Friday, June 29, 2018

Nestle Studio



A lovely build from Mustard Architects (more images at the link), the awardwinning Nestle Studio is a painting studio in the corner of a suburban London garden right next to a silver birch around which the garden office is wrapped, giving it shade and dappled light. The while thing is clad vertically in our old friend Western Red Cedar (with interesting semi-crenelations), while internally the walls are birch faced plywood with a concrete floor. ------------------------------------
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Thursday, June 28, 2018

Milton Keynes teen den


A kind of pre-shedworking build from eDEN Garden Rooms - it's a garden room for teens to chill out in, a 4m x 3m design. "It's a little larger than the client had originally requested, but with a little more room to fit in extra bodies if necessary," explains eDEN's Mia Walmsley. "We also discussed with them the position of the garden room and agreed that the original location they had in mind would need a lot of groundwork to remove trees, shrubs and earth, so we happily changed the drawings to locate the garden room on the other side of the garden, where less work and preparations would be required.

"The customer’s garden had plenty of side access for ease of build, and, coupled with the simplicity of the room and the advanced booking, our total build time on site was just seven days to completion over a two-week period (beating our own estimated programme, to the client’s delight!)."
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Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Garden office market predicted to grow fast


According to the latest report from AMA Research, the garden buildings market is set to to see steady growth rates of 2-3% per year until 2022. This follows on the back of the growth of the last five years which they say is down to "improving consumer confidence and spending as well as factors such as an improving housing market, increased levels of homeworking, trend for secondary residential garden buildings and growing popularity in 'outdoor living' and spending time in the garden."

It specifically predicts that the garden office market looks healthy and that while demand for log cabins has fallen in volume terms, that part of the sector has benefited from upgrading and price increases. Here's what they say:
The different sub-sectors vary in their maturity, with the sheds and greenhouse sector representing mature sectors compared to other less mature sectors such as garden rooms. The high household penetration of sheds and greenhouse means these sectors are more dependent on upgrading and replacement products. Whereas the lower penetration of other sectors such as garden rooms allows for higher levels of growth.
Overall, the AMA says prospects for the garden buildings market in the medium-term are optimistic (despite only rising 1% in 2017) but dependent on a range of issues such as housebuilding and  the effect of 'Brexit' negotiations.

Image courtesy OECO Garden Rooms ------------------------------------------
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Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Sun Rain Rooms




It's a rule on this site that we don't cover extensions on the simple basis that they're not sheds or even shedlike. But we're in a quandry about the multi-award-winning Sun Rain Rooms from architects tonkin liu which genuinely seems to be the first shed-extension crossover we've come across. Here's what they say about it:
Under the roof a garden room offers a living space for the home and a meeting space for the studio. A mirrored wall in the covered outdoor area beyond conceals a workshop, cooking area, potting shed, store, and deep planter for the small trees in the green roof above.
It's the work of Anna Liu and Mike Tonkin who spent 12 years on it as a working from home project at townhouse. It's certainly an extension, but there is also certainly a shedworkingesque element included as the images above indicate, with chairs and tables around an outside pool. Here's a bit more of what they say about it:
The perimeter walls of the rear courtyard support a plywood roof, curved in plan and section to allow maximum light into a patio garden. Rainwater gathered at the top of the townhouse falls through a pipe, following the roof’s curving leading edge to a spout over a long rainwater harvesting tank. The tank floods the patio at the push of a button, transforming it into a reflecting pool. The roof’s thin 110mm structural shell is an insulated stressed-skin, joined by round coffered skylights that echo the wave pattern of raindrops landing in the pool. It is a good place to be on a bad day.

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Monday, June 25, 2018

Summerhouse to garden pub



A nice story about Waltons customers Colin and Jill who wanted to something special in their garden, and turned their 10x8 Helios summerhouse into a pub with oak flooring, seating and a bar area, as well as a jukebox. Here's what they say about it:
We use the summerhouse all year round even in winter; we have heating and it’s insulated. We have also upgraded the roof covering to EPDM for longevity. We love to sit in it during snow and rain as well as the summer. We have a big bbq with family and friends, and it then becomes an overnight B&B!

 More images here -------------------------------------------------
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Sunday, June 24, 2018

Temple Folly


Here's the new Temple Folly range from Smart Garden Offices. Above is the smallest, the Micro, at
2.8m x 2.8m (one day installation), and below is the Quinto at a much less micro 7.1m x 3.9m (two to three days installation). There are three more sizes between them, with full or half New England panelling a new feature in addition to all the usual fixtures and fittings.

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Thursday, June 21, 2018

The Shed Series


UK readers will be familiar with Songs from the Shed, Jon Earl's marvellous acoustic recording sessions in his North Somerset shed, but may not be aware that there is a similar project in Mancester, Alabama in the USA called The Shed Series.

