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a Jeff Doubét Spanish Style Pool Shed Design That Was Built into a Backyard Pool Landscape in Santa Barbara Ca

Spanish Sheds: The New Way To Decorate A Backyard Pool

Jeff Doubet shares Spanish shed ideas, photos, construction tips, resource links + quality info.  This Spanish pool shed was designed + built to house pool equipment. All to create a wonderful backyard addition to the newly reconditioned pool and a Santa Barbara Spanish-style home renovation.

A high end custom Spanish style pool shed next to a newly refurbished pool in Santa Barbara, CA.

This Spanish shed was part of a backyard pool renovation that became the focal point. Construction photos are a great way to learn what goes into building a high quality project. Be sure to check out Spanish Courtyard Home, my post about the main house transformation.

A charming poolside scene with an outdoor dining table, chairs and Spanish style shed that houses pool equipment

This poolside shed houses pump equipment and supplies. It serves a functional purpose, and was also an investment in improving the property for resale. Scroll to see how a quality Spanish-style shed can improve your own property.

Another Spanish pool shed design by Santa Barbara Home Designer Jeff Doubét as viewed from across the pool.

Nothing like a lit pool on a warm summer night, or a lunch date with those you love. Things I enjoy thinking about while designing projects like this.

Designing A Spanish Style Pool Shed in Santa Barbara

Everyone who plans to build a new pool knows that pesky question: Where do you want the pool equipment? When I design pool projects, I’m always looking for ways to get a charming pool equipment shed designed + built into the landscape. For this fixer upper project, the run down pool and equipment were there- but plenty of room for improvement.

A Before photo of an outdated pool, patio and landscape in Santa Barbara, CA just before a pool renovation took place.

BEFORE photo: While on a jog one weekend, I decided to check in on the progress of the whole house renovation. There in the backyard, I kept looking at that ugly pool equipment. I thought “Hmmm… what if we built a pool shed into the hillside?”

A Jeff Doubét design sketch for a Spanish style pool equipment shed.

Spanish Shed Drawing: I quickly ran home and sketched this design before my inspiration evaporated. First thing on Monday morning I brought the rough sketch to the jobsite. I shared it with the investor and his general contractor. They said… “Cool, let’s build it!”

A Spanish shed design by Jeff Doubét was planned and built right next to a backyard swimming pool in Santa Barbara, California

AFTER Photos: This is how it turned out. Very close to the original vision, and we improved upon the design as it was being built.

Another Jeff Doubét Spanish shed design 2 that was built near a backyard pool in Santa Barbara, California

Once the back hillside was cleared, the slope was a bit steeper than first thought. A work around was a taller retaining wall at the back of the shed. Stair stepping the decorative wall to match the retaining wall to right of shed door also helped.

terra cotta clay pots hang from black iron pot rings on the stucco wall of a Spanish shed in Santa Barbara, California.

This closeup photo shows how we mounted iron ring holders for the terra cotta clay pots. They add charm to the shed facade.

Different ways to build a Spanish Shed

There are many different ways to build a Spanish shed. Your specific property will dictate the choices you will have. Soil type, flat or sloped lot, neighborhood property setback requirements are some technical aspects. Desired lifespan of the shed also plays a role. Here I share a series of construction photos showing you the sequence of steps we used to build this Spanish pool shed.

An early stage of resurfacing a pool in Santa Barbara, CA

DEMO Day: The cement block wall is cut where the new shed door opening will go. Digging out the slope begins, as well as moving the new plumbing for the pool. Next, a new concrete slab for the shed and cement block retaining walls for the shed.

wood framing of a Spanish style shed on a concrete block foundation.  A pool renovation and landscape project in Santa Barbara, California

Here, 2″ x 8″ walls were framed on top of the 8″ wide cement block retaining foundation. New cement blocks were also added to the existing retaining walls. Notice the 1.5″ thick terra cotta clay paver tiles mortared on top of the block wall as a Spanish-style decorative wall cap.

building a Spanish Shed

Framing thicker walls is a great way to achieve a classic Santa Barbara Spanish look in both custom Spanish sheds and homes.

Spanish shed construction photo showing cement block foundation and weatherproofing installed on wood framing in Santa Barbara, CA project

In prep for exterior plaster, weatherproofing of the roof and wood framing is taking place. A round clay drain pipe rests on the wall. In Spanish home construction, clay drain pipe is used to make decorative vents. See and learn more in my post installing clay pipe vents in Spanish-style homes.

A Spanish style vented opening made with terra cotta clay pipe in Santa Barbara, California

Here is how the vented opening turned out. Made with the same terra cotta clay pipe, the were cut in half, and then in 4″ wide pieces. Once cut with a tile saw, they were stacked and glued in place with special adhesive.

