Garden office music studio

Here is the Rubicon Garden Rooms office and rehearsal studio for Radiohead tribute band, Just Radiohead (pictured with Rubicon's Managing Director John Lyon)

It's a bespoke, sound-proofed music studio, with insulated glass installed in the back garden of band member Shaun on the Wirral who also uses it as a home office for his day job running a motivational speaker and leadership management training company. Rather than convert a large garage, they went down the shedworking route.
 
“Having the studio has made a huge difference to the band," said Shaun, "because it can be quite expensive to hire a rehearsal space, so we’re saving a lot of money doing that. It also means we don’t have to move our equipment so much."

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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

 

Tiger expands in Scotland with new Ayr show site at Dobbies Garden Centre

Woodlands Home & Garden Group’s brand Tiger has launched its third Scottish franchise show site. The new site at Dobbies Garden Centre, Ayr, is part of Tiger’s franchise-driven expansion strategy and, as elsewhere, showcases the brand’s sheds, summerhouses, workshops and log cabins.

“We were keen to bring Tiger to Ayr because it’s a brand with a proven reputation and a strong following," said franchisee Andrew Mathieson. With Tiger’s manufacturing expertise and the support behind the franchise model we’re confident this new site will be a real success.”

Sam Jenkinson, Head of Marketing at Tiger, added: “Scotland has been a strong growth market for us, and this third show site at Ayr represents another important step forward in reaching Scottish consumers. This first site in the Dobbies network provides us with prime retail environments to showcase our buildings, and Andrew and his team are well placed to deliver excellent customer service and sales performance.”

The Ayr launch, the 10th this year, means Tiger’s national footprint includes 19 sites, with more openings planned before 2026.

The new Tiger Show Site at Ayr is now open at Dobbies Garden Centre, Holmston Road, Old Toll, Ayr, KA6 5JJ, Monday-Friday 9.30am-4.30pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am-3pm.

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

Friday Finery: Skipjack Pod

This rather lovely curved interior of a Skipjack Pod from Hully, which also comes with optional glass-fronted façade, is this week's week-ending Finery.

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Cabin: Into the Woods With A Clueless Craftsman by Patrick Hutchison

One for the shedworker's bookshelf, Cabin by Patrick Hutchison is out next month from HarperCollins and has a bit of a Henry David Thoreau but with larger dollop of humour. It’s about outdoor living, renovation and DIY, the beauty of living and working in nature and the outdoors as well as Mr Hutchison's love for cabins.

Here's what the publishers say:

Working unhappily as a copywriter in the Pacific Northwest, scouring social media for ‘cabin porn’ in his spare time, Patrick came across an advert for a tiny, dilapidated cabin nestled deep in the forests of the Cascade Mountains. Scraping together his last few dollars, he bought the place for $7,500 and set about making it his own. Cabin is a beautifully written account of restoring a rural home with almost no woodworking experience, aided only by the kindness of friends, a collection of vicious power tools and countless cases of beer.

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Cosy Garden Rooms shortlisted for Micro Business of the Year Award

Large congratulations to the fine folk at Cosy Garden Rooms who have been shortlisted for Micro Business of the Year at the East Midlands Chamber Business Awards 2025/26.

"As a small team, there is seven of us, we focus on designing and building the best garden rooms possible," said a spokesperson. "We are genuinely happy to be recognised for the Micro Business of the Year award, which looks at our growth and impact. We are pleased to be representing the small business community in the East Midlands."

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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

Shackleton's cabin opens to the public

The Shackleton Experience in Athy, Kildare, has reopened to the public following a €7.5 million redevelopment with the actual cabin in which polar explorer Ernest Shackleton died of a heart attack on the ship ‘Quest’ during the Shackleton-Rowett Expedition in 1922 taking pride of place.

The attraction combines the largest collection of Shackleton artefacts in the world with interactive exhibits. The cabin had been used for many years as a garden shed in Norway, after the cabin was removed and the ship adapted for whaling. After it was donated to the museum, it was painstakingly restored by historical conservator Sven Habermann, based in Connemara.

