Friday Finery: Snowy shed

It's not been the snowiest winter so far but here's an example of what might be coming our way, an Arctic Cabins build beating back a blizzard from yesteryear.

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

Cobham Mews Studios listed by English Heritage

English Heritage has done a very worthy '19 Remarkable Historic Places Listed in 2025' listicle which features the Cobham Mews Studios in London which were designed by David Chipperfield Architects and built between 1987 and 1989. Here's what English Heritage say about it:

Seeing the potential of a back-land plot, then in use as a scrapyard, Chipperfield worked with Derwent Valley Property Developments to create a pair of studio offices tucked behind the residential terraces of central Camden. The building remained the practice’s home for over 20 years. 

The design draws inspiration from small-scale industrial buildings as well as Victorian artist’s studios, using rooflights and glass bricks to bring in natural light whilst protecting the privacy of surrounding houses. The exterior nods to Modern Movement pioneers of the 1920s and 30s which were an early influence on Chipperfield. Inside, crisp detail, double-height spaces and mezzanine floors create spatial drama.  

"These newly protected places demonstrate the remarkable diversity of England's heritage," said Claudia Kenyatta and Emma Squire, Co-CEOs Historic England. "They connect us to the people and events that shaped our communities." 

Photo courtesy and © Historic England Archive

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

 

Working from home and mental health

A new study of 16,000 people has focused on how working from home, whether in a garden office or otherwise, affects people's mental health.

The study by Jan Kabetak, Ferdi Botha, Jordy Meekes and Roger Wilkins from the University of Melbourne relied on information from thousands of Australians and indicates that: 

• commuting time had no detectable effect on women's mental health while for men longer commutes were linked to poorer mental health for those people who already had mental health issues
• working from home had a strong positive effect on women’s mental health when women worked in a hybrid situation, mostly from home but with one to two days in the office/on-site per week
• people with poorer mental health are the most sensitive to long commutes and the most likely to benefit from substantial working from home arrangements. 
•  employers should avoid one-size-fits-all return-to-office policies

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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

New designs for Sidmouth beach huts unveiled

The Shedworking staff members are known for their enthusiastic support of all thing Sidmouth so were particularly pleased to see the designs for the town's upcoming upgraded Jacob's Ladder beach huts by the Bailey Partnership released. Interestingly, the new huts will not be timber but made of a composite material to increase their longevity.

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

 

Friday Finery: The Philosophy of Sheds

Coming to all good bookshops in May 2026...

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

Ceramicist's garden studio

 

 

A pleasing bespoke brick-timber approach for a ceramicist's garden office/studio from Cosy Garden Rooms with plenty of light flowing in and enough room for a kiln.

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

 

Craning a garden office into place

If you're in a tricky spot, it's often possible to still crane a garden office building into place. Here's an example from Okopod who took part in BBC TV's DIY SOS series earlier this year to help a deserving  family in south London. Okopod donated and installed this self-contained garden annexe which included a bedroom, bathroom, and kitchenette. More photos of the whole thing at Okopod's blog here and you can see the whole heartwarming episode on the iPlayer thingy here.

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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