Backyard Home Offices & Retreats — www.shedandshelter.com

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BACKYARD HOME OFFICES & STUDIOS

Most home office buildings seem to be made from prefabricated kits shipped to your site. Without any previous experience, i built a 10X12 shed as a cabin for myself in Northern Idaho on some property i owned. For some reason which i don't understand the project turned out fine - even the door worked! (beginners luck). You can probably build your own home office quite easily using materials purchased from the Home Depot or a similar type building supply store or lumber yard...

There are of coarse advantages to buying a ready-made prefab unit. Prefabs purchased from some good company offer speed in set-up and maybe even some kind of guarantee on quality of workmanship and materials. This page features businesses that sell prefab home office, studio or retreat type buildings which tend to be small in nature like 8X12 foot and can be up to about 20X20 foot in size.

YARDPODS This is a very unique system for building a backyard home office. I hope they sell a lot of these units. Basically it consists of a manufactured steel frame which a person can finish themselves or you can buy one that the factory finishes for you.

YardPods are pre-fabricated, steel frame backyard rooms individually configured using a large catalog of modular, eco-friendly parts and materials. Pre-assembled in precision engineered panels at our factory and fully assembled on your site --permit free in most areas. For play, for work, for escape --your personal space can be only days away! YardPods are built with cold-formed galvanized light gauge steel framing (not wood), which has a high recycled content (25%+) and is 100% recyclable, Steel is stronger and lighter than wood, will not rot, will not shrink, will not warp, will not support mold or infestation, is fire-resistant and has a life in the hundreds of years. YardPods are designed in 3D using an advanced Building Information Modeling (BIM) system where every steel member is accurately sized and from which shop drawings and Numeric Code output are produced. The Numeric Code is transferred to the factory where computer-controlled roll-forming machines accurately manufacture all framing members to close tolerances. The state-of-the-art factory runs 100% on solar power and prefabricates wall, floor and roof panels with virtually no waste and is located in Sonoma Mountain Village (www.sonomamountainvillage.com) a deeply-sustainable community in Rohnert Park Sonoma that is designated a "One Planet Community". The factory is operated by manufacturing experts who focus on Quality, Continuous Improvement and Safety in everything that they do.

YardPods • San Rafael CA • Ph: (415) 299-1924 • sales@yardpods.com

GREEN TREE SHELTERS Need a neat looking home office installed quickly by yourself? Try one of these Green Tree Shelters prefab units to get the job done.

Our designers at Green Tree shelters, creators of LivingSpace have years of experience designing and producing modular structures for commercial food service, medical, construction and festival applications. We designed LivingSpace with a minimum number of easy to assemble pieces that require no special tools or special knowledge to assemble. We want you to start enjoying your LivingSpace the day you assemble it - not three weekends later!! We promise you that when you start assembly of LivingSpace on Saturday morning - you will be relaxing in your LivingSpace Saturday evening!

Green Tree Shelters • Ph: (414) 760-8600 • Email: sales@greentreeshelters.com

DWELLE This business is located in Manchester England i believe. This is a relatively new project they have started i guess. They have currently two beautiful models available so far - a large and a small livable shed. Their main website is located here: FKDA In addition to their livable shed section, they have designed some very beautiful other small dwellings worth your time to look at. This business produces small buildings which are designed for both small livable dwellings as well as backyard home office buildings.

"Welcome to the new "Shed" website! We've spent some time ensuring that not only are our sheds as space efficient as possible and have extremely high environmental criteria, but they are also designed to the highest standards. Our buildings are useful as a micro home, garden office studio, holiday cabin or play room. We have designed a series of micro-buildings that we originally called "sheds". These are sheds for living. However, as the design developed, the name no longer seemed appropriate. The word "dwell" fits better with the size, type and quality of buildings we've created. Our range of buildings are appealing to a very wide range of people."

