Seattle Post-Intelligencer - Wednesday, May 10, 2000

These sheds shed old image of storing tools
Donovan Waddall and Dan Beebe, above, workers of Lee Construction Co., are building a base for a telescope in a backyard observatory, complete with a retractable roof, for a Redmond man.  The construction is part of a growing trend.  The construction is part of a growing trend in garden-shed design, in which intricate patterns, roofing- and siding-materials options, thermal windows, secure doors, transparent panels, window boxes and even benches and porches are built to customize what was once designed to be a place to store shovels and rakes.  One store that is specializing in designing and creating customized garden sheds is Garden Solutions, based in Woodinville.      Garden Solutions' showroom, right , at 14435 Woodinville-Redmond Road, displays standard shed models and various accessories that customers can order for customization, meeting needs from greenhouses to home offices.  Construction of an ordered shed takes place on the customer's home site.  Construction for a Garden Solutions basic model shed takes about one day, with costs beginning at about $1,200.  "I get all my best ideas from my customers," Garden Solutions owner Michael Gruskin said.  "Customers are looking for garden sheds that will complement their homes, express style, and last."  Garden-shed sales averaged $2,900 last year at Garden Solutions. Return to the news