While the cabin itself is relatively untouched thanks to the cold conditions in which it was kept, the interior has obviously required more work and has been refurnished to a state as close as possible to its existence under Shackleton's command, with sections of the bed and drawers remaining as original features. 

More details and photos at the Irish Examiner.

Photo courtesy Kildare County Council

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Zahradní pavilon

A tremendous build from Byró Architekti a garden pavilion near the Vltava River which can be used as accommodation but also has a splending moveable outer wall and charred cladding. It is entirely off-grid, with solar panels on the roof. Lots of splendid photos of it at the link above.

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

 

Dog grooming garden office business

Further proof that shedworking is a flexible option comes in the form of Smart Modular Building's recent case study of a dog grooming business based in one of its 2m x3m Key Studio models. Features include a double door, medium oak laminate, and LED downlights, with space fo a professional grooming table and drying equipment, stainless steel dog bath, and easy-to-sanitise surfaces, plus separate client access from the garden. According to the owner:“It made it possible to run my business the way I always wanted, separate from my house, perfectly equipped, and totally professional. It’s given me space to grow, without the huge cost of renting. I couldn’t be happier.”

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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

 

Modern Tree Houses

A new title for your shedworker's bookshelf, out later this month, Modern Tree Houses fom Tashchen, with words by Florian Siebeck, illustrations by Marie-Laure Cruschi, and plentiful illustrations about all sorts of tree houses. Here's the bumph from the publisher:

A forestful of lofty lodges beckons nature lovers and design enthusiasts alike. From children’s playhouses and luxury escapes to eco-friendly homes and urban hideouts, these elevated masterpieces—crafted by architects like Baumraum, Manuela Hardy, BIG, and Snøhetta—reimagine how nature and buildings can coexist harmoniously.

The book features 62 pretty elaborate examples of what it calls 'nature's penthouses' from around the world.

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Garden office in Cornwall: Friday Finery

 The Shedworking staff were much taken by this view from an Ecospace Studios build in Cornwall.

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Multipurpose garden office vs extension (video)

Recent happy Cosy Garden Rooms customer Zac Clayton from Nottingham talks in the video below  about adding a large cedar-clad garden room to his home and why he thinks it's better than an extension.

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

RHS Bothy up for sale

The 14ft Plankbridge Bothy that was one of the main attractions at the Chelsea Flower Show and then spent time at RHS Garden Wisley is now on the market (guide price £32,000 including VAT with delivery extra). Features include an oak stable door, bespoke writing desk, aubergine coloured sides, cast iron electric radiator, waxed internal sweet chestnut walls, an English ash floor, and sweet chestnut windows.

The desk is of particular interest. Mad of ash, it features engravings from gardening royalty Gertrude Jekyll’s notebooks in the RHS Lindley Library.

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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

 

Friday Finery: Dylan Thomas writing shed wedding

Congratulations to everybody! Dylan Thomas Boathouse in Laugharne recently hosted its first wedding, with Megan and Tom becoming the first couple to exchange their vows there. Following the ceremony, they signed the wedding register in Dylan Thomas’s writing shed.

"We’re very thankful to Megan and Tom for choosing the Dylan Thomas Boathouse for their special day," said Councillor Hazel Evans, Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Leisure, Culture and Tourism. "We couldn’t have asked for a happier or more generous couple to inaugurate the museum as a wedding venue. The museum makes a perfect venue for intimate weddings and celebrations and offers a unique blend of warmth and historic charm in a stunning location. We’re looking forward to continuing our partnership with the Registrars service to deliver many more special occasions at CofGâr museums in the future. 

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

 

Charleston Studio renovation campaign launched

 

Charleston in Sussex was the home and studio of painters Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant as well as a kind of rural HQ for the Bloomsbury groups various members. Now it is launching a campaign called Studio 100 to raise money to ensure the studio's survival.

