten takes the place of cedar siding. Realtor photo from zillow.com.
These townhouses have been painted a contemporary taupe with contrasting trim. Realtor photo from zillow.com.
This house has also been updated with paint. Realtor photo from zillow.com.
Though painted, I think this red still works with the original intent of the sleek but rustic style. Realtor photo from zillow.com.
The core of this house was clearly built in the Shed style. Additions, new siding and paint have “updated” its look. Realtor photo from zillow.com.
A late and transitional style built in the 1980’s. Here, Shed-style dormer windows serve as skylights on a house with a modified hip roof. Realtor photo from zillow.com.
A house built in 2011 clearly recalls the Shed style. Realtor photo from zillow.com.
Single-plane roof lines reminiscent of the Shed style join more traditional gables on this new house. Realtor photo from zillow.com.
Single-plane roof sections flank a modernist core on a house recently built as infill in an established neighborhood. Natural wood siding evokes the Shed style. Realtor photo from zillow.com.
well, thank god we’ve escaped that trend. with two successful builder schools, we here in Maine got smacked hard with the shed fad. I see many still extant (only because hand grenades are so hard to get these days) although most, for better or usually worse have had some more socially acceptable veneer smeared on them -like (help me mother) vinyl siding. I, being currently houseless, live in my friends 2 story iteration of the shed syndrome -a totally ugly and inefficient design if there ever was one and unbelievably uninsulated until I moved in. I’d like to think saner times have come but then it hits me – McMansions.
Good point; McMansions are proof positive that we’ve been on a downward slide since the Shed style. I suspect, however, that we may see something of a revival of the Shed style since it lends itself so well to the current “green” fad… very earthy and passive-solar friendly. I’m guessing that if it happens, the revivals won’t look exactly like the Sheds of the 70’s, but will resemble them. Time will tell!
We love our shed home! Late 70s for sure but it’s updated and looking clean and modern.
There is a lot to admire about the Shed style! I think that original examples will grow in popularity while continuing to influence some new construction.
Love the shed style, such beautiful lines.
after you posted this, I got looking around as many of these things were built during the homesteader post-hippie Era up here in maine. it was THE main style pushed by builder schools like the Shelter Institute and Cornerstones. but they have stood the test of time and are still being built in many iterations – some good and some not so good.
As with every architectural style, there are both good and bad examples. I admire the style because it was one of the last original things architects came up with… most of what has been built since seems to be a modified version of a previous style. I’m not surprised that the style flourished in places like Maine and Colorado; it will be interesting to see what modifications new interpretations will embrace.
We recently purchased what I believe to be a shed style home built in 1978 in Bristol, VA. It was designed by a local architect and has changed little since being built. We love it, but cannot decide if we should paint the board and batten, stained cedar siding. Any thoughts?
Hi Rebecca! As a preservationist, my first approach to your situation would be to try to re-stain the exterior… I would paint over it only as a last resort. Your house will be much more interesting and maintain its intended character much better with a stained finish.
To get an idea of how a newly stained finish would look (and how much time/effort it would take), find an area of the house (preferably at the back or side which is not highly visible) to practice on. Here is a link to a four-step process for re-staining old cedar siding (includes surface preparation).
Whatever you do, don’t use a pressure washer on your siding, no matter what anyone tells you. It can result in a fuzzy surface and get water into places you don’t want it to be.
I hope this helps… good luck with your project!
Our house in Bristol VA was built in 1978. I thought it was a shed style because of the odd shape, use of reverse board and batten and stone accents. However, it has a combination pitched and flat overhang roof with clerestory windows. Would these be consistent with shed style.
It’s beautiful! I see your house as a very successful hybrid of both the Contemporary (think ranch house with wide overhanging eaves and a sometimes flat roof) and Shed styles. Clerestory windows were common in both styles.
Built at the tail end of the Contemporary style’s popularity, the house retains a typical sprawling floor plan with a mostly flat roof. Shed style attributes (diagonal wood siding, stone veneer, and numerous interior details) brought the fading Contemporary style into the 70’s! Clearly built to impress, the house still does so admirably after more than forty years! The interior and exterior are all worthy of preservation. I’m happy that the house has found someone who appreciates its style… enjoy!
I have the home pictured on the front of the home planners book. I am really happy with the style and layout , 10 sliding glass doors provide great views as the home is built on a side of a mountain . I am debating adding an extra room to the back possibly as a winter garden. It’s possibly the only example in NJ .
Two architectural schoolS sprung up here in Maine to capitalize on the homestead and back to the land movement in the early 70s – Cornerstones and Shelter Institute and the gospel they preached was mainly shed style. Shelter Institute is still in business and shed style houses are still going up both owner and architect built.
There is an entire subdivision full of homes with this style of architecture in a Houston, TX suburb. It’s called Quail Valley. They are interspersed between more traditional styles, but there are LOTS of this Shed style in a great range of square footages. Didn’t realize that the style actually had a name.
Thank you for helping us better understand shed architecture! We think our house, in northeast Atlanta, set in the woods on a hillside and still with stain cedar siding, is almost a textbook example and we love it. Our living room gives a 270 degree view of the woods through many large windows and two 3-section sliding glass doors. Winter is the only time the house can be seen from the road. https://1drv.ms/u/s!AlVZk2Od04uJmCFXzG0bfgk7Qp00?e=Fjzyk5
What a beauty! Thanks for sharing your house with us.
A little north of you (upstate SC) is where I reside in my updated 1978 shed style house. As was the style, the kitchen deck is fully-encapsulated by greenery.
Thanks for this article. Would you happen to know where I can find the book or periodical “Best Home Plans” referenced here? One of these plans is a mirror image of my home and I’m trying to track down the architect.
Appreciate your assistance!
Your best bet is to regularly search ebay until it shows up.
My wife and I are thankful for your post and that we found it. We have a 1979 shed style house in the Dallas – Fort Worth area of Texas, though, being Texas, we also have brick for part of the exterior. Part of the house has angled cedar following the angles of the roof lines, but much of the rear of the house is just T1-11 that is suffering rot and poor installation all over. All siding is painted but the brick is not. We’ve been unsure of how to proceed with an update while preserving the attributes of this architectural style. We’re planning on preserving/repairing the angled cedar siding, making a custom garage door that carries through the same siding pattern (as I suspect it was originally) and replacing the T1-11 zones with vertical Hardie-panel with batten strips. Still working on how to space the batten strips. There is a back face to the house we will try and go back with angled cedar boards following the roof angles to echo the front of the house.
Thanks again for this blog post and your follow on documenting a remodel!
Glad you liked my posts! Good luck with your exterior renovations… I’m happy the original look of the garage door will be brought back as such doors are frequently overlooked but make a huge impact on the overall visual integrity such houses.