The key criteria we incorporate into all of our designs are...
1. high quality design
2. environmentally sustainable
3. a healthy internal environment
4. affordable
5. extremely versatile and adaptable
6. supporting communities

Dwelle. • 12 Hilton Street • Manchester M1 1JF • Ph: 0161 237 1500 • richard@dwelle.co.uk

ROUND LAKE HUT This is another creation of Steven Holl, an architect. This is a drawing studio and is small in size. He has other smaller structures designed by him such as the Turbulence House. He is an architect with very unique ideas; so if you looking for an architect with unique ideas - he is your man. To view more information on his website; click on houses and then click on Round Lake Hut.

"Creative and imaginative work begins in the solitude of the connection of the mind/eye/hand. This solitary room with a table and a chair is a functional drawing studio. The wood framed, 80 square foot space, sits on four legs at the edge of Round Lake. The north and south elevations are glass in cedar frames. The sides are black tar paper with wooden battens. There is a one-by- four foot window at the floor facing east toward the sunrise. There is no plumbing, no electricity, and no insulation."

ECOSPACE Another business based in London, England. Beautiful prefab modular home office studios made here. You can configure your own layout using their online tools. Very nice website.

"Our projects range from individual eco houses to multiple sustainable housing projects and ecospace is an inspiration from this — a contemporary studio that provides a cost-effective, eco-friendly alternative to a house extension — making it the ideal solution to the space and environmental issues we face today."

CLASSIC MANOR BUILDERS These people have some pretty neat designs available. Kind of different. Available in only certain parts of the US. "Classic Manor Builders constructs quality portable storage buildings, detached garages, barns, cabins, offices, metal carports and garages, maintenance free aluminum buildings, pergolas, and gazebos in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and, Texas."

ALTERNATIVE SPACE This business is located in the UK.

"Alternative Space is an established family business specialising exclusively in the design, manufacture and installation of high quality, eco friendly garden rooms. Whether you need a home office, studio, gym, or simply a place to relax, our garden rooms provide a comfortable, versatile and practical space for year round use; a low cost way to increase the size and flexibility of your home without the disruption and expense of a loft conversion, or extension. By design an Alternative Space is classified as an 'out-building'. Under normal circumstances planning permission is not required. However, all similarities to the conventional wooden box adorned with green felt end there. Our product is the result of detailed research into the most efficient timber building techniques. It is a robust, durable structure created for those who need a secure, warm, dry space and specifically those who need a space which can be used in comfort, all year round."

STUDIO RETREAT Here's a nice fairly new business located in the UK. Nice website.

"Studio Retreat is a private, family run business who supply garden office kits throughout the UK and Ireland. We combine sleek design with the natural beauty of wood and glass to create high quality, environmentally friendly garden buildings."

Every one needs space... Think versatile.

Our studios can be adapted to create space for many purposes:
- Home office - to work in peace and quiet.
- Stylish garden room - to entertain friends and family.
- Art studio - to create your master piece.
- Music studio - to perform.
- Meditation room - to ease the mind.
- Writing room - to express the words.
- Gym - to keep fit.
- Play room - to have fun.
- Or simply just a place to retreat and relax away from the house.
Our studio's have been designed to create a comfortable, modern space to use and enjoy all year round.

MODERN CABANA They have a fine selection of pre-made or pre-fab small buildings which are excellent for home office use. Can be used as a guest house or artist studio also. Very beautiful product. "Founded in 2004 in San Francisco California, Modern Cabana is a private, family-owned business that provides it's clients with small pre-fabricated buildings of the highest quality, value and design integrity."

THE H2OFFICE FLOATING OFFICE This is a brilliant concept in my opinion. This business is located in Cardiff, United Kingdom. There is a good possibility that this floating office system would work well in the harbor located in my town of Crescent City, California. Maybe a person could buy one of these units for his own personal office use and have it parked at a berth somewhere.

