Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Plankbridge looking to expand hutmaking team


Shepherd's hut specialists Plankbridge are on the lookout for new members of their team based in Dorset. They've already recently recruited a prep person to sand and prepare windows/doors, putting on hinges, and provide general support. Nice job with decent folk for the right person. Details below and you can contact them via the link above.
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Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Omnipod: garden offices for disabled shedworkers



UK providers of accessible holiday accommodation, Omni Access, has launched Omnipods, accommodation untis for holiday sites which are specially designed to include those who are disabled or with mobility issues. While aimed very much at the housing market, they could well be of interest to people facing similar challenges who also want to become shedworkers.

Features include a custom-built kitchen, spacious wet room, level entry wide doors, at least 1.5m turning circles making it wheelchair friendly, plus electrical sockets and USB ports at appropriate heights. Hoists can be fitted for additional mobility needs, while different furnishing options are available. There is underfloor heating and an external canopy.
 
The Omnipod will be featured at the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome show at the NEC in Birmingham in February next year. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday posts are sponsored by Garden Spaces, suppliers of contemporary garden buildings, offices, gyms and studios, many of which do not require planning

Last Autumn leaves falling from apple tree onto Deborah Levy's writing shed

You can read more about Deborah's writing shed here. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday posts are sponsored by Garden Spaces, suppliers of contemporary garden buildings, offices, gyms and studios, many of which do not require planning

Monday, October 29, 2018

Transparent garden office


Well, technically it's a transparent treehouse but it's essentially the same thing - it's actually called 'chantli kuaulakoyokan’ or ‘house in the tree top’ in nahuatl, Mexico’s most popular indigenous language. This 75 square-footer made entirely out of glass (except for the supports) comes from Gerardo Broissin and is in Mexico. The goal was to explore themes of childhood and privacy.
Via designboom where there are loads more images, all by Alexander d’la Roch. -------------------------------------------------
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Saturday, October 27, 2018

Plans for new beach huts on the Isle of Wight


There has been some disquiet about the potential massive rise in beach hut prices on the Isle of Wight recently, but in the meantime plans for 18 new 'garden huts' on the Sandown seafront are now with planners (see mockup images above). They would be in two blocks of nine as part of a wider development - including a remarkable-sounding dinosaur-themed golf course - and feature double doors, balcony, sun terrace, with the interior including a kitchenette. The hope is that they will be ready for their first owners at the beginning of next year. To see more plans and images of the huts, go to the council's planning website. ------------------------------------
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Friday, October 26, 2018

Gorleston beach huts in demand


New £20,000 beach huts on the seafront at Gorleston in Norfolk have sold like hot cakes this week.
Great Yarmouth Borough Council is building 70 new beach huts along the Lower Esplanade, each measuring 3m x 3m, including a veranda and double doors, all built of wood with a pitched roof. Owners can choose to paint their beach hut in a wide variety of colours. Under a 25-year ground rent lease, owners will also have access to a dedicated amenity block, with wash basins and toilets. There is an additional £900 annual ground rent.

The first block has already been released and others will become available in groups of 20. Queues formed outside Aldreds Estate Agents in the early hours of the first sale of the huts and similar scenes are expected in the future.

Cllr Carl Smith, deputy council leader, said: "The popularity of beach huts has seen a revival in the UK in recent years and they are very much in demand. Together with the new splashpad and Changing Places Toilet, these beach huts will further boost Gorleston as a popular destination. This is a great opportunity to get your very own brand new beach hut on Gorleston's famous and popular Edwardian seafront. The purchase price follows independent valuation and is within the asking price range for beach huts, so we're expecting lots of interest. The money raised will support vital public services which everyone will benefit from."

This is in stark contrast to Weston-super-Mare where there has been very limited uptake of their new beach huts.
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Thursday, October 25, 2018

Garden office garden



What you look out onto from your garden office is arguably as important as how you furnish the interior. While traditionally these views have been out onto vistas of lawns and flowers (and the back of the house), there are growing numbers of shedworkers investing in artificial grass. Here's an example of what Perfect Grass have done for one garden office garden.

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Wednesday, October 24, 2018

His and her sheds

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Tuesday, October 23, 2018

How to Build a Shed by Sally Coulthard (book review)


Writer and friend of Shedworking Sally Coulthard probably has the finest shed book CV in the world. Her backlist includes Shed Chic, Shed Decor, and Studio (not to mention other titles on everything from snow to hedgehogs). They're all excellent reads and her latest - How to Build a Shed - is no exception.

