New Idler shed column focuses on individuality

The new issue of the Idler magazine is out now. In my regular shed/garden office column I look at the remarkable inviduality on show on the interiors of garden buildings, including the recent winner of Shed of the Year (away from the world of sheds my column on Idler Heros looks at the diaries of the chap who inspired Withnail in Withnail and I). Available all over the place but ideally via a subscription - details at the link above.

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Monday posts are sponsored by Cosy Garden Rooms, the UK's No. 1 bespoke garden room designer and builder.

Friday Finery: Writer's shepherd's hut

This week's finery ushers in the weekend with this idyllically-placed writer's hut from shepherd's hut specialists Plankbridge.

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

 

HS2 bat shed cost £100m+

Could HS2 have built the most expensive shed ever? According to Si Jon Thompson, HS2's chair, who was talking at the Rail Industry Association conference today about the costs of the whole project, a kilometre-long 'bat shed' had to be erected in woodland alongside the new high-speed line in Sheephouse Wood, Buckinghamshire to save a colony of Bechstein’s bats. While Shedworking is very much on the bats' side, Thompson admitted that the shed - which cost north of £100m - had been built without any evidence that bats were actually in danger. And indeed Natural England has said it did not stipulate such a structure was vital. Plenty of media have covered this story, including the Guardian here, if you'd like more details.

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 Thursday posts are sponsored by Cabin Master: garden offices and   

 studios to fit any size garden. Top quality contemporary or traditional

 buildings.

 

Beach hut painting sells for £12,000

This lovely oil painting by Scottish artist Alberto Morocco of a lido beach hut recently sold at auction by The Cotswold Auction Company for £12,000.

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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

 

e-Snug garden office

If you like the shepherd's hut vibe but don't want to go full shepherd's hut, then perhaps something like this from East Yorkshire-based My Garden Studio might suit. It has all the normal must haves, but what the Shedworking staff like in particular is the curved roof line. There are several sizes on offer, though there is also a fully bespoke service - this one pictured is 2m x 2m but there is an even smaller 1.4m x 1.4m option if you are really pushed for space. 

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Malvern Garden Buildings offer a premium collection of garden buildings, displayed at 11 UK showsites.

Ghost painter’s garden studio

An unusual artist's garden studio case study on Malvern Garden Buildings' blog focuses on Sal who uses her Studio Pavilion model from the supplier's range to produce unique art as the piece explains:

Sal once worked as a housekeeper in a stately home, dedicating her spare time to painting. She drew inspiration from her imagination, creating artworks that depicted female servants from a bygone era as they went about their daily tasks.

Interestingly, it wasn’t until Sal exhibited some of her paintings that a local recognised one of the characters as a former servant from the very house where she had worked. To this day, Sal continues to use this same creative process, allowing her figures to emerge from the canvas, often adorned in Edwardian hats, petticoats, or uniforms typical of life below stairs.

The garden office's features include two double cupboards with a glass top used as a palette, and built-in storage shed. Lots more photos at the Malvern site here.

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Monday posts are sponsored by Cosy Garden Rooms, the UK's No. 1 bespoke garden room designer and builder.

 

Friday Finery: Awardwinning Sounds of Adventure garden building

This week's Finery focuses on Silver Leaf Garden Rooms' intriguing design for the Sounds of Adventure wins at RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival earlier this year which won the Best Construction prize. It was designed by Nic Howard and sponsored by Exodus Adventure Travels, with the building 'hovering' above the garden, supported with ground screws.

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