"We have developed a design for a "floating office" - we call it the H2Office. We are looking to develop "mini floating business parks" in suitable areas of marinas (or other water areas). The floating unit's main function is as a "work space" but we have also incorporated some features to allow recreational activities and the option to use it as an overnight lodging."

BUNGALOW IN A BOX These are very nice looking pre-fab units built in Maine. Probably deliver throughout the contiguous United States and Canada, but call first to make sure (207) 443-5691. Pictured their "Mountain-Top Retreat" model.

"Weathertight panel-frame structures. Our component kits make durable cottage-camps, garages, home offices and studios. Our unique framing technique joins low-maintenance, natural materials to create beautiful structures that last. Prefabricated interlocking, exterior-finish panels assemble quickly with minimal on-site waste. A BungalowInABox goes up on your foundation with a finished exterior appearance in in one or two days."

MODULAR DWELLINGS This simple yet beautiful very small home office is available for purchase by the general public.

With its clean lines and glowing surface, the Modular Home Office embodies California's new Prefab architectural movement. These custom built back yard office buildings blend minimalist styling, industrial materials and a modernist's attention to detail to create a usable environment that is unique. Designed to be easy to transport, quick to assemble and aesthetically pleasing, the Modular Home Office mixes the design philosophies of Charles Eames and Richard Neutra to create a living environment that is the ideal blend of form and function.

Edgar Blazona • 2729 Acton St. • Berkeley, CA 94702 • Email: edgar@modulardwellings.com

GARDEN2OFFICE These people build beautiful home office structures in addition to small cabins, fancy sheds and studios. They are based in the UK. "The picture on the right is called their "Music Room". "The Internet allows our clients to manage their international musical careers from their garden, or rather this triple glazed home office, clad in cedar and thermowood. Broadband cabling can be installed at the same time as we lay the power cables to your new room."

"Welcome to Garden2office Ltd. We supply and install eco-friendly, modular buildings designed and built in Sweden. Our buildings can be used as garden offices, dens, studios, music rooms and much more. In fact, if you need extra space, but don't want the expense and disruption of an extension or loft conversion, our Tomoku Hus buildings could be the solution. Working from home... it's about time. Our demo unit in Surrey is now open for business so that you can walk around a home office set-up and see exactly how you could benefit from one of our insulated buildings."

CALIFORNIA CUSTOM SHEDS This business builds small structures that would make great home office or studio or retreat rooms. This is not your grandmother's shed builder. They have a lot of nice pictures on this website. They can build one of their models on your lot in one day. They also sell shed kits. All sheds they sell are made of wood.

"Thank you for your interest in our quality built Wood Storage Sheds. California Custom Sheds® has been a leader in the storage industry since 1985. Prior to the creation of California Custom Sheds, more than 25 years ago, we built custom homes in Southern California. We have applied this knowledge and experience to our storage buildings and garages. We have also accumulated an abundance of knowledge developing our buildings to perfection over the last 20 years. Some, by listening to suggestions and ideas from the thousands of customers whom we have had the privilege to serve. There are many shortcuts a company can take when building a wood storage shed and garden storage sheds. Inferior building materials, or lack of materials, are just a couple of examples. Many of these shortcuts are never noticed nor can be seen by the untrained eye. California Custom Sheds does not take shortcuts and uses only the best quality materials available to construct the best buildings available at a reasonable price."

Located in Salinas, CA, in the Heart of the Monterey Bay Area, Highway 101 (El Camino Real North) and Ralph Lane.

MODERN SHED Useful as dwellings, home offices, studios. These sheds are not something you would want to use for storing your gardening tools. Can be finished as a guest house or some other nice useful building to be lived in.

"Available in 5 styles. All parts are pre-finished and panelized. A Modern Shed is the most affordable addition one can add to a home. Modern Shed is simply about storage, fun, space, architecture and your back yard. It gives you the chance to have an office away from home, a small art studio, or free up room in the garage. Stop paying offsite storage and increase the value of your home and quality of life."

