YANKEEY CAYTON
When people step into Debi and Roy Berriman’s shed they usually have one response: Wow!
That sums it up nicely. The shed in the back yard of their house in Cay ton has been turned into a 1950s American diner.
It comes complete with a booth with Coco Cola- red leather sofa sand square chrome tables topped with relish and mustard jars and a napkin dispenser, chequered floor, popcorn machine and memorabilia including a Route 66 sign and a picture of a red Chevrolet.
The piece de resistance, for me, is the jukebox which plays 1950s and 60s tunes. Our conversation is carried out to the smooth sounds of True Love’s Ways, Blue Moon, Heartbeat and Dream Lover.
“It did house a spa pool but there was a lot of space left over and we were wondering what to do with it. We like to entertain on the deck (the barbecue is a permanent feature) but often the rain would spoil things, so we decided to turn the shed into a diner so we would have an all-weather venue,” said Roy.
At the same time the couple were also replacing their red leather settees - and Debi thought they would be perfect for the booth. The rest has been designed round them.
“For me, there were key elements to a diner,” said Roy, “a booth, chequered floor and the chequered stripes round the walls.”
Neither have been to America but have an affection for the 60s music they grew up with. Debi also has an eye for design. “It comes naturally to me.
“I can see one item and plan a room round it,” she said. Roy, who owns and works in a garage across the road from their home, is also practical. He took the legs of the sofas and made storage boxes under them.
Everytime you look round the diner something new catches your eye. The jukebox is from the internet.
The top of the service counter is a red laminate wardrobe door from Ikea, the overhead l amps in the booth are also from Ikea, the 1950s working wall phone from Debenhams, the tumblers and sundae glasses from Morrisons, a ret- ro radio is a biscuit tin which onced held shortbread, there is Coco Cola straws holder and furnishings from The Range and B&M. A hamburger ornament cost £1.
The fridge has an icebox to store icecream so Debi can serve knickerbocker glories complete with fruit, cream and sprinkles.
“I am always on the lookout for things ,” said Debi, “and our friends and family buy us birthday and Christmas presents for the diner. It is still work in progress.”
And it was all thought out before George Clarke’s series on sheds - of which the couple are fans.
A Walls Ice Cream advertisement panel was a gift from their daughter Samantha. The couple, who have been married 30 years and lived in their Cayton home for 19 years, also have a son Jason and a threeyear-old grandson James.
The diner - called K-10 - has been ‘open’ for a year and has been used for wedding anniversary and birthday parties and afternoon teas.
Daughter Samantha will soon have her 30th birthday celebrations in the diner and it is where Debi will entertain for her 50th birthday.
It was also the setting for a photo-shoot for Scarborough Musicals cast of Hairspray. The company put on the show at the YMCA in Scarborough earlier this year.
“Because from the outside it looks like a summer house I l ove to s ee people’s reac- tion when they first come in here,” said Roy. “They all just go: ‘Wow!’.