Exclusive Shed of the year Vouchers Loading...
I have always had a love of all things Cuban : the buildings , the music , the fashion , the cars but especially the laid back style and the beautiful faded pastel colours of the Caribbean . For my 60th birthday I held a Vintage Cuban Dance party for over 100 friends which was very well received .
Ten years later, to celebrate my 70th I considered booking a dream holiday to a remote Cuban shack but decided instead that my money would be better spent in bringing the said shack some four and a half thousand miles to Walsall in the West Midlands !!. ....It's prime purpose to be a social hub for intimate meals and drinks to enjoy with my wife and friends and a cosy retreat to unwind and observe nature in the privacy of our own garden.
I originally intended to build the cabin from scratch using the twelve reclaimed vintage wooden doors that I had purchased from Market Place but decided a ready built structure would be more sturdy and offer all- year- round use. I purchased a summerhouse from a local firm , insulated it throughout and used the doors to add a luxury panelled effect. In true Cuban tradition and using a 'mend and make do' philosophy I furnished and decorated the cabin, almost entirely, using reclaimed items or those bought second hand from local charity shops.
Repurposed items include an old dolls house which recreates Ernest Hemmingway's favourite hostelry and an unloved wooden cabinet turned into a rustic bench seat.
Although the cabin has only been habitable since Easter it has already hosted several themed candlelit meals and a couple of rum fuelled evenings !!. Very good value for money I would say.
