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Houzz Tour: Shed-Turned-Office in a London Garden
Working and being outdoors aren't mutually exclusive for a U.K. couple — they built an office space amid the greenery of their backyard
Tucked in the back of a private garden, this one-room shed serves as an office for a London couple. With 150 square feet and $16,000 to work with, designer and architect Gurmeet Sian used simple, strong materials to cut down on cost. "One of the challenges I set myself, and as a way to keep costs down, was to choose materials that could be bought from any local hardware store," he says.
Houzz at a Glance
Who works here: A couple who work as freelancers
Location: The Hackney borough of London, England
Size: 150 square feet
Houzz at a Glance
Who works here: A couple who work as freelancers
Location: The Hackney borough of London, England
Size: 150 square feet
Inexpensive, durable sheets and rough-sawn wood were sourced from local and sustainable companies, and the high insulation levels allow for minimal energy costs.
Sian used the ceiling beams as a structural guide for the library shelves, and saved floor space and cost by building the shelves into the back wall. All that storage meant the clients didn't need anything else except a chair and a table.
A slightly hidden skylight at the back isn't really visible until a burst of sunlight and blue sky opens over the library.
"I wanted to express the simple materials in their natural state and use the shed as a showcase for what can be achieved with 'unfashionable' materials, with a limited budget but with unlimited imagination," Sian says.
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A view of the garden was a must, too. The full-height retractable doors allow the two to enjoy the garden while they work — and create the option of entertaining here in warm weather.
"The clients were very excited about seeing the doors fully open," says Sian. "It's another surprise for visitors who are expecting only part of the doors to swing open."