Turning a Shed Into an ADU

Katy Krebs and her husband Michael turned a 1980s shed on his grandparents’ former property into a tiny cottage with some really smart design choices.

Katy Krebs and her husband Michael turned an old shed on their Texas property into a gracious one-bedroom ADU (Photo: Katy Krebs)

It’s hard for some to see the potential in an old rundown shed … but not Katy Krebs. She spotted it one day when her husband went to work (his workshop is located on land he inherited from his grandparents). “It was actually in pretty great condition,” Katy recalls. “The only thing was the paint chipping off.” The structure, used for storing important documents, was watertight and at 14 x 20 feet was fairly spacious.

Good bones but …my, oh my …lots of work to get this 40-year-old shed restored and converted to a living space. (Photo: Katy Krebs)

The Krebs lived in a rented home about 15 minutes away. While not far, the drive seemed unnecessary to Katy as she continued to study the shed. They were planning to build their own home on the property — why not redo the shed into a tiny house first and live there while they worked?

Fortunately, her husband Michael was as enthusiastic as she was. They realized they would be building a home that their children would inherit and considered it well worth the investment.

First Things First: Remove the Drop Ceiling

A typical she shed is about 120 square feet. A typical tiny house is anywhere from 160 to 600 square feet. The Krebs’ shed, at 280 square feet, was definitely on the smaller side for an ADU, especially for a family of four. They needed to be very careful and highly creative with the layout.

The chances of an old shed like this one having good insulation are slim. But in this case the Krebs got lucky. (Photo: Katy Krebs)

The shed had a plywood drop ceiling about 7 1/2 feet high. The Krebs decided to remove it, exposing the rafters beneath. Since the shed had a nice high pitch, removing the ceiling had an instantaneous effect on the feeling of spaciousness. They kept the low ceiling in the back half to create a crawl space and small attic.

The first step was to remove the plywood from both the walls and the ceiling to see what lay beneath. Some of them needed to be replaced but luckily the walls were all insulated.

Using more siding from the barn, the Krebses finished off the ceiling, putting in new insulation underneath. To support and enhance the tall vaulted ceiling, they hauled in a rough-hewn beam from the barn for the apex. Katy used a medium-brown stain on the ceiling and kept the walls a lighter shade. Electrical included four cans and a central pendant base.

Much of the wood used for the siding came from another tear-down on the property. “We took out old wood from a barn in the pasture,” says Katy. All of the ceiling and walls were plywood and needed to be redone. The floors, however, were solid pine planks and in beautiful condition. They remained and were simply sanded and refinished.

Strategic Nooks and Crannies

Setting back the interior wall on the left creates a clever alcove that gives definition to the kitchen. (Photo: Katy Krebs)

By adding an interior wall that separates the kitchen from the back rooms, the Krebses formed a distinct separation of public rooms and private rooms. Then, they did something simple, but brilliant: they created an alcove for the range and cabinetry that further defined the kitchen’s space.

Another view of the kitchen. The original pine floor boards remained and look gorgeous after being refinished. (Photo: Katy Krebs)

On the left side of the public area, the Krebses designed an L-shaped kitchen that includes a small refrigerator/freezer, double sink, range, and overhead microwave oven. A family room with a pull-out couch is on the right.

A small bedroom miraculously fits inside the 280-square-foot house, a footprint smaller than many apartments. (Photo: Katy Krebs)

The bedroom is on the small side and as such, could only fit a full-size bed. “We really should have tried to make it a little bit larger to fit a queen,” admits Katy, who was looking ahead to a time when they could rent the little house out to travelers. Cozy and inviting nevertheless, the room is closed off with a curtained doorway and has a window. Another doorway on the left leads into the bathroom.

Bathroom with large shower during frame-out. A narrow hall divides it from the bedroom. (Photo: Katy Krebs)

A ruffled curtain hangs on the oversized shower. The toilet, not visible in the photo, is to the right. (Photo: Katy Krebs)

Katy was determined to carve out a bathroom that was close to full size, especially when it came to the shower. The bathroom is about 50 square feet, and most of that space was allocated to the grand stall. “When you are living tiny, a big shower helps you feel normal,” Katy explains. White subway tile and a clear glass sliding door kept the room bright and airy.

Adding an 8-foot porch extends the living area of the small ADU during milder months. (Photo: Katy Krebs)

The original shed faced an empty field, with no real view of anything. To take in the better views of their soon-to-be forever home and the road, the Krebs reversed the front wall and back wall. Then they set to work on the porch.

Nothing says “welcome” like a generous front porch and the Krebs pulled out all the stops for theirs. Measuring a generous eight feet, the porch has a full roof extending the shed’s pitch and supported with stained 1 x 6 cross beams and 4 x 4 front posts. Katy salvaged stamped tin panels from an old barn and used them to skirt the foundation. Three wide steps lead up the the porch entry.

The porch is finished with an attractive wire fence and an overhead pendant light. It provides significant additional living space for all but the hottest and coldest times of the year.

The Krebs’ ADU has made life a lot easier. As a growing family, they will have it for overflow guests and perhaps their own children in the future. (Photo: Katy Krebs)

So what was the big takeaway from this tiny house build? “It was an amazing thing I was able to do with my husband and two kids,” Katy says. “We want them to know that downsizing isn’t a bad thing and now we can give advice to others who want to build their own tiny home.” (Which she is doing every day on TikTok! Follow her @katyelizkrebs)

The Krebses lived happily in their tiny home for a year before their forever home was built close by. Now their niece is staying there. Someday it will serve as a restful short term rental for people taking a shopping pilgrimage to Round Top, Texas.