Founded in 1983, The Original Mini Barns is a local (Western Washington) family owned and operated builder of high quality accessory structures. From the point of first contact to the final build, we strive to go above and beyond to ensure our customers have a positive and fun experience while working with our professional and creative staff to build their own customized space.
Some of the purposes our Mini Barns serve are (but not limited to): traditional garden/storage space, detached offices, gyms, art studio’s, ticket offices, retail “Pop Shops” or even a space where one can practice shooting hockey pucks without damaging sections of your home.
At The Original Mini Barns, we believe “All” things are possible. Give us a call and lets build an outdoor structure that meets your unique needs.
Meet the Owners
Theirs is a story that begins in high school…
Both Tony Curran and Aaron Parrott grew up & went to school together in the Edmonds, Washington area. Neither roamed far from home or each other.
Tony and his wife & their 2 teenagers live in the Mountlake Terrace area and Aaron and his daughter reside in Lynnwood.
It was always Tony and Aarons dream to operate and run their own business. This dream came to fruition at the end of 2020, when they decided to leave their current jobs and acquire The Original Mini Barns (formerly known as Garden Solutions).
Tony worked as a Vice President of Advisory Operations at a National RIA and Brokerage firm and Aaron was in construction and masonry, and has reputable wood working skills, so when this opportunity came to them, they knew it was a perfect fit.
These life-long friends are maintaining the groundwork and reputation of the previous owners, while adding their own unique concepts and vision to The Original Mini Barns.
Site Preparation
A well prepared foundation is essential in order to prevent your structure from settling and ensures that your Mini Barn will function correctly and efficiently for many years to come. While we do not provide site preparation services, we can refer you to well trusted companies who have assisted most of our customers over the years.
For gravel foundations we recommend having 4” deep of 5/8 minus crushed gravel and to be spread 1’ beyond the parameter of your Mini Barn. It’s very important that this be packed down well to prevent settling and the additional 1’ around the structure provides drainage, keep weeds at bay and your mini clean.
If you prefer to have a concrete slab, we suggest having a slab poured 4” above grade and to be an inch short on the length and width of the shed base. With this we can tie the wall directly to the concrete and have the exterior siding drape over the edges, locking out any moisture from entering the floor.
Our Process
After working with our staff to create your custom design, our carpenters will begin to prefabricate and paint your structure. We do our best to panelize most sections so that we can get them to the site with minimal disturbance and time on your property. We typically only need an access point that is 3’ wide, 10’ tall and enough room for us to get around the corners of your house. For structures with “bare bones” interiors the installation process takes 1-2 days, whereas finished structures can take 12-14 business days to allow time for electrical work and inspections.
For paint, we’ll work with any local paint store brand and color. We’ll just need you to provide us with those details early on so we can pre-paint the walls in our shop out of the elements of our unique Washington weather.
Common Questions
How long has The Original Mini Barns been building sheds?
Since 1983. The company started as Garden Solutions and still runs under both names out of the same Lynnwood shop. Tony Curran and Aaron Parrott, who grew up together in the Edmonds area, took it over at the end of 2020 and kept the crew and the standards that came with it. It’s still family-owned.
How do I get started on a project?
Three ways, depending on how far along the thinking is. The 3D Shed Builder is the best starting point for most people — pick a style, size and options, see it rendered, and send the design over. Browsing the projects gallery works too, since every build is labeled with its style and a number that can go straight on the quote form. Or skip both and call 425-398-0566 to talk it through. A quote request takes a few minutes and asks for the basics: style, rough size and what the building is for.
Where can I find pricing information?
The Specifications page lists starting prices by size, and the shed cost guide breaks down what drives the final number — style, siding, interior finish, electrical, and the site work that happens before the crew arrives. Since every building is custom, those figures are a starting point rather than a final quote. Designing one in the 3D Shed Builder and submitting it is the fastest way to get a real number. Financing is available through the site as well.
What makes these different from a kit or a big-box shed?
They’re 100% wood. No particle board, no OSB anywhere in the building. OSB is wood chips held together with glue, and in a Washington winter it swells up and stays that way. Everything here is framed in Douglas fir, floored in 3/4-inch CDX plywood, wrapped in Tyvek and topped with a 30-year architectural roof. Each one is also designed for the yard it’s going into rather than pulled off a shelf.
