Even though I have a small office in our house where I work, occasionally (and it’s normally in the warmer months!) I dream of having a garden shed which I could work from. I think the seed for this idea was initially planted after seeing the beautiful Artisan Retreats at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. This one above was created by Nikki Tibbles from Wild at Heart and the one below was kitted out by Cath Kidston. Don’t they look wonderful?
Traditionally, the garden shed has been somewhat of a male bolthole. But more and more women are buying one to use purely as a home office…whether it’s because there isn’t enough room in their house for them to have a dedicated area for their business, or they would simply like to have a clear distinction between work life and family life. Running an on-line business from the bottom of your garden has been aided by the advances in wi-fi broadband technology. I know of three ladies…graphic designer Nicola Brown of In the Shed, blogger Emily Quinton and Julie Hall of Women Unlimited who all work from their garden sheds.
Now, if I did have a garden shed as a home office, I would make sure that it had big windows with window boxes. I’d grow seasonal flowering plants, like pretty purple violas or white geraniums with scented foliage in them. And inside, I’d love to have some peace lilies and also space on my desk for a vase of cut flowers. Oh…and room for a big squishy armchair…and a kettle…and heating…and a sedum roof. One can but dream…!
P.S. Did you know that there’s a blog called Shedworking that offers advice to those working from their gardens? And Alex Johnson who writes the blog has also penned a book called Shedworking: The Alternative Workplace Revolution.
You have just described my ideal shed! I also dream of having one with big glazed doors to look out onto the garden.
One day…maybe. Hope your dream comes true Gill 🙂