Written in collaboration with the artist Lee John Phillips, who is still drawing all 100,000 items in his grandpa's shed, and published by Laurence King [disclaimer: LK have also just brought out my The Writers Game], it is a heavily illustrated and practical guide for beginners, though more experienced woodworkers will also fine plenty to appreciate inside too. It covers everything, from essential tools and using a spirit level, through the entire build programme and right up to considerations such as installing a wood-burning stove. Clear, accessible and never patronising, it is not only this year's best handbook for people considering building their own garden office, it also has rather natty endpapers.

Sally was in the Telegraph at the weekend talking about the book and her shed (pictured bottom) which is a good read.



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Monday, October 22, 2018

The Writers Game





A brief off-shedworking post - I've been working on this concept on and off for the last three years (readers with good memories will remember that I tried to crowdfund it with Unbound) and now The Writers Game is 'published' today by Laurence King. It's essentially literary top trumps, good wholesome fun for all the family in a rather snazzy box. Here's what LK say about it:
Who had the most commercial success in their lifetime, Ernest Hemingway or Agatha Christie? Whose work has the most adaptations, F. Scott Fitzgerald or Franz Kafka? Who courted the most scandal, Colette or James Joyce? Pit 32 of the world’s greatest modern writers against each other with these beautifully illustrated cards. An ideal gift for the book lover in your life.

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Sunday, October 21, 2018

Garden office case study


It's always nice to get a feel for what's involved in the building of a garden office from beginning to end. OECO Garden Rooms has a nice, and short, runthrough on the Art of Design site of a recent 9m x 5m double canopy garden office build in Northampton, starting with the client's first contact with the team and ending with the final finished deal and a full spec. Here's a snippet:
The client’s instruction was that the build must have a boot room entrance due to the muddy walk to the office, a WC area due to the distance from the main house, and plenty of windows to capture natural light and the country side views. This particular design had its challenges due to the huge expanse of glass and extra 0.5m height bringing the external height to 3m in total. The external design was completed with our beautiful Grade 2 Clear & Better Western Red Cedar, a combination of anthracite PVC-u windows and doors, canopies with LED down lights (18 in total) to 3 elevations and a large traditional timber deck area.
Well worth a quick read.
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Friday, October 19, 2018

Nissen hut garden offices




For a retro shedworking atmosphere, consider a modern Nissen Hut. Redesigned though retaining the familiar shape of the original which was designed by George Nissen in 1916, his great grandson George is targeting the garden office market.

The huts are designed in George's studio in London then built in Perthshire by co-founder Mark Lynch. Each pod - the standard model is 3.4m x 2.9m x 2.5m high - takes three days to erect and can be easily dismantled and put back together if you decide to move house. All the normal must-haves are there and the insulation is pure sheep's wool. Features include double-glazed French doors and the pods do not usually need concrete foundations. -------------------------------------------------------
Friday posts are sponsored by Warwick Buildings, manufacturers of outstanding quality timber buildings. Click here for more information.

Thursday, October 18, 2018

A short guide to buying a garden room


If you're thinking of buying a garden office, this short guide from eDEN Garden Rooms is a useful place to start. It takes a whirlwind look at specs, inspiration, size, and planning permission. Here's a snippet:
"Think about how you will want to live in your space and work backwards from there. By creating a bespoke design that is individually tailored to suit you, you’ll ensure that you get the very most out of your investment and the space will work in harmony with your lifestyle. For example, you may wish to integrate hidden storage solutions, reinforced flooring, a wet room, extra windows or doors, or any else you can dream of. Don’t fall into the trap of buying off-the-shelf when your garden room should be as unique as you are!"
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Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Turning a railway carriage into a garden office


Here is the early stage of an intriguing renovation build by garden designer and novelist Chris O'Donoghue. Essentially, he's turning the Victorian railway carriage facade that featured in his 2007 Silver-Gilt-winning design at Chelsea Flower Show, but has since been unused, into a studio and writing room. More atmospheric pictures at the link above. One to watch.
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Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Cabin of 3D Printed Curiosities



A remarkable shedlike atmosphere from the Emerging Objects studio which is part of their ongoing examination of microarchitecture in San Francisco's Bay Area. The front facade features a mass of succulents in ceramic planters while the others are covered in a 3D-printed ceramic cladding system which is inspired by knitting techniques. Inside, there are Chroma Curl wall tiles to add light. Here's what the designer say:
The Cabin of 3D Printed Curiosities demonstrates that 3D printing can be beautiful, meaningful, and well crafted – not crude, fast and cheap. Much like the garage makerspace movement, the backyard building space might become a platform where new ways of living are tested, new technologies can be invented and tested, and new materials can be discovered.
Click the link above for more information from the studio and here for Treehugger's take on its eco credentials.

