Saturday, March 31, 2012

Bob Dylan: shedworker?


The singer and artist has never spoken about being a shedworker yet it seems likely that he paints in a shedlike atmosphere in Los Angeles. Though we've been unable to confirm this, here's a snippet from the New York Post which seems to suggest we're right:
"John Elderfield [chief curator emeritus of painting and sculpture at the Museum of Modern Art] wound up visiting Dylan’s art studio in LA, which, he says, “is like no art studio that I’ve ever seen. I think he bought this building with all the furniture and just kept it. It’s like a little house, and it’s got old couches and stuff, crossed swords on the wall. And it’s kind of cramped.”
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Saturday posts are sponsored by Warwick Buildings, manufacturers of outstanding quality timber buildings. Click here for more information.

Friday, March 30, 2012

The Qube's Luxury Lodge (video)



A nice video from The Qube showing them building and delivering their new Timber Module range.You might want to turn the volume on your computer down before playing it...
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Dunster House, the leading UK company for Log Cabins and Garden Offices sponsors Fridays posts

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Calling Britain’s small space revolutionaries



Plum Pictures are making a new six-part prime time Channel Four series on micro design and are currently on the search for Britain’s most exciting and innovative small spaces.

Presented by Restoration Man George Clarke, Plum want to hear from anybody who is starting a small space build in the next few weeks or months to follow as part of the series. The projects could be anything from sheds, beach huts, garden rooms, eco builds, shipping containers, house boats, tree houses, as well as small extensions within a house – anything where a small space is transformed into something amazing, cool, quirky or beautiful (such as the first winner of the Shed of the Year competition, pictured above).

George also wants to visit some existing small spaces as part of the series. So if you have created an unusual, inspirational or ingenious small space – including sheds, shipping containers, garden rooms, boat houses, railway carriages and house boats or anything else small but perfectly formed – then please get in touch. Email kirsten@plumpictures.co.uk or phone 020 7184 6764 with contact details and any pictures if you have them.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

3rdSpace: folded steel


Sawhorse Limited, the company behind 3rdSpace modular buildings and garden rooms, has come up with a new concept featuring a series of dynamic folded steel forms.

Paul Grindley, architect at 3rdSpace, says: "We were originally approached to design a visually-striking garden room and asked to incorporate Cor-Ten steel, a material we have wanted to work with for some time. The challenge was to create something exciting and unique that integrated seamlessly with our existing modular system."

The design allows laser-cut, folded panels to be fitted over the full-height double glazing of the existing system, creating interesting plays of light and forming framed glimpses of views out. The new folded forms also provide flexible levels of privacy and solar shading which can be varied depending on how they are positioned.
The company is now working on developing the feature so it can be offered on other 3rdSpace build projects.

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Wednesday posts are sponsored by The Stable Company®, the UK's premier supplier of garden offices and garden rooms. Click here.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Win tickets to Grand Designs Live 2012

Kevin McCloud is bringing his contemporary home show Grand Designs Live sponsored by Direct Line back to London’s ExCeL Centre from May 5 to May 13 and we are offering readers the chance to win one of five pairs of tickets to the live show which plays host to over 500 exhibiting companies and hundreds of products that you can't find on the high street - among them will be the intriguing Tetra Shed which we exclusively revealed to the world here on Shedworking. To win, simply answer the following spectacularly tricky question by emailing us:
What TV series is Kevin McCloud known for?
a) Grand Designs
b) Location Location Location
c) Restoration Man

For those not lucky enough to win, tickets can be booked online at www.granddesignslive.com or by calling the Ticket Hotline on 0844 854 1348. Children go free.

*Terms and conditions apply,
1. This offer is only open to UK residents
2. Competition winners tickets are valid for any one day of the show between the 5th – 13th May to Grand Designs Live at Excel London
3. Tickets are non transferable
4. Complimentary tickets obtained through this offer may not be duplicated.
5. All tickets will be scanned on entry to the show
6. The closing date for this offer is April 16
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Cube (screencast)



You can find more details at the Cube website.
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3rdSpace modular garden rooms
Tuesday posts are sponsored by 3rdSpace modular garden rooms.
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Monday, March 26, 2012

Installing an Armadilla garden office



Doug Bain has put together a nice video of the installation of his striking Armadilla garden office. Music from Doug's son's band Little Men and Her.
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Saturday, March 24, 2012

Meeting POD


From the people who brought us the OfficePOD, here is the MeetingPOD, built for shedworking within larger internal office spaces. The standard pod is 50 sq ft and built for up to four people to use. Here's what they say about it:
"The MeetingPOD creates a place where users can relax, concentrate and be comfortable. With an overall rating of Dw 39dB for sound transference to adjoining areas, occupants can talk safe in the knowledge that they are afforded privacy. The aesthetic design of the POD ensures that it brings a visual impact to the space that it's in and its surroundings."
The modular pod can be built over a weekend and comes fully fitted with furniture, ventilation and lighting so it's ready for immediate use.

