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Brenda and Gerald Lyle's 12-acre property in Douglas County has sheds here, there and everywhere, including two diminutive log cabins, a folly covered in jasmine and roses, a playhouse for grandchildren and the mother of all, a converted chicken house. This is no coop. It looks a mile long and includes a pool house, tack room and horse stall, a garden room and potting shed, laundry room, storage room and a small apartment.

"A lot of people will buy a property and the first thing they do is tear down a shed out back because they think it's an eyesore," Brenda Lyle said. "It may be. Not all of my buildings were cute when we moved here, so you have to rethink it a little bit. Any little outbuilding can be made cute and serviceable," Lyle said.

BEFORE SHEDDING A SHED

Here are a few suggestions from Brenda Lyle, whose Douglas County property is dotted with sheds, for rehabbing your own outbuilding:

• Make sure the shed is structurally sound. Shore up the foundation; patch the roof if need be.
• Consider running electricity to the building or even plumbing.
• To add charm, grow a vine on the side of the structure.
• Add a window if there isn't one.
• If there is a window, add shutters; add a window box.
• Remember, it doesn't have to look as perfect as your house. It can and probably should have a little quirkiness to it.