Friday Finery: shepherd's hut desk

A nice setup in a Plankbridge shepherd's hut for today's Finery. Arguably also a standing desk setup.

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

 

Artist's garden studio

A Cosy Garden Rooms build for an artist in Derbyshire who wanted a garden studio at distance from her house where she would be able to concentrate on her art and photography, including space to store her tools and equipment, and usable as occasional guest accommodation.

It's 4m x 3m with a double sliding patio door, clad with HardiePlank fibre cement board in anthracite to fit into the surroundings. Inside it has white painted grooved walls and light chestnut laminate flooring. Features include lovely views over the nearby reservoir. 

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

 

William Heath Robinson: Shedworker

Illustrator of eccentric contraptions William Heath Robinson lived in Cranleigh for more than a decade at the start of the 20th century and worked in the garden studio pictured above which he had built at his home, known as The Copse.

You can hear Heath Robinson expert Moira MacQuaide talk briefly about it on a BBC Surrey podcast here and describe how it was very much his domain, a workplace where he was not to be disturbed, although he did also have a long Heath Robinson-esque tube connecting it to the house so he could be told when his dinner was ready.

The garden office had an interesting afterlife when he moved away. The property was bought by a Mary Thornely who bought it for the use of the local Catholic church who used it as a Mass Centre with services held by local Friars and later by priests from a nearby Seminary.

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Garden office can add £20,000 to value of average home

An interesting piece in my former parish The Independent in which they show that recent figures from London estate agents Benham & Reeves indicate that garden offices are still very much worth the investment.

The figures suggest that the added value based on the average house price of a smidgeon under £271,000 is 5% for a small garden office (which equates to £13,500), and 7.5% for a large garden office (£20,300).

Among the experts giving their thoughts in the article is Bryn Nettle, head of business development at property consultancy Strettons who says the added value could be as high as £25,000, but this depends on it being a decent build with proper insulation, heating, and broadband, adding that it "will command a premium over a makeshift desk in a spare bedroom. Buyers are prepared to pay more for space that feels purposeful and permanent, rather than temporary.”

Garden office Micro Pod image courtesy Warwick Buildings

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

 

Friday Finery: Snowy garden office

An evocative shot of an Eden Garden Rooms garden office. Hopefully you're all this snug in your garden offices around the country.

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

 

Simba slippers product review

It's just as important to have proper work clothes when you're in your garden office (or home office in general) as it is for a 'traditional' office environment. Footware is a key element of the outfit and I have always firmly believed that slippers are just the right thing, bridging the gap between socks only (a bit slack) and shiny office shoes (a bit over the top).

Over the last week or so I have been roadtesting Simba's Rok slippers which the company (which also produces mattresses and bedding) was kind enough to ship across to Shedworking HQ for review.

To be honest, my initial expectations were not high since I prefer a slipper with a half-decent back to it. But while there is a bit more clippity-clop in my step wearing these moccasin-style models than my usual Grandpa varieties, I actually got used to that aspect of them pretty quickly.

Like the ancient Roman architect Vitruvius, what I'm really after in a slipper is 'firmitas', 'utilitas', and 'venustas' - they need to be sturdy, functional, and aesthetically pleasing. 

They're certainly solid. My current slippers are very much indoor beasts and the soles wear out quite quickly, but these have a firm rubber sole and I've already successfully used them outside (to sort out the bins). In terms of functionality they definitely do the job, keeping my feet warm and stopping me slipping around on my socks - I also have quite wide feet and the adjustable buckle is very welcome (and I'd size up, as they recommend, if you lash out for a pair - I'm an 11 and the 12 is a good fit for me). And they look very nice, with a merino and calf-leather finish. I'm not embarrassed to be seen in them which is the gold standard for slippers.

Simba make a big thing of the reflexology cushioning of the slipper: "The soft top layer features nine stimulating support points, filled with a unique gel which gently massages your feet for overall wellbeing and comfort." I'm less sure about how effective this is, that my slippers will somehow have a positive effect on my kidneys or front sinus, but it's early days still and maybe they will give my lower back and spine the makeover they most surely need.

Finally, a word on price. They are by some distance the most expensive slippers I've worn. I usually get mine from Marks & Spencer which are somewhere in the £30-£40 range. So these at £89 are knocking on for three times that. However, I do have to replace my M&S ones quite regularly due to the heavy ride I give them and I suspect that my Simbas will prove to have a much longer life and so far better value. Only time will tell.

