The Potting Shed: From Shed to Sanctuary – How A Humble Garden Building Became a Charming All-Season Retreat

When the wind howls outside and snow blankets Southern Ontario, Tracey Hiebert has a place to escape. Her potting shed – built from salvaged windows and an old door – becomes a sun-filled sanctuary where she can sink her hands into soil and tend to plants while winter rages.

'My potting shed is my little sanctuary,' says Tracey. 'It's my place to go to relax, unwind, and enjoy having my hands in the soil in the middle of winter. I can pot a plant up out there as the sun pours in, and the wind howls outside.'

For empty-nesters like Tracey and her husband, the shed represents more than just a practical garden workspace. It's the fulfilment of a long-held cottage garden dream, the heart of an evolving garden, and a year-round retreat that changes with the seasons. And with five cats who've claimed it as their own lounging spot, it's truly a family sanctuary.

A Winter Refuge With A Vintage Soul

The genius of Tracey's potting shed lies in its ability to function beautifully across all seasons, but it's in winter when it really shines. While the garden sleeps under snow, the shed remains a warm, inviting space where gardening never really stops.

'I can pot a plant up out there as the sun pours in,' Tracey explains. The salvaged windows that form the walls aren't just charming architectural details – they're functional elements that flood the space with natural light during the dark winter months, creating a bright haven when the rest of the world feels gray and dormant.

Even the window boxes have a winter role. 'I cut greenery clippings from our farm and put them in the soil for Christmas,' says Tracey. 'This lasts all winter.' Rather than leaving the boxes bare or removing them entirely, she uses the existing soil as a base for seasonal evergreen arrangements that provide structure and life to the exterior through the coldest months.

Inside, the shed transforms into what Tracey calls 'my own little playhouse' – a nostalgic nod to her childhood. 'I have always had a love of playing house that started when I was a little girl with my dollhouse,' she reflects. That playful spirit infuses every corner, from the pink chandelier overhead to the constantly rotating vintage furniture.

A Space Built From Salvaged Dreams

When Tracey and her husband became empty-nesters, a long-held vision finally had room to breathe. 'I have always loved the idea of a cottage garden, filled with flowers and pea gravel pathways to meander on,' she says. 'When my husband built me my own potting shed in 2018, the cottage garden was planted all around it. And we haven't stopped.'

The design process was collaborative and intentional. Tracey researched potting sheds online and in magazines, pulling inspiration from multiple sources. 'I showed him what I liked about each one. He built it exactly how I envisioned it in my head,' she explains.

But the real magic came from the materials. 'We used old windows and an old door, because I love the charm,' Tracey says. Those salvaged architectural elements give the structure instant history and character – the kind of patina that can't be manufactured or rushed.

The centerpiece is an old cast iron sink that Tracey purchased from a local seller. Her husband transformed it into a potting bench, creating a beautiful focal point that's both functional and full of vintage appeal.

'My cast iron sink, turned into a potting bench, has a permanent place in the shed,' Tracey notes, though even its location changes seasonally. 'It has been moved from the one side, to the back of the shed this Christmas, to change things up.'

The Pink Chandelier and Other Treasures

No detail better captures Tracey's approach to design than the chandelier story. 'I knew I wanted a chandelier hanging in the centre of the ceiling, and found one on Facebook marketplace for $25. And it was pink! (One of my favourite colours),' she recalls.

This encapsulates Tracey's design philosophy perfectly: have a clear vision, but remain open to affordable treasures that add personality and charm. 'My house is filled with second-hand furniture and chandeliers, and the potting shed is no different,' she explains.

But nothing in the shed is too precious. 'I wanted a place to store my pots, potting soil, garden supplies, but also a spot to curl up and flip through a magazine,' she explains.

Evolving With the Seasons

One of the most distinctive aspects of Tracey's shed is how it changes throughout the year. 'I love nothing better than to decorate the shed for the seasons, and I am constantly changing up the furniture and the curtains,' she says.

The curtains themselves are vintage sheets – beautiful, affordable, and easily swapped to suit her mood or the season. The sink skirt beneath her potting bench follows the same principle. 'I love that I can change the sink skirt out, to suit my mood. I have had burlap as a sink skirt, vintage sheets, and also a ready made curtain panel,' Tracey explains. 'It's a perfect spot to hide the not so pretty things, like plastic pots, and some fertilizers.'

This constant evolution keeps the space feeling fresh and exciting. Tables and chairs move in and out. Wicker pieces rotate seasonally. Decorative elements change with holidays and whims. 'A lot of things in the shed change from season to season,' Tracey notes. It's this willingness to play, rearrange, and refresh that keeps the shed from becoming static or predictable.

In spring, the shed returns to its most practical function. 'I use the shed for potting plants and starting seeds in the spring; it gets very dirty,' Tracey admits. This authentic use – the soil-covered surfaces, the busy work of propagation – is what makes the styled moments feel earned rather than precious.

For bulk storage, Tracey keeps a large aluminum trash can that holds potting soil bags. It's practical and unobtrusive, disappearing into the shed's working areas without disrupting the overall aesthetic.

Shop this space

Tracey's potting shed proves that salvaged materials and second-hand finds can create a space that's both hardworking and utterly charming.

Here are pieces that capture her vintage, cottage garden aesthetic and practical sensibility.

The potting shed didn't just appear in an established garden – it became the catalyst for creating one. 'The shed was the starting point for our garden ideas. We have created gardens all around it,' Tracey explains.

What began as a few shrubs and flowers has expanded into a multi-layered landscape designed to be explored. 'I want the garden to be discovered as you walk the paths,' says Tracey. Her husband built picket fences to define different areas. They planted rows of hydrangeas to create structure and screening, and added a small stream flowing into a fish pond.

The secret garden project then began two years ago. 'We planted a row of fast-growing privets surrounding the whole area. Then we began breaking the big area into small garden rooms,' she describes. These rooms are defined by rows of lilacs and, of course, pea gravel paths – those wandering routes that were always part of her cottage garden vision, and lead all the way back to the potting shed.

The Potting Shed is a new series that steps inside the sheds and greenhouses of designers and gardeners to uncover the practical tools and stylish essentials they use every day. We reveal how these spaces are organized, what products they rely on, and how small details – from favorite pots and vintage finds to seasonal gear – help shape their gardening routines.