Jeff Doubet Sheds: Custom Designs in Santa Barbara and Montecito CA
Hi, my name is Jeff Doubet and I am a local Santa Barbara Home Designer who also specializes in the design of custom sheds and accessory structures such as high end ADU's, barns, she sheds, etc.
Your quintessential Montecito or Santa Barbara garden can be dramatically enhanced with a quality potting shed, garden house or storage shed.
BEFORE PHOTO:
For the finished project shown above, our team started with a raw piece of land.
Listening to the dream and wish lists of a homeowner is part of the fun of creating something from nothing.
How will I put together a design concept rendering with those elements and within the constraints of the property.
One of several early conceptual sketches for the rugged acreage above.
The land owner initially described the dream of a new storage barn for hobbies, and a sunny spot for a vegetable garden.
He also wanted a new recreation area for bbq's, playing volleyball and relaxing in the countryside.
Concept rendering by Jeff Doubet
Jeff Doubet Shed Designs Under Construction in Santa Barbara, California
Building a high quality custom shed design often requires organizing a team of talented individuals to help you see your vision through.
I really enjoyed working with this property owner. He has a diverse skill set with an ability to get things done.
He is well connected with his talented group of employees, as well as a talented contractor, architect, and the various landscape pros.
Here, we discuss a new conceptual design rendering I had sketched for a meandering split cedar rail fence along the gravel road.
In the background of this shot is the owner and his talented landscaper. They were discussing plant choices for landscaping around the new potting shed and chicken coop.
Other team members build the split cedar fence that separates the gravel road and the large vegetable garden to the right.
With a year around growing season, it didnt take long for the new garden to fill in.
The charming new shed and chicken coop look as if they have been here for decades.
Per my design rendering, the owner planted out the new split rail cedar fence with grape vines for an added touch of Santa Barbara country.
Happy Chickens, Happy Life.
These gals are lovin' life in their new digs- no disgruntled hens, here.
We were sensitive to their feelings and made sure to situate their upscale chicken coop near a supple free range- the large veggie gardens.
The owner and I worked closely to develop a chicken coop design to have a timeless look.
We beefed up all lumber sizes, and paid careful attention to every detail.
The owner's talented team faux finished the newly finished project to give it an instant rustic look.
The owner was acquiring authentic old barn wood from dissassembled barns throughout the Midwest, and had been trucking them to the project site.
Reclaimed barn wood makes for a quality texture and finish for the style of project we were creating for his property.
Here he decides on the placement of an antique lantern that will be fitted with low voltage lighting. A great accessory item to decorate this potting shed.
A special day arrives and the vision takes on a life all it's own.
Who can really foresee the special moments that will be created when a thought, a dream becomes reality?
Here, the dad (owner of the property) hands his daughter a pet chicken to hold.
The new potting shed is also where the chicken feed and supplies are stored.
You never know when the spontaneity of a moment might create a lifetime memory.
On this Spring day, childhood friends spend some quality time roaming the wide open spaces at the ranch.
Here, they have fun feeding a pair of spunky chickens. It was an impromptu surprise while packaging the farm fresh eggs, and tending to some pole bean and tomato starts.
Being so close to the chicken coop and veggie gardens, this Salt Box garden shed was specifically designed as a high quality visual focal point.
The shed is a safe, dry and convenient place to store the chicken feed, their hay, and the garden tools used on a daily basis.
On this ranch it also functions as a useful space for a variety of different projects.
The rustic countertops and shelving were crafted from reclaimed barn wood and make for a perfect place to pot plants and organize seeds and seedlings for another Spring's planting.
The childhood friends and this custom shed project are now featured on pages 78- 81 of this Coffee Table Book, available directly at Amazon.
*As an Amazon Associate, I earn commissions from qualifying purchases made through the link above.
Jeff Doubet Barn Designs for Montecito and Santa Barbara, CA
Converting an Old Barn or brick building into an art studio or shop has always been a dream of mine.
Every since I was a young man, I have been restoring old things.
I continue to have a life-long passionate hobby of restoring vintage trucks.
If only I had a big wide open shop like this!
Little did I know later in my life- I would be living that particular dream, vicariously through an extraordinary client.
A brand new steel shop (below) was made to feel like a vintage barn (left).
The owner had envisioned a new space for a workshop:
An area for hobby wine-making, and a clean spot to store a few classic cars.
With the help of his architect and a general contractor, the "affordable" new steel structure was specified, permitted and built.
From there, we would come up with creative ideas for adding layers of personality and character.