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

Friday, March 23, 2012

Cotsmill Garden Offices showreel



A pleasant way to finish Friday from Cotsmill Garden Offices.
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Dunster House, the leading UK company for Log Cabins and Garden Offices sponsors Fridays posts

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Inside George Bernard Shaw's writing hut


Not a view the public ever gets to see of the interior of the great garden office at Shaw's Corner in Hertfordshire. For more on Shaw's shed, click here.
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Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Latest homeworking/shedworking trends


The Live/Work Business Briefing 2012, the second annual snapshot of homeworking trends from the Workhubs Network, indicates that homeworking is growing rapidly - the number of those running a business from home is up 80,000 over last year to 2.43 million people, which amounts to more than 1 in 12 of those in work. You can read about the results in more detail over at my new property blog for The Independent.
Pictured above is the Solo from Smart Garden Offices.
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Wednesday posts are sponsored by The Stable Company®, the UK's premier supplier of garden offices and garden rooms. Click here.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Large garden office + exclusive offer



If you're going to invest in an outdoor room, there's something to be said for going for the largest you can afford and then upgrading fixtures and fittings in the future. Garden2office has just completed a 70 square metre combined art space, pottery studio and garden store in Weybridge which includes triple glazed roof lights for a more even light in the art space/gallery. Garden2office will include a free 600x900mm skylight on all orders from now until April 15 (subject to the usual planning restrictions) if you mention Shedworking when ordering.
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Monday, March 19, 2012

Small garden office


While some garden offices are immense, there's no reason why you can't work very happily indeed in something more bijou. Here's a nice example painted in deep aubergine from Garden Affairs in central London where the shedworker had restricted space in the back garden. In addition to the three long windows and glazed door, the garden office has a flat green sedum roof which as we know is great for insulation and also pleasant aesthetically.
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Saturday, March 17, 2012

Rob Cowan: shedworker


Rob Cowan is a classical music broadcaster, probably best known for his work on Radio 3, most recently on the station's breakfast slot as well as on CD Review and The Cowan Collection. And he's also a shedworker as the video above shows.
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Saturday posts are sponsored by Warwick Buildings, manufacturers of outstanding quality timber buildings. Click here for more information.

Friday, March 16, 2012

How to live in sheds


An intriguing article in Dwell looks at the pod-like home of Tanya and Chris Gamby in Hawaii built initially on the basis of using 10ft by 12ft modules to make a home. Well worth a browse.
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Dunster House, the leading UK company for Log Cabins and Garden Offices sponsors Fridays posts

Shed bookends/bookshelves


On sale at Found 4 You (site in German)
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Dunster House, the leading UK company for Log Cabins and Garden Offices sponsors Fridays posts

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Shed + sandwiches T-shirt


I think this one will resonate with many readers... You can buy it here. Thanks to Su Butcher for the alert.
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Thursday posts are sponsored by Atelier garden studios which are sustainable, stylish, flexible, functional and future proofed

Shed Happenings


Today's guest post is by Maria C. McCarthy who reports on her intriguing Shed Happenings project.


When I was little, my siblings and I staged performances of song, dance and magic tricks in our shed. We charged tuppence to get in, and served squash and biscuits. Perhaps these were the first shed happenings.

Four years ago, my husband and I bought a house on the basis that it had a shed. It was a ramshackle affair with a dirt floor and walls that didn’t always meet the leaky corrugated iron and asbestos roof. But it was huge, and had a lovely view over an orchard.

An occupation of builders brought out the best in our outhouse, and now it is two-thirds shed-shed, one-third writing room (see photo above). Or guitar room, depending on whether you speak to me or my husband. It’s used for writers’ workshops and band rehearsals, and will soon host a shed happening, or s’happening.

I met another shed-lover on Facebook, Sarah March d’Angelo, and we came up with the idea of s’happenings. The first took place this month, in Sarah’s shed, with a nautical theme. Seven artists huddled by the light of candles and torches, read poems, projected film with live poetry to match the images, and sang songs to a baby harp and guitar. There was bouillabaisse and wine, and each s’happener made a donation to charity. Our host’s son remarked that we were, ‘Sad’, spending the evening in a cold shed, but it was entertaining, inspiring and fun.


The next s’happening is in my shed in April. The theme is Entente Cordiale. A short play, poetry, songs and projections on the shed walls are promised. English and French cheeses and wines will be served. For those without the requisite outhouse to host a s’happening, tent and gazebo happenings may follow – once the weather gets warmer.

