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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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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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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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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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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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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Renting a garden office

If for whatever reasone you want to rent a garden office rather than buy one, among those suppliers offering that option is Booths Garden Studios. You can fine more details about their scheme here, but in brief there is an installation fee and then a monthly rental fee. Mains connection and Part P certification are included, while the maximum distance they will install a rental studio is 160 miles from their workshop at NN18 8AN (e.g. all of London and down to Brighton on the south coast).

As an example, below is a video by Dianne who runs a beauty business, talking about how renting helped her:

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Learn how to build a tiny house on a special course

If you're interested in learning how to build your own tiny house (and to build more sustainably into the bargain), friend of Shedworking Rik Frankland of wudl will be running a hands-on Tiny House short course at their Manchester training space. Over five days, participants will learn the key skills of sustainable construction (timber framing, insulation, cladding, windows, roofing) by building a dog kennel-sized tiny house

Places are limited to just 12 participants and no previous building experience required. Price per person is £695. More details here.

Here are some more details:

Working in small groups, you’ll use hand tools such as drill-drivers, staplers and hammers to assemble the structure step by step. You’ll fit natural insulation, membranes and tapes, install a window, fix cladding and gutters, and wire up a safe 12V lighting system. For safety reasons, all cutting of sheet and large sections will be done for you.

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Friday Finery: L-shaped garden office

This week's Finery comes via Rooms Outdoor, the subject of the very first post on Shedworking nearly 20 years ago. It's a bespoke L-shaped building in Wimbledon with an interestingly-angled living roof, covered porch and angled window.

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More beach huts on the way to the Isle of Sheppey

More beach huts are on their way to the Isle of Sheppey following the appointement of a contractor by Swale Borough Council.

There are currently 55 popular beach huts on the island. The 26 new ones will be located at Minster Leas (pictured above) and Leysdown and will help meet the high demand and reduce waiting times. There are just under 200 people on the waiting list at the moment. Some of the huts will be available to buy, others for both long and short-term rentals.

There will also be a community hut at Minter as part of the new project. This will be available for a range of community groups to utilise, adding to the one already in Leysdown.

Works are due to start at Leysdown in mid-September and Minister in early November.

The council is also assessing whether to install further huts at Minster Leas, but say they would consult residents and key stakeholders before adding any new ones.

“Demand continues to grow to enjoy our beautiful coast," said Councillor Monique Bonney, chair of the economy and property committee at the council. “The beach huts have always been popular, and now we will have different ways of owning or renting them, to make sure they can be enjoyed by as many people as possible. Now we’ve got the green light, we’ll get to work planning and building the huts, so people can start to spend even more enjoyable days on our fantastic beaches.”

Pic courtesy Swale Borough Council

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Charles Dickens’ writing chalet restoration update

There are optimistic sounds coming from the campaign to restore Charles Dickens' writing chalet in Rochester which as you know has been in an increasingly poor state of repair for some time now. 

The project - a partnership between Medway Council and the Friends of Eastgate House - now has its own website where its mission statement is "to revive and reimagine Dickens’ Writing Chalet as a vibrant cultural space for the community". Here's what they say:

Alongside other key heritage sites — such as Eastgate House, the Six Poor Travellers, Restoration House and The Bull Hotel – the Chalet will become part of a compelling story about place, history and imagination. It will also serve as a platform for events and fundraising activities to secure its future use and ongoing maintenance, helping to preserve its legacy for generations to come.

Recent events over the summer have included opening the chalet to the public during August, and the presentation of a mini chalet scale model to the Annual Conference of the Dickens Fellowship. We'll keep you posted on further updates on this extremely worthy scheme.

Image courtesy Rye Design

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Cognito's wins Pub Shed of the Year competition

Wolverhampton Wanderers fan Glen Gandy from Willenhall has won the fifth Pub Shed of the Year competition run by Two Fat Blokes Bar Signs and and Ngage Radio.

His pubshed Cognito's cost him around £20,000 to build and took him two years. Features include a DJ booth, hot tub, jukebox and Space Invaders machine, Wolves tops around the walls, a large television, and fridge stocked with beer, as well as a beer garden with barbecue seating area and shower room. The name is a tribute to his late friend and comedian Ian Cognito.
 
The other finalists were The Cattle Shed in Walsall, pictured below and created by West Bromich Albion fan Kev Cattell (coincidentally a friend of Glen's), and the BrennInn in Burnley by Chris Brennan.
 
Glen wins a range of personalised items for his pub shed, including beer mats and a bar sign.

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