It's run by Axel and Susan Barron from the shed in their backyard in the Avondale area right next to a centurion oak tree (shades of Folk by the Oak). Musicians are personally invited to play monthly from April to October and perform on the porch/stage. It's as intimate and atmospheric a concert venue as you could possibly wish for.

You can find more photos and an interview with the Barrons at StyleBluprint. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday posts are sponsored by Cabin Master: garden offices and studios to fit any size garden. Top quality contemporary or traditional buildings.

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Arrow-shaped garden room


Here's an interesting arrow-shaped garden room in Rickmansworth from eDEN Garden Rooms for a keen gardener and their multi-generational family who wanted a shedlike atmosphere to follow the line of the trees.

Features include a large deck, double sliding doors, eco-toilet, and small portable kitchenette, as well as an artificial turf roof. There's also a large built-in store shed for gardening equipment.

"As the garden room was to be built in a spot near to a tree with a preservation order, our client therefore needed to gain planning permission," says eDEN's Mia Walmsley. "Our knowledgeable team put the client in touch with an arborist to ensure proper procedure was taken to protect the tree, and we obtained full planning permission on behalf of our client."
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Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Garden office case studies: artist's studio, writing shed, craft room, ceramic workshop


A nice piece about the varied shedworkers working in Garden Affairs buildings in The Bristol Magazine. Above is Max Ryan's Studio 61 workspace and here's a snippet from the article:
Max Ryan wanted a studio where she could run art classes and operate her picture framing and photography business. She didn’t want the expense and hassle of having to rent a studio, which she would have to commute to, so talked to Garden Affairs about installing a large log cabin in her garden in Frome. Max chose a substantial cabin, nine metres wide and four metres deep, with windows and three additional skylights. Inside, along with the main studio space, two smaller rooms were created for a cloakroom and a private office. Max’s business Studio 61 is now well established and she says she relishes the short commute and the fact that she can take Howard her dog to work with her. The studio is so warm and comfortable that she has even been able to run life-drawing classes for her students.
Well worth clicking the link for more information about the other shedworkers. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday posts are sponsored by Garden Spaces, suppliers of contemporary garden buildings, offices, gyms and studios, many of which do not require planning

Monday, June 18, 2018

The rise of the shoffice


Sharon Dale, the best property writer in the UK, has put together a nice piece in the Yorkshire Post about shedworking, garden offices, and the rise of the shoffice. There are plenty of quotes from me about the whole issue as well as from Sheree Foy, a property consultant and buying agent who runs Source Harrogate – The Property Finders who is a recent convert to shedworking and now recommends it to clients. Here's what she told Sharon:
“Clients often ask me for advice when looking to buy a home that just needs a little more accommodation or if their existing houses need a bit of a space injection. I ask if they have thought about a garden office, gym or chillout space. The looks on people’s faces tell me that an image of a shed has sprung to mind – damp and freezing in winter and hot and humid in summer.”

To remove this notion, she shows them her Shoffice, constructed in western red cedar. Built by Ripon-based Oeco Garden Rooms, it measures five metres by four metres and costs £22,000 after she specified a number of upgrades including inset LED lights plus acoustic slab insulation in the walls and floor, acoustic plasterboard and acoustic Planitherm glass, which reduces noise from outside.
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Sunday, June 17, 2018

Dylan Thomas's Boat House writing shed

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Friday, June 15, 2018

Temple Folly


Smart Garden Offices are about to unveil their new Temple Folly range which will be available in seven sizes, with unlimited windows, full insulation and built using the company's trademarked TuSc construction method. It will be added to Smart Garden Offices catalogue in August and you can get a peak of it here on Shedworking and on Smart's website on June 22. There will also be an exclusive introductory offer.

Smart are also celebrating as they have just been confirmed as finalists for the Medium Business of the year in the Suffolk Business Awards 2018.
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Thursday, June 14, 2018

The rise of the shoffice super-shed


"Step into my shoffice!" gasps the Daily Mail in their follow-up to a similar story in The Times (both hard on the heels of the Telegraph's piece last month). "£70,000 super-sheds where you can ditch the commute to work from home replace mega-basements as the latest must-have." Lots of great images at both links and interesting that Robin Chatwin from Savills Estate Agents tells the Thunderer: "Being a temporary structure, it won't command the same value per square foot as the house but it could up the value of a property by about £50,000."

Image courtesy Henley Offices ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday posts are sponsored by Cabin Master: garden offices and studios to fit any size garden. Top quality contemporary or traditional buildings.

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

IKEA'S new RUMTID range: designs for small spaces


Of interest to shedworkers will be IKEA's new collection (named RUMTID) which will be launching in 2020 and aims to "explore the future needs of urban, small space living". The first products feature an all new lightweight material, and air purifiers (as well as a mini-garden, pictured top) and have a space theme.