Photos: Matthew Millman -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday posts are sponsored by Garden Spaces, suppliers of contemporary garden buildings, offices, gyms and studios, many of which do not require planning

Monday, October 15, 2018

Shedworkers battle against working from home pressures


Around 46 per cent of shedworkers and other homeworkers feel the need to prove they are actually working while working from home rather than mucking around, according to a study by LogMeIn.

In their global poll of 3,000 including 500 UK workers, people working from home said they felt pressured to be more responsive on email (36%) and working longer hours (23%). At the same time, nearly a third said they worked more efficiently from hom and wasted more time when in traditionals offices talking to colleagues or spending unproductive hours online (although one in four admitted that pets, family, neighbours and the television distracted them while working from home).

“This points to a clear problem within the culture of UK businesses and ultimately reduces productivity. My advice to businesses would be: trust your employees to do the job and don’t miss the opportunity to improve their wellbeing,” said Steve Duignan, VP international marketing at LogMeIn. 

Despite the extra stigma they felt, just under a third of people still said they felt happier while working from home because of more flexibility in breaks, ending the commute, and focusing on their tasks, and a better general work-life balance. Around a quarter said they worked in their pyjamas which seems a very high figure to the Shedworking team.

Image courtesy Cabin Master -------------------------------------------------
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Sunday, October 14, 2018

Inside Dylan Thomas's writing shed (video)


A lovely five minute video of designer William Hardie exploring the writing shed which belonged to Dylan Thomas. Although there are lots of photos of it around, there are very few videos of what it's like to be inside, so this is a treat.

DYLANTHOMAS SHED from Richard Carr on Vimeo. ------------------------------------
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Thursday, October 11, 2018

Shelf Life


As some of you know, away from the world of shedworking, I also write books (frequently on bookish subjects). The latest is out today, Shelf Life, published by The British Library. Here is some bumph about it:
Books; reading, collecting and the physical housing of them has brought the book-lover joy – and stress – for centuries. Fascinated writers have tried to capture the particular relationships we form with our library, and the desperate troubles we will undergo to preserve it.With Alex Johnson as your guide, immerse yourself in this eclectic anthology and hear from an iconic Prime Minister musing over the best way to store your books and an illustrious US President explaining the best works to read outdoors. Enjoy serious speculations on the psychological implications of reading from a 19th century philosopher, and less serious ones concerning the predicament of dispensing with unwanted volumes or the danger of letting children (the ‘enemies of books’) near your collection
Available from all good bookshops (please buy local if at all possible) as well as the usual suspects online.
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Wednesday, October 10, 2018

'His and hers' garden offices case study


An excellent case study on Coconut focuses on Maggie Johnson, Director and Client Liaison at Essex-based Executive Virtual Services, whose garden office is pictured above. She talks us through her reasons for going down the shedworking route, as she explains:
In April 2015 my ‘shed office’ was built, and it has made a huge impact on the growth and success of my business ever since.  Working in this way gives me the space and time to develop, without the distractions of everyday life. I have a team of VAs working with me now (sometimes from my office), and clients can come and meet with me here too.
So successful in fact that her husband has now followed suit with his own shoffice (below). Well worth a read via the link above.


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Tuesday, October 09, 2018

Shipping container garden office




The Randy Bens Architecture practice in Canada embraced the shedworking ethic when it made a recent move to expand, not into a traditional office but to a garden office built from a larger than normal corten stell shipping container, reduced from 40′ to 28' long, 11.5′ wide and 9.5′ tall.

It has yellow cedar cladding on the outside and birch plywood lining on the inside where there is the studio work space, a small kitchen, and a bathroom. There is also a rather nice large picture window at one end and the whole thing cantilevers off the foundation. Below is an excellent short video of the office being delivered.
 Photographs by Ema Peter

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Tuesday posts are sponsored by Garden Spaces, suppliers of contemporary garden buildings, offices, gyms and studios, many of which do not require planning