A Small-Scale Shed is Transformed into a Dreamy White Tack Room

An ordinary Tuff Shed becomes a delightful space for tack and storage.

Jennifer Evans didn’t grow up riding, but when the opportunity to experience horse ownership presented itself, she welcomed the equestrian lifestyle. Always an animal lover, Jennifer’s only connection to horses were the rides she experienced at camp during her childhood. After purchasing her home in Orange County a year ago, an empty additional lot below the house was the perfect place to build small-scale horse facilities. The property has access to trails directly into Peters Canyon regional park and several surrounding properties have horses. Jennifer took the responsibility of horse ownership seriously, starting with riding lessons and then purchasing her first horse, Jack II, a Palomino Quarter Horse. After connecting with Sandy Forkert, a local esteemed equestrian in nearby Orange Park Acres at a tack sale, Sandy quickly became a mentor, friend and trainer to Jennifer and Jack II.

“She took me under her wing and patiently worked with myself and Jack II for about six months while we planned and built our space,” Jennifer explained. “She had a full arena and we worked together as much as possible on basic training, horsemanship, and horse care.”

Photos provided by Jennifer Evans

Two Tuff sheds serve as storage for the micro ranch. The larger shed is 10′ x 12′ with a custom pitch metal roof is a dedicated tack room. The second 10′ x 6′ shed is situated under the larger shed, utilized for hay and feed. The fencing from Buckley Fence.

Inside the Tack Room

Petite, but perfectly organized, Jennifer sourced a variety of rattan baskets and containers to hold the essentials. It keeps everything organized while still looking collected and decorative. It’s important to have a place for everything. Always up for a fun design project, Jennifer enjoyed every minute of styling her tack room.

“For this project, I found Stable Style online and immediately started combing the pictures there. I then bought the book and created a Pinterest board,” Jennifer said. “I always loved the look of a classic white barn but recognized I had a very small space to work with. In many cases, I miniaturized the aesthetics I’d find on a larger scale into what worked here. This is my version of a pretty white barn on a micro scale.”

The chandelier is from an atelier in a historic building located in downtown San Francisco that Jennifer recently closed. It adds a bit of character to the space. The rugs and pillows are from St. Frank. The bench is from Target, along with several of the baskets and containers.

A Stable Style book and Tack Room candle are on display.

Pretty with a purpose, this curtained area houses additional rattan baskets in various sizes that hold more supplies. The curtain keeps the space looking clean and tidy.

The saddle racks were purchased on Amazon in black and turned white with a can of spray paint. The beautiful black horseshoe cleaning hooks are from Tack Room Studio.

This vintage looking cart was from Sandy and looks perfect in this space.

Outdoor Spaces

The weather is mild in Southern California so a covered shed offers protection from the sun and a dry place during seasonal, winter rain.

Horse keeping at home has created a new level of dimension and care for the family life. The shelter and arena are positioned below the home so it’s easy to keep an eye on Jack II, Jennifer explained.

“We all visit him throughout the day and enjoy the easy access to care for or ride him in his small arena and take him out on the neighboring trails. It’s been fun for our family as a whole, as we enjoy puttering around down there together. Our two golden retrievers love visiting him and playing in the creek, and my five-year-old daughter loves to ride him and feed him or hang out while I do. It’s also brought us closer to our neighbors, who like to bring him carrots or stop by to see him and visit.”

Above, a set of double doors were added to the side of the feed room shed, which sits elevated for easy hay and feed deliveries. There are mats and cross ties below for a wash area. Thank you Jennifer for sharing your piece of paradise with Stable Style.

For even more small space inspiration, be sure to read A Tuff Shed is Transformed into a Beautiful Tack Room.