Trend Spotlight
Across the country, a fascinating trend is emerging: individuals are purchasing handcrafted Amish sheds and transforming them into fully functional living quarters, creative studios, and commercial spaces. This innovative approach is gaining popularity, especially among those seeking affordable and quick-to-assemble housing options.
In a recent feature by the Bangor Daily News, the story of Jason and Jennifer Remillard, a couple from Chicago who relocated to Maine to pursue a more sustainable lifestyle, highlights this movement. Their journey began with an interest in homesteading and evolved into building a unique home from Amish-made sheds.
The Advantages of Choosing an Amish Shed Home
What makes Amish-built sheds an attractive option for modern dwellings? The reasons are compelling:
- Cost-Effectiveness: Prices typically range from as low as $2,000 to approximately $36,000, depending on size and customization. This makes them about half the price of traditional log cabins or tiny homes.
- Speed of Construction: These structures can often be completed within four to eight weeks, offering a swift transition from purchase to habitation.
The Remillards’ setup included two Amish sheds, measuring 14-by-36 feet and 14-by-32 feet respectively, connected via a five-foot hallway. Their total investment for both structures was around $24,000. They received the sheds as shells—featuring a roof, studded walls, and an insulated floor—and have since completed roughly 90% of the interior finishing over three years. Jason emphasizes the sheds’ adaptability, noting how easily they can be expanded or customized to suit individual needs.
This approach provides a significantly lower-cost alternative to traditional homes, even after accounting for interior conversions. Jason Remillard also creates instructional videos on converting Amish sheds into comfortable living spaces. According to him, there are currently seven Amish sheds on his rural county road used as cabins, illustrating the growing popularity of this trend, which he refers to as the “Amish shed to cabin craze.”
Understanding the Trade-Offs
Living in a shed does mean sacrificing some square footage, but depending on the design, the space can be surprisingly generous. The Remillards’ combined two-shed configuration offers approximately 1,000 square feet of living space, comfortably accommodating two people. For context, this is comparable to or even exceeds the size of some traditional small homes.
Amish-made sheds and pre-fabricated structures like barns and cabins have long been a thriving industry for Amish builders. Johnny Kulp, a craftsman from the Smyrna Amish community, has been instrumental in constructing these versatile sheds. These structures are not only used as residences but also serve a multitude of purposes such as:
- Music or art studios
- Photography or recording spaces
- Commercial stands or shops
- Garages or workshops
- Guest cabins and full-time homes
Kulp emphasizes that customizations can transform a shed into nearly any functional space, whether for personal use or business. The versatility of Amish sheds is evident in their use for artisan studios, tiny homes, offices, and even small-scale commercial enterprises. For example, one woman converted an Amish shed into a bookstore with an investment of around $12,000.
Many Amish builders also construct traditional homes, blurring the lines between shed-based living and conventional residential architecture. This suggests that the market for Amish-made living structures is expanding, and we can expect more manufacturers to promote their sheds as viable, affordable living options.
Final Thoughts
While the idea of living in an Amish shed is appealing for many, practical considerations such as bathroom facilities are crucial. The article doesn’t specify if these converted sheds include plumbing or bathroom amenities, but it’s reasonable to assume that most conversions incorporate modern conveniences to meet daily needs.
Overall, Amish sheds offer a compelling, budget-friendly alternative for those seeking quick, customizable, and versatile living spaces. As this trend continues to grow, it could redefine affordable housing solutions in the years to come.