“We want to learn from extreme scenarios and connect them back to Earth, focusing on urbanization and small space living”, said Siri Skillgate, one of five designers involved in the range who have examined capsule hotels and urban small space living for their inspiration, especially in terms of storage.

The new lightweight material is made of veneer rolled into hollow tubes (pictured above, and as a shelf). By cutting the tubes into different lengths and clamping them together, the designers say that they can build just about anything, from sofas and wardrobes to beds (and perhaps garden offices?).

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Tuesday, June 12, 2018

My Shire Houses


My Shire Houses run by James Heathford offers a slightly different look to many garden offices, partly because they design is aimed more at the glamping market (but still with an eye on the shedworking one too). They come in a range of sizes from 4.8m x 2.6m to 7m x 3.2m (which includes kitchen and ensuite) and with a choice of roofing including grass and wildflower. The buildings are craned into place, usually on blocks, but also with a ramp or steps.

The story behind how My Shire Houses is also worth reading, here at Disability Horizons.

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Monday, June 11, 2018

Shire Pods


Shire Pods come from Bedfordshire-based The Little Hut Company (which also makes shepherds' huts). They're built on oak skids using locally-sourced materials with sheep's wool insulation for the walls and recycled plastic bottle insulation in the floors and ceilings. Roofing optins include plastic coated steel corrugatedsheets, timber cladding, and green sedum.

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Sunday, June 10, 2018

Furniture for shedworkers


New York-based designers Good Thing have released a collection of furniture aimed at homeworkers and shedworkers called Work From Home. Pictured above are the Lily Table (a cantilevered aluminium side table) by Ben Kicic and Jamie Wolfond, Shutter Lamp (with directional LEDs) by Ferréol Babin, and Clover Pendant by Earnest Studio. Here's what they say about the collection:
"With internal communication now efficient at distances near and far, proximity is not a necessary part of working on a team. With this change in office culture, more and more people are working from home. Good Thing's new collection of products addresses this shift, offering solutions that are equally suitable to the home and office, and the many home offices and office lounges that now exist between them."
Photo by Robin Stein and more at Dezeen. ------------------------------------
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Friday, June 08, 2018

Shepherds' huts, Chelsea Flower Show, and the future of sheds


An interesting piece by Alison Rowat in The Herald in which she looks at the rising popularity of sheds at Chelsea Flower Show and ponders on shedlike space in the future. Here's a snippet:
Isn’t it strange, though, that running alongside the fashion for sheds is the trend towards more open plan houses. Indoors, people want walls knocked down to make big family kitchens and “spaces” to hang out together. It’s all about the “flow”, as they say on the property programmes. People can rest, socialise, dine where they like.

Yet outdoors, everyone desires their own shed. They want to get the heck away from other people. Other people are noisy, messy. They don’t want to watch the programme you like. They talk when you want to read. All perfectly understandable feelings, but where will this desire to be alone eventually lead? In 20 years’ time every garden could look like a trailer park with a shed for mum, one for dad, one each for the children and two for granny and grandpa who like to spread out with their jigsaws.
 And here's Anne Ashworth in The Times on hipster sheds...


Images courtesy Plankbridge -------------------------------------------------------
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Thursday, June 07, 2018

HUTi - if IKEA made garden offices


Surely it can't be long until IKEA bring out a garden office or garden room? While we wait, designer James Langdon has come up with his own thoughts on the matter. Here's what he says:
Ideally the product should be flat pack and have a simple assembly, the above design encompasses both these traits. Being made of a lightweight plastic dip-coated MDF assembled around a square frame. A perfectly flexible outdoor furnishing, that can be enjoyed both in the summer and the winter.
In the meantime, maybe you could hack one of IKEA's bed tents.


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Thursday posts are sponsored by Cabin Master: garden offices and studios to fit any size garden. Top quality contemporary or traditional buildings.

Wednesday, June 06, 2018

eDEN Garden Rooms launch new website and shop


The fine folk at eDEN Garden Rooms have been hard at work and this week have launched a new website (with revamped branding), a shop, and a new garden office model. New features on the site include a handy process timeline and special new sections for reviews and case studies.

"The aim of this redesign was to better communicate eDEN’s unique selling-point," says eDEN Director, Rachel Wichall, "our commitment to exceptional-quality, high-specification garden rooms that provide their customers with a bespoke product, which can be tailor-made to suit their personal requirements.

A major addition is the new e-store so people can buy beautiful high-end garden furnishings (as well as a garden room) including striking aluminium and steel planters, chic fire bowls, water bowls and modern seating designs.

You can also get a sneaky peak at the new garden studio range, eDEN eDGE (pictured above), which comes with enhanced insulation, increased wall thickness, triple glazing, infra-red heating panels and lighting upgrades. It is due to launch later this summer.

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