But overall, if you're looking to invest in some decent slippers, the Simbas get the much sought-after Shedworking seal of approval. 

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

 

Bonni Outbuildings Medium

The Shedworking's staff heads were collectively turned by this rather splendid window in the medium-sized model from Bonni Outbuildings above, and also by the corrguated steel cladding on this pent Bonni small model below which also has a flat roof option. Nice feature touches include an electric cast iron radiator, oak floorboards, and brass exterior lights, and add-ons include showers, kitchens, and outdoor baths. There are also timber options which you can enjoy on Bonni's very pleasant Instagram pages.

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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

Charles Dickens's writing chalet in new issue of the Idler

 

The new issue of the Idler magazine - March-April 2026 - is winging its way to subscribers and bookshops/newsagents of note. Contents include my regular column on sheds and shedlike atmospheres which this time round focuses on the ongoing saga of what's happening to Charles Dickens's writing chalet.

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

Friday. Finery: Mackenzie Crook's shed

Mackenzie Crook's comedy/drama followup to Detectorists, Small Prophets, is proving to be a big hit (the Shedworking team has got to episode 4 at the moment) and as you probably know a lot of the action involves shedworking in what looks like a kind of garage-shed in the lead character's garden. Standing in front of his own charming inspiration above is Crook himself.

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

Building a garden office out of straw

It's a while since we've featured a straw-based garden office on Shedworking so we were delighted to come across this new project outlined on The Conversation and undertaken by Stuart Walker, Research Fellow in Sustainabilty Assessment at the University of Sheffield. It also uses cob construction so is particularly interesting for those looking for environmentally friendly building solutions.

Here's a snippet:

As sustainability assessment lead at Sheffield University’s Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures, I wanted to make sure my garden office had the lowest possible embodied carbon (a term used to describe the amount of carbon contained, or “embodied” in the materials used to make a product), and low energy use once it was up and running.

That meant the office would need to be very well insulated to avoid using lots of energy to heat it, and made of materials with low carbon content. Due to its structure, straw is a fantastic insulating material.

Well worth a read and also the comments after the main piece which include more details.

Image courtesy of Stuart of him working on his straw bale office by Lorna Jackson.

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The Philosophy of Sheds

Coming to bookshops everywhere on May 5...

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

 

Friday Finery: Arctic Cabins

This week's Finery - an Arctic Cabins special - is a visual reminder that while it's a bit grey and cold and drizzley outside, the sun will return.

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

 

Tricky garden office build

A nice garden room by Cosy Garden Rooms in an East London terraced house but especially notable since it had no side or rear access and consequently a number of other garden office suppliers had declined to have a go at the build. What Cosy did was to take out a window on the first floor, and then bring all the materials over the kitchen roof extension, taking care not to whack the roof lanterns in place. They then built the whole thing on site. 

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

Warwick Buildings Show Centre

Strongly recommended when shopping for a garden office is to try before you buy. Warwick Buildings has both an excellent online tour gizmo on its website so you can have a look at what's on offer from the comfort of your armchair, as well as an actual bricks and mortar show centre with 21 buildings to be enjoyed and details of construction materials and finishes.

The physical site on Nightingale Lane at Long Itchington in Warwickshire is by appointment during normal working hours (Saturday,  mornings only), though drop-ins are also welcomed. Dogs on leads are also welcome. The outdoor buildings are also viewable outside these hours too when the site is shut.

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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

 

Aldi brings back its Work From Home Essentials range

 

Items from Aldi's Work From Home Essentials range starting from 95p will be in stores from February 8. 
 
Highlights of the range which targets shedworkers and other homeworkers include:

• keyboard and mouse (£24.99) available in beige, black and grey
• bamboo desk storage (£4.99) including desk caddy, in tray, magazine holder, and storage box, each £4.99
• whiteboard, chalkboard, or corkboard (£3.99 each) with appropriate pens 99p each
• glasses cleaning wipes (95p)
• home office pillow (£9.99)
• design socket cube (£9.99) or living wall charger (£8.99), plus two-way cable free socket (£5.99) 
• wireless headphones (£12.99)
• 3-in-1 wireless charger (£12.99)

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