With every door that closes, a new one opens.

Once the crack in the floor had been ground down, it meant that the door could swing freely inward. Time for a new door! As you can see from the “before” photos, the old one was in no shape to be salvaged, so I did some digging at Urban Ore and found the perfect replacement.

A big inspiration for my design choices in the shed was Abode: Thoughtful Living with Less, by Serena Mitnik-Miller and Mason St. Peter. I was particularly obsessed with the so-called half lite doors they used in their Topanga Canyon home. Not only is this type of door aesthetically pleasing, but it would allow even more natural light to enter my small, dark space.

Somehow, I convinced Chris to help me again. After splurging on the $200 door of my dreams, I was scared to cut it down myself and/or fuck it up during a DIY install. Thankfully, I had expert assistance and the process went smoothly!

Emboldened by our successful installation, I took on the task of adding a deadbolt by myself. Armed with a deadbolt jig from the tool library, and a YouTube video by See Jane Drill, I added a secure lock to my new home. Something about having a set of keys made it feel really real.

Now that my future home was structurally sound, fully enclosed, and had a lockable door, it was time to test it out! I vacuumed out the cobwebs and invited my friend Everett over for a sleepover. I was a little scared to sleep out there alone, so it was really nice to have their company. We laid out my IKEA futon mattress and a Pendleton blanket and slept in our sleeping bags, lulled to sleep by the roaring traffic of Bancroft Avenue and maybe a cricket or two. In the morning we made coffee on a camp stove and toasted to my next adventure.

Thanks for following along on my shed renovation journey! I’m writing this all in retrospect. At the time I was working on and living in my shed, it was technically an illegal dwelling, so I was inclined to keep it on the DL. I am not in any way endorsing building or living in a less than legal ADU, but since laws vary in different states and cities, I thought I’d share my story in hopes that it inspires and informs folks who are able to do this in a way that complies with local ordinances.