Maria’s poetry collection, strange fruits, is available from www.culturedllama.co.uk. Harp photo of harpist Fran Broady by Nikki Price

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Thursday posts are sponsored by Atelier garden studios which are sustainable, stylish, flexible, functional and future proofed

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Wondershed


Quite a different look for a garden office, Wondershed is new to the market and ticks all the boxes (insulated floor/walls/roof, adaptable doors, underfloor heating, etc) but it's their exterior that's unusual. Here's what they say: "Our unique cladding system is based on a textured cement particleboard, with a 20-year guarantee and paint finish to taste." It's all on a steel frame base, seated on concealed compacted pads. Well worth a browse.
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Wednesday posts are sponsored by The Stable Company®, the UK's premier supplier of garden offices and garden rooms. Click here.

Children need sheds too: Simpson Design Group Architects





Some lovely designs from Simpson Design Group Architects
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Wednesday posts are sponsored by The Stable Company®, the UK's premier supplier of garden offices and garden rooms. Click here.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Beach hut for sale for £126,000


Occupying a most enviable position on the sand spit of Mudeford this 13' x 12'8 Beach Hut offers a dual aspect with views over beautiful sandy beaches towards the Isle of Wight and to the rear has views over Christchurch Harbour. The Hut itself sleeps 4 having one double bed, one single bed and one bunk bed, it has a solar panel providing electricity for lighting and there is a separate kitchen area which has a range of cupboards for storage and gas powerered cooker and fridge with the gas being supplied via calor gas bottles. To the front of the hut is a slightly raised decked seating area with an open vista across the beach. We understand from the owner that the property can be rented throughout the season on a daily or weekly basis.
More at Denisons
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Another leap forward for pubworking


Great news for all pubworkers as Mitchells & Butlers has today announced a three year deal with O2 to put free wifi into its 1,600 restaurants and pubs across the UK.

Robin Young, Operations Director at Mitchells & Butlers said: "We already know that people love to eat and drink with us and whether guests visit to relax over breakfast, brunch or dinner, work away from the office, or have a beer with friends and colleagues, we know from talking to them that free and easy to use wifi is something they want in the restaurant and pub environment."

M&B has a wide range of operations including Harvester, Toby Carvery, Vintage Inns, Nicholson's, Browns, All Bar One and O'Neill's. The first hotspots will be introduced to 199 Harvester restaurants with rollout across the group to be completed by October this year. Gavin Franks, MD of O2 Wifi said: "Pub and restaurant-goers will soon be able to receive promotional offers, check the football scores, reply to their emails and update social media sites over a Sunday roast and a pint."
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Space rock riches hit family shed in Norway


A space rock worth potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars has fallen into an Oslo family's garden shed. The rock weighing 585g, which split in two, probably detached from a meteorite observed over Norway on March 1, experts said, and had landed on the empty hut in the Thomassen family's allotment garden in a working-class neighbourhood of the Norwegian capital.
More at the Herald Sun
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Monday, March 12, 2012

Hermit's House



We featured Hermit's House very briefly about 18 months ago when it seemed to be just a one-off design, but now Mark van der Net and Daniël Venneman of The Cloud Collective have redeveloped the design and made it widely available. They're particularly keen on the motto of 'Life unplugged' which means the design can be largely off-grid and self-sufficient - it comes with integrated solar energy as well as an optional wooden stove. And if you're handy, then there is a DIY option.
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Laura Ashley beach hut dress


According to Laura Ashley this cotton dress offers "fashionable retro charm" and features a square neck, seamed waist, flared skirt, pink ribbed ribbon waist tie and concealed side zip fastening. Click the link to see what it looks like on a young lady who also appears to enjoy roller skating on piers.
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Monday posts are sponsored by garden2office, the Swedish garden office specialists. Click here for more details.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Maggie's Oxford


Maggie's runs a number of centres around the UK to help anybody affected by cancer, from just being diagnosed or undergoing treatment, to post-treatment, recurrence or in bereavement. The Oxford centre is currently being run from a Portakabin on the Churchill Hospital site but they will soon be moving into marvellous new £3m shedlike timber tree house buildings close by designed by Wilkinson Eyre (where you can find more images). “Our design encapsulates the philosophy and principles on which the Maggie’s Centres are based," says the firm's Chris Wilkinson. "The tree house concept maximises the relationship between the internal space and the external landscape offering discreet spaces for relaxation, information and therapy, it will provide a sympathetic and caring retreat, in tune with its surroundings." The treehouse structure will be suppported on stilts, as shown in the image above.

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