Relax to the max on the shady porch of the Potting Fort. Originally designed for storage and gardening, this popular little cottage makes a splendid backyard retreat, she-shed, pool house, or bunkhouse. The saltbox style roof and dormer extending over the porch are just some of the charming details that make this one of our most beloved designs.
The Potting Fort is all about getting the most out of your property, both indoors and out. With two front-facing windows to illuminate the interior, it’s a great idea to place this cottage South-facing, so that you can enjoy sunshine all day. This versatile design has been transformed into all kinds of places and spaces by our amazing customers. A poolside cabin, ice cream stand, garden retreat, souped-up shed, or even a tiny home are all possible with the Potting Fort.
To make the Potting Fort truly your own, consider customizing. If you plan on relaxing here for hours on end, extra windows can offer a cheerful atmosphere. Or add pizzazz with a porch railing. If you plan on turning this cottage into an art studio, writer’s retreat, or workshop, opt for a built-in workbench. And finally, don’t forget about insulation; A Three Season or Four Season insulation package will make your Potting Fort a joy to inhabit at any time of the year.
Choose Your Size & Type
We offer the Potting Fort in two sizes, 12’x12′ or 14’x14′, including the porch. On both models, the porch is four feet deep, which gives the interior of the cottage an area of 8’x12′ or 10’x14′, respectively. If you plan to relax here with friends or family, you may want to opt for a larger size. For a solo retreat or seasonal building like a pool house, the smaller model may make most sense.
All sizes of the Potting Fort are available as a Pre-Cut Kit, which ships anywhere in the continental USA. Kits can be purchased as an uninsulated shell, or with Three Season or Four Season insulation. If you happen to live within our Northeast delivery area, we are also pleased to offer you this fancy little cottage delivered to you fully assembled.
The Complete Shell – With this package you get everything needed to set up an uninsulated building. Wall and roof framing, siding, millwork, and a metal roof come with this package.
Three Season — This package includes an insulated floor, wall and roof vapor barrier, and solid pine roof sheathing in addition to everything that comes with the shell. If you want to insulate later, or just need comfort Spring through Fall, then this is a good option.
Four Season – Enjoy your cottage every season of the year. The floor and roof are insulated with fiberglass insulation and vapor barrier, while the walls are fitted with rigid foam board insulation. Then, the interior is finished off with shiplap pine ceiling and wall sheathing. Additionally, energy-efficient double pane windows and an insulated door are included.
Customize
Each of our buildings comes with default options that match our specifications. However, if you want to personalize your Potting Fort, we have made that process a breeze. As you go through the checkout process, you’ll be able to pick and choose which options you want, to make your cottage just right.
• Strengthen – Some options are intended to boost the ruggedness of your already robust building. For example, you can increase the weight rating of your floor and roof. Treated floor systems are also ideal for geographical locations that are prone to damp ground. Western Red Cedar siding naturally repels many insects too.
• Personalize – If you want to style your building so that it blends in with your natural landscape, or match existing buildings on your property, we have a plethora of siding and roofing options. For roofing, we offer metal, Western Red Cedar shingles or shakes, and architectural asphalt shingles, which are available in many colors. Multiple siding options guarantee you’ll find just the right look for your Potting Fort.
• Add-Ons – Any of our weathervanes would look fantastic on this cottage. Install decorative wrought iron brackets to hold hanging flowerpots. Inside utilize peg-racks for hanging coats and bags. Don’t forget about the finishing touches; a porch railing or weathervane can really complete the look of your cottage.
Select the options you’d like to see below and then click “Configure Now” to customize and add to cart.
What is a Pre-Cut Kit? What is included in this package?
The Pre-Cut lumber package has all the framing members cut and ready for assembly. It includes siding, roofing, pre-dimensioned trim, and fastening hardware. Many designs also include windows and doors. The floor system, walls and rafters have all been cut, color-coded and part numbered. The detailed cut list coincides with the color-coded exploded view. The head scratching has been removed, the headaches of finding the correct angles and the aggravation of starting from scratch has all been simplified. The kit is geared to a do-it-yourself homeowner with beginner-to-beginner knowledge of carpentry.
Should I buy a Pre-Cut Kit or Fully Assembled Building?
We design our kits to be organized and easy to understand. If you have basic carpentry skills and are looking to save money, a kit is a great idea for you. We ship our kits all across the continental USA and part of Canada.
If you live within our Northeast delivery area, you are able to purchase many of our buildings Fully Assembled. You’ll save time and have the peace of mind that your cottage is being built by expert craftsmen.
What is a Complete Shell and What Comes With It?
A complete shell is an uninsulated building. As a kit, it includes everything required to assemble the building including hardware, precut framing, siding and roofing as well as doors and windows. Hardware, millwork sheathing and DIY plans have been enclosed. Each piece is color coded and part numbered. The exact itemization of what is inserted can be found on the specifications tab of the website for each product page design.
What is the difference between a 3-Season and 4-Season Insulation package?
3-Season –A three-season kit prepares the building for interior finishing. It includes the complete shell plus vapor barrier, solid roof sheathing and insulated floor system. A three season building seals the structure from humidity and moisture protecting from the environment, insects and rodents.
4-Season – Best for year-round comfort. The package includes everything a 3 season does with the addition of insulated thermal pane millwork, wall and roof insulation and pine interior sheathing.
Can I Customize My Building?
Yes! When you purchase your building, you have the option to pick siding, roofing, and flooring options to upgrade or modify your building. Read more about what options we offer.
If you are looking for some very special customizations to one of our buildings, our cottage designers can help. Contact our custom shop team to build a bespoke cottage.
How Can I Pay? Do You Offer Financing?
We accept Master Card, American Express, Discover Card and Visa, Cash, Personal Check, Financing, ACH transfers, Wire transfers, and PayPal. There are so many ways to purchase your dream cottage!
We also offer easy financing options, including a 50% now, 50% later option. See financing page.
We are proud to ship our kits all over the continental USA and to parts of Canada. To qualify for free shipping, you must have a business address and appropriate equipment for offloading your kit. Go to our shipping policy for more details
We deliver to customers within a 200 mile radius of our shop in Londonderry Vermont. This area includes New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and some parts of Maine, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and of course, Vermont.
Sign up to get alerts on future sales and special pricing
THE SMITHAVEN