The studio, originally built in 1925 from what had once been a chicken shed, was never designed to last and now shows significant signs of wear. Urgent conservation is required including repairing the roof, windows and doors as well as stabilising fragile painted walls and floors created by Bell and Grant. New environmental control measures will also be installed including environmental monitoring systems to reduce humidity and stabilise temperature alongside new sun blinds and infrared window film to manage light and heat. The total project cost is £470,000.

"The studio was never built to the same structural standards as the main house," said a spokesperson. "It now needs our care and attention." Arts Council funding has already been forthcoming and now organisers hope to raise another £250,000.

Startin in November next year, a special exhibition of items from the studio's collection will go on display at a major Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant show at Tate Britain to raise funds and awareness. 

Nathaniel Hepburn MBE, Director and Chief Executive of Charleston, said: “The studio at Charleston is a place of global importance, a space where art, life and community came together in radical new ways." 

Photo: Lewis Ronald

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

La Coquine de Plage

France’s flagship art and antiques fair FAB Paris comes to an end today so it's your last chance to see this remarkable shedlike polyester cabin called La Coquine de Plage. Measuring 2.4m tall, the egg-shaped build dates back to the 1970s and comes fom Marc Maison.

These were used as mobile cabins, ice cream parlors, garden sheds, and beach huts. Sadly, very few examples have survived. Features include an interior bench, electrical outlet, hinged door, and a luminous porthole.

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The Laundry Room shed

 

Shepherd's hut specialists Plankbridge continue to expand their range of hut offerings with 2m x 2m The Laundry room joining its Garden Privy and Dog Wash models. It very much does what it says on the tin, providing a dedicated laundry space which can be wheeled around

Features include an oak stable door, tiled floor, space for an ironing board, a pulley airer for drying and a fridge freezer as well as a cast-iron electric radiator and sheep’s wool insulation.

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Friday Finery: The Tiny Workshop

No apologies for returning to this year's winner of the Shed of the Year for the second time this week. Below is a short video showing it in action.

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The Tiny Workshop wins Shed of the Year 2025

Mike Robinson, an engineer from Plumstead, South-East London, has won the 2025 Cuprinol Shed of the Year with his The Tiny Workshop which claimed top spot in the Workshop/Studio category.

The Tiny Workshop is designed to slot neatly into a garden with limited room. Mike built the shed using two sets of heavy duty steel shelving, bolted together and clad with wood painted in Cuprinol Garden Shades (Black Ash). Splashes of colour have also been added throughout, with the inside doors and pallet seating decorated with Wild Thyme, and saw horses and a ladder finished with Emerald Stone. Two doors flap open at the bottom and top to provide flooring and handy rain protection, with an overhanging green roof to store garden tools.
 
Built over the course of a few weekends, it is a toolshed, workshop, and storage space.

“We needed a good bit of storage for the garden necessities," said Mike. "Off-the-shelf options would have taken up too much room so we went with a DIY design and build. I think it has worked a treat. It’s a creative space where I can tinker and mend, as well as have the storage space for garden stuff, kids’ games and tools.


“I designed brackets for the old spanner handles with a 3D printer. The green roof will come into its own in the next year or so too, and I’m looking forward to seeing it come to life. I’m so happy the judges loved it too, and can’t believe I actually won.”
 
As part of his prize, Mike wins an overnight’s nature getaway, £1,000 in cash and £250 worth of Cuprinol product. 

“In a difficult time of paying more and getting less, The Tiny Workshop is a shining example of what can be achieved even in the most compact of spaces," said competition founder and head judge Andrew Wilcox.
 
“This year’s winner takes the competition back to its roots of championing the simple yet effective. Traditionally, sheds have just been seen as somewhere to store your tools, or perhaps somewhere to potter and play. The Tiny Workshop takes this seemingly basic concept and turns into something so inspired but also still very practical, and truly nothing like we’ve seen before in this competition’s history.  I hope Mike can inspire sheddies for years to come, and to enter the 20th Cuprinol Shed of the Year competition in 2026.”
 
Marianne Shillingford, Creative and Colour Expert at Cuprinol, added: "The Tiny Workshop is a testament to Mike’s ingenious solutions-focused creativity. From impactful use of storage, to striking balance of colour, Mike’s shed is a first-in-class example of industrial chic."