Applying Exterior Stucco to Spanish Sheds

A Spanish shed under construction, to be used for pool equipment and storage in a backyard pool landscape in Santa Barbara, CA

Here a second coat of exterior plaster is applied to the shed and garden walls. Notice how the plastering team is building up a flared detail on the retaining walls. When you use a 12″ wide clay paver as a wall cap, you can make an 8″ block wall look more substantial. With this Spanish wall building technique, layers of exterior plaster are slowly built up to the 12″ wide wall cap.

A close up image of a plasterer applying a finish coat of plaster to a garden wall in Santa Barbara, California

A close up image of a plasterer applying a finish coat of plaster to the garden wall.

A crew of plasterers apply exterior plaster to a garden wall and Spanish style shed project in Santa Barbara, California

The plasterers are busy applying the final integral color coat of exterior plaster. The entire final coat needs to be applied in one pass, otherwise you will see an undesirable stop and start area in your plaster finish.

A team of Santa Barbara plasterers apply exterior stucco plaster to a small Spanish style shed being built as a pool equipment shed.

Here the plastering team continues to apply the final coat of plaster. The color you choose for your integral color plaster finish will always look darker when it is first applied. A few days after it has cured, the true color will be revealed.

Spanish-style Shed Doors

There are different shed door options available, depending on the wall height you are building. If an 8 foot wall height, a standard 6′-8″ exterior door. There are several manufacturers that make Plank Speakeasy doors, perfect for Spanish sheds.

A Santa Barbara finish carpenter builds a wood door for a Spanish style pool shed

But for this small shed, a talented woodworker builds a custom plank door. With a biscuit joiner he has made a strong + stable door. All glued up and clamped, he now attaches a 3/4″ x 6″ wood bottom support the long iron hinge will screw into.

two finish carpenters carry a Spanish style wood door to a pool shed they are building in Santa Barbara, California

The craftsmen bring the door to the shed for final fitting. You can also see the integral color plaster has cured to a beautiful off white.

two finish carpenters work on a wood gate style door they are installing in a Spanish style pool shed being built in Santa Barbara, California

For a frameless shed door like this, fine adjustments are made on site. The door is being sanded and fitted to the finished opening.

A custom plank wood door designed and built for a Spanish style pool shed in Santa Barbara, California

Their passion and expertise for the details pay off with a beautiful result. Artisans like these have incredible integrity in their work. Investing in excellent craftsmanship produces a project that will last, and pride of ownership of course.

LANDSCAPING SANTA BARBARA GARDENS WITH LOCAL SANDSTONE

Spanish-style gardens throughout Santa Barbara and Montecito are accentuated with local sandstone. A relatively soft rock, it’s versatility can be worked into garden walls, stone facades, mailboxes, curbing and driveways.

A stone mason hand chisels Santa Barbara sandstone to make a stone garden wall in Santa Barbara, California

A few days after the shed door was installed, the landscaping improvements began. This talented Santa Barbara stone mason hand chisels these local sandstone boulders into a handcrafted garden wall. If you live in Santa Barbara or Montecito, local sandstone is an excellent way to add more interest and texture to your landscape.

More Jeff Doubet Spanish-style Shed Photos

For more Spanish-style shed photos and design info, please be sure to check out Spanish Shed Collection 1. Also, this special Spanish shed attached to a home.

A dining room in a remodeled Santa Barbara home has a picture window that looks out to the pool and Spanish style shed and landscape.

Here is how the Spanish pool shed is experienced from the dining room and kitchen pool view windows. The family room is adjacent to the dining room, and has a pool view as well.

A Santa Barbara Home Designer Jeff Doubét custom Spanish style pool shed designed and built in Santa Barbara, CA

Some parting shots to leave you with. This one highlights how light and shadow play off the many textures and surfaces of the build.

an outdoor pool patio area with dining table, chairs and a Spanish style pool shed in the background.

And a close up of the shed, as experienced from the outdoor dining table.

Well friend, this wraps another site visit in beautiful Santa Barbara, CA. I hope you enjoyed learning how to infuse more Santa Barbara Style into your own Spanish home design project. Scroll to explore more helpful links and resources for designing and building your own Spanish-style home and landscape.

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Creating Spanish Style Homes is a refreshing, inspirational resource for planning, designing, remodeling and building a custom Spanish style home and landscape.

Additional Spanish Home + Landscape Resources

I’ve organized my snapshot posts and full-length articles into 4 main categories: Interiors , Exteriors , Landscapes and Store + More. For popular sub-categories like Spanish sheds, fireplaces, garage doors, tiles, etc. see my Portfolios. With well over 1,250+ photos and countless design tips shared… peruse at your own pace, or do a QUICK SEARCH for your specific needs!