Tracing over the steel building fabricator's CAD drawings, I began sketching artistic ideas for another layer of detail that would make it feel more like an authentic barn facade.
I proposed a hay loft door with antique pulley, gooseneck lighting and designed old school "X" barn doors.
Reclaimed oak wine barrels would add to the ambiance of the winemaking hobby.
Here the project owner works with his General Contractor on the details for how to technically add the authentic antique beams to the inside of the barn.
Work on the inside of the new barn is getting interesting.
History in the making...
A skilled carpenter cuts reclaimed antique wood beams.
The carriage house-style garage doors in the background are new "roll ups". They were designed and made to look like hinged, swing-out barn doors.
And yet they have the modern convenience of automated garage door openers.
With his professional background in faux painting, the owner directed a very talented crew in how to age the doors to look as if they have been on the barn for a hundred years.
I helped source replica door pulls and designed custom, thick metal faux hinges to add to the overall decorative look of the garage doors.
Our team pulled it off. These roll ups look like swing out doors!
I'm not sure who had more fun... me, as a conceptual designer for the project- sketching in old "props" to embellish the newly built barn and sheds-
Or the owner, who went to a multitude of auctions, and frequents the Rose Bowl Flea Market on a regular basis...
treasure hunting the elements that would fulfill the vision of those early sketches, and our brainstorming sessions for the project.
Here, we look over the newly found goodies, and discuss potential locations for each.
Here is a photo of the steel barn going up.
Here is a photo AFTER all of the embellishments were made.
California has yet to regulate the design, safety and construction of Fowl Housing (bird mansions, etc)
Yet, to add another layer of high end detail to this estate property... I designed a responsible, structurally sound, eco-friendly and attractive structure for the fine feathered friends who are now enjoying this property.
This is how the bird mansion turned out.
Note the authentic, hand hewned Sandstone foundation, 8" x 8" Old Barn Wood Post, and solid copper roofing.
Jeff Doubet She Sheds, Garden Sheds and Garden Houses for Santa Barbara and Montecito Landscapes
Santa Barbara Designer Jeff Doubet is valuable local resource for custom She Sheds, potting sheds and garden house designs.
What you would like to accomplish with your Santa Barbara and Montecito landscape?
I have a real passion for designing custom sheds, and have lost count of how many local Santa Barbarans have commissioned me for landscapes with custom shed designs as part of their plan.
For this newly built garden shed...
A dutch door and wood windows were specified.
A shake roof, reclaimed barn wood and vintage stained glass window also add to the character of this high end, quality shed.
The other newly created elements such as sandstone steps and garden walls also add to the richness of this garden.
A Site photo I used as a "BEFORE" image that I would base my Conceptual Design sketching on.
You can see the large pile of firewood that I was inspired to organize for the owner...
by proposing the firewood shed, below.
Here, I create a Conceptual Rendering for this undeveloped section of the ranch property.
I designed the 10 x 12 garden shed and adjacent wood shed to be an aesthetically pleasing vignette of structures that would eventually "screen" an area for unsightly ranch equipment, etc.
With the backdrop of new growth of this seasons Avocado crop budding, the charming new structures are built.
The General Contractor is a hands on guy. Here, cutting the reclaimed barn wood for the trim.
Incorporating architectural salvage items such as vintage stained glass windows can really add character to any potting shed or garden shed project.
My original shed design concept was greatly improved when the project owner returned from another auction with this vintage stained glass window in hand.
Here, I collaborate with the very talented general contractor on the project- to plan the revision.
We carefully chose reclaimed old barn wood pieces that would add the extra character of an old building-
even though this high end shed was built just a week earlier.
The old school wavey glass colors look great with the old red barn wood hues. Just one of those moments of creative collaboration where magic happens.
Casual outdoor spaces were designed and created with gravel patios, reclaimed timbers and a hand hewned sandstone fire pit.
The vintage chairs and swing bench were purchased by the owner
He had great luck picking at the Rose Bowl Flea Market and various auctions in L.A.
Another BEFORE PHOTO
This is what the property above looked like before we got started on the project.
An example of how something with great potential just needs imagination to bring it to it's full potential.
This is a favorite photo.
The owner had found this classic old water hand pump at auction.
He really made an extra effort to find elements that were included in the original concept design renderings.
Creating beautiful properties from scratch is a collaborative process.
Once we started laying things out, we decided that the pump fountain would be enjoyed more near the fire pit area vs. up near the wood shed.
One more shot of the larger shed. We incorporated old fashioned swing out windows and made a window box with reclaimed wood, too.
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