Friday Finery: Ebba Brahes' 'Lusthus'

This week's Finery belonged to Swedish ironworks mogul Ebba Brahe (1596–1674) who came quite close to becoming queen (she had a doomed relationship with the young Prince Gustav Adolf). This is her 'lusthus' or summerhouse on an islet at the Bockhammar ironworks in Skinnskatteberg. It stands today in exactly the same delightful spot it was built in 1636, making it arguably the country's oldest pavilion.

Image CC courtesy Steve Henriksson

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Friday posts are sponsored by Warwick Buildings, manufacturers of outstanding quality timber buildings. Click here for more information.

Artist's studio: before and after

We've not had a good 'before and after' post for a while on Shedworking, so here's a fine example from Cosy Garden Rooms in Cambridge. It comes in at 3.5m x 2.1m and turned a disused corner of the garden into a fully equipped creative space. Features include sliding doors, wall-mounted infrared heater, a tall side window, and a 1m rectangular roof lantern for additional light. Outside, it has Hardie® Plank maintenance-free composite cladding in a two-tone scheme, Monetary Taupe and Anthracite, topped with a lovely eco-friendly sedum roof.

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Thursday posts are sponsored by Cabin Master, bespoke garden rooms and offices designed, manufactured and installed throughout the UK

Architect's garden office

A very smart garden studio build for an architect by Okopod. Featured in Channel 4’s Extraordinary Extensions series, it's the company's Hip Pod model, approximately 24m2, and features Cedar 'barcode' profile cladding, a concealed entrance door, and an impressive roof light in the high ceiling.

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Wednesday posts are sponsored by Booths Garden Studios, the UK's No.1 supplier of zero maintenance and portable garden studios

Garden office and music room

An example here of Green Retreat's Basebox model for a customer who wanted a 3.5m x 2.44m office room which could also double as extra space for leisure and hobbies. Here's what the client says about it:

“It’s a space where I can take time for myself. The great thing about having a garden room is that it’s really helped me manage my workload, hobbies and home life in a healthy way. As someone who works from home, it’s hard to switch off sometimes, and my garden room certainly helps me with that. Before, I used to work around the house, either on the sofa or dining room table. It wasn’t conducive to a productive working day. Now I just pop down the garden and work from there!"

He also uses it work on songs which he plays with his band. "Having a garden room has really facilitated my creative process because while I primarily use it as an office space, it doubles up as a practise room to jam in.”

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Monday's posts are sponsored by Smart Modular Buildings, the UK's best garden room company

 

Friday Finery: Hermitage Hut

This week's Finery is a celebration of Plankbridge's 25 years, the fresh off the production line Hermitage Hut. It's off-grid, with solar panels and a living sedum roof, and clad in waney-edge Western red ceda. Features include a fold-down oak desk, wood-burning stove, a 4ft 6in handmade box bed, and a feature wall lined with Organoid Stone Pine Forest flax fleece that apparentl releases the scent of herbs, moss and pine and ferns. The Hermitage Hut measures 14ft x 7ft 5in.

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Friday posts are sponsored by Warwick Buildings, manufacturers of outstanding quality timber buildings. Click here for more information.

Hawker's Hut (video)

We've covered the Rev. Robert Stephen Hawker's hut before on Shedworking, the spot where Victorian priest and poet spent much of his time in Cornwall, writing many of his poems in the hut which he built in 1844 on the clifftop overlooking the Atlantic Ocean using driftwood. Here's a nice little video from the National Trust which shows us briefly around inside.

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Thursday posts are sponsored by Cabin Master, bespoke garden rooms and offices designed, manufactured and installed throughout the UK

Shed of the Year 2025 shortlist announced

The shortlist for Cuprinol Shed of the Year 2025 has been announced which means it's time for the public voting to begin.

This year’s competition attracted 84 entries, and now 22 sheds have made it through to compete for the coveted title of Cuprinol Shed of the Year and the prize of £1,000 in cash, a one-of-a-kind nature’s getaway experience, and £250 worth of Cuprinol products.

“19 years in, and I’m still constantly amazed at how much passion and imagination people pour into their sheds," said Andrew Wilcox, founder and Head Judge of the competition. "Behind many of them lie powerful stories, sheds that connect generations, bring families together, and serve as hubs for communities. These aren’t just garden buildings; they’re meaningful spaces full of history, purpose, and connection."

Voting is up and running now at readersheds.co.uk and ends on July 31. The nominated builds are:

    •    The Beach Hut At The Bottom Of The Garden

    •    Nanna’s Cabin & Bampa’s Shed

    •    Redondo Trading

    •    Cast Away

    •    Cosy Cabin 

    •    Bird Song

    •    Colourful Cuban Cabin

    •    The potting shed

    •    The Plotting Shed

    •    The Gnome's Rest 

    •    The Bombardier Arms

    •    Cushty’s

    •    The Ticking Tappet

    •    The Melon Shed 

    •    The Homeshed

    •    Grottoloo

    •    Far Meadow Cabin

    •    The Garden Room

    •    The Old Stable Potting Shed

    •    The Tiny Workshop

    •    SHEDstudios

    •    Pottery Shed



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Wednesday posts are sponsored by Booths Garden Studios, the UK's No.1 supplier of zero maintenance and portable garden studios