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

 
 

Five million Brits leave their sheds and outbuildings unprotected, says new report

New research by Aviva reveals that one in eleven people – equivalent to around five million Brits – do not properly protect their sheds and outbuildings, despite 29% having been a victim of theft.
 
The study, which surveyed 2,024 UK residents of which 1,500 had a shed/outbuilding, found that two-thirds of those who had their shed or outbuilding broken into also experienced a break-in or attempted break in at their home.
 
According to Aviva claims data, the average claim for outbuilding or shed theft was £4,2053 in 2024. Despite this, more than three in five (62%) people do not check whether their shed or outbuilding is secure before going on holiday or leaving home for the night and 63% do not check before going to bed. A further one in six (16%) leave sheds or/and outbuildings unlocked when doing chores such as gardening. Not only can this increase the likelihood of theft but may also make it difficult to make a claim in the event the shed or outbuilding was not properly secured.
 
When looking at how people use their shed or outbuilding, one in six (16%) regularly use it to store valuable items. In fact, the survey shows that the three most stolen items from sheds and outbuildings include bikes/electric bikes (24%), garden tools (20%) and power tools (16%). 

The research also revealed some interesting insights into how people use their sheds. Around one in eight use the space as a workshop, while one in 10 use them for working out and exercise. Other popular uses include pursuing hobbies (8%) and running a business (6%). Some have converted their outbuildings into bars (7%), games rooms (6%), offices (6%) and TV rooms (4%).
 
Hannah Davidson, Senior Underwriting Manager, Home and Lifestyle at Aviva says:  "Our research suggests that burglars may be more inclined to target a home if they first gain access to an unsecured shed or outbuilding, so it’s worrying to see many residents failing to take any security measures. 
 
“Although it may be tempting to leave doors and windows open, thieves only need a small window of opportunity. Even basic things like a sturdy lock or motion-activated lighting can be enough to deter someone from trying to break into your garage or outbuilding, such as a shed. Most home insurance policies will also have a limit on how much cover they’ll provide for items stolen from a garage or outbuilding, so it could be worth checking your policy and considering alternative storage options for more expensive items." 

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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

How much does a garden office add to the value of your property?

No apologies for returning to this perennial question of interest to those thinking about buying or already owning a garden office. Cabin Master address the issue in a recent post, saying:

High-quality garden offices can increase a property’s value by 5%–15% according to some estate agents and property experts. For example, if your home is valued at £300,000, a garden office could add anywhere from £15,000 to £45,000. In many cases, the added value outweighs the cost of a high-quality installation, making it a smart investment.

It's short but well worth reading and they make some good points about elements such as build quality, functionality and design, location, and the property market in general. Shedworking particularly endorses these thoughts about size:

The office should feel proportionate to your garden. A compact micro office can be perfect for a small outdoor space, but an oversized structure that dominates the garden may actually reduce appeal. Balance is key.

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

 

 

Friday Finery: Hirondelle tiny house

 

 

Not technically a garden office, but still a small shedlike atmosphere in which you could work very happily, this is the appetising Hirondelle tiny house model from French firm Quadrapol with 12.1m² on two levels, and built on a galvanized steel trailer. 

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

Alan Titchmarsh's shed for sale

Gardener, television presenter, and writer Alan Titchmarsh is selling his shed. In fact, he's selling all his outbuildings at his home in Alton, Hampshire, along with his lovely Grade II listed 17th century five bedroom Manor House Farm and extensive four acres of beautiful gardens (on the market with Savills for £3.95m).

There are various shed buildings on the property including, naturally, a rather nice greenhouse and a 42ft party barn/theatre space with library, and what Savills describes as a "potting shed", though it has a kitchenette, lavatory, and shower so... Country Life magazine has a magnificient photo of Alan in his blue velvet smoking jacket in one of his sheds - do click the link for a peek. Pictured above is that library, a summerhouse, and his triangular office.

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