SIDEKICK HOMES This is a very professional website which features modular or prefab small homes. I include them in this category because their product can be used as a home office.

"Sidekicks are Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) - in other words a second living unit complete with kitchen and bath. Other names for a Sidekick Home (or an ADU) include Secondary homes or living units (California) Granny Flat, Carriage House, In-law suite, Guesthouse, Casita (Southwest US), Cabanas (Florida), and more. Most communities require that such a living unit be accessory to the primary single family home. It may be included as part of the primary structure, attached to or detached from the primary home. There are several benefits of building a Sidekick Home:
1. Provide a place where an aging parent can live independently, but close at hand.
2. Increase living space and home value.
3. Provide long-term private living space for caregivers.
4. Private nanny quarters.
5. At-home office or studio space.
6. Supplemental income from rental or as the perfect guest house".

BETTER BUILT This business is located in Wichita, Kansas. They have some very nice looking buildings that can be used as storage sheds, home office or studio space, or micro-cabins for living. The picture on the right is of their 8ft x 10ft play house which can probably be used as a home office.

"As with all Better Built Portable Buildings, the exterior

is virtually maintenance free, saving you time and money. Your Better Built building will be custom built to your specifications, allowing you to specify such things as overall building size, door and window sizes and locations, and shingle colors that blend with existing structures. Built upon sturdy 4x6 pressure treated skids with 2x6 treated floor joists and heavy duty 3/4" plywood flooring, the Portable Garden Shed is protected with 25 year solid tab shingles, and is built to provide many years of trouble free service while safely protecting your valued contents. With a variety of available sizes, the Portable Casita makes a great backwoods or lakeside cabin. You may also be interested in our Lofted Porch, which offers similar features with a slightly different porch arangement. Both buildings offer an abundance of overhead storage, and covered entry ways."

MFINITY Well designed very small buildings (8ft x 12 ft) which can be used as a home office/studio or efficiency housing.

"Allow us to introduce ourselves: We are MFINITY; and we are dedicated to creating high-quality modern products that reflect your modern lifestyle. We invite you to browse through our collection of architectural products and furnishings designed with the highest standards in mind. Enjoy!"

"The microSYSTEM® line of architectural products provides a low-cost, intelligent solution to a range of differing needs. Consisting of modular 8ft by 12ft living units, customizable interior options, and a choice of porch styles, the microSYSTEM® can create a 100sf storage/garden shed, small office/studio, guest house/cabana, or complete residence. With the addition of connecting porch modules, different units can be linked together to provide a sheltered boardwalk corridor from one building to the next."

METROSHED These people make a variety of small buildings for use as sheds, small cabins, home offices and home studios. Very nicely done.

"MetroShed - The Original Modern Prefab Shed. MetroShed is proud to be "eco-friendly" and a leader of building "green" prefabricated structures. MetroSheds are delivered flat packed, with full assembly instructions and all necessary fasteners. No building experience is necessary and the build process takes just a few hours. There are only 31 major pieces to the MetroShed. You will need a screw gun, ladder and gloves - all screws and connecting pieces are provided. A concrete foundation is not necessarily needed. In fact most of our customers place the MetroShed on a level area of gravel (great for water run off), or on concrete deck blocks."

HENLEY OFFICES Another home office company based in the United Kingdom. The picture on the right is of their latest model "Compact Mini".

What is a Personal Office?

A "personal office" is a small, self contained office building that is located within a domestic garden. It provides a suitable working environment away from the distractions of the home. It must also conform to the following 10 points:
1. A Professional Space: manufactured as an additional office / room (not just a "garden building").
2. Immediate (installed by professionals within 1-3 days).
3. Modular (from pre-manufactured panels - ie to travel through a house).
4. Complete (electrics, double glazing and full insulation must come as standard).
5. Robust (with minimal maintenance and a life expectancy of 20+ years).
6. Affordable (prices start around 5-6000 GBP +VAT).
7. Comfortable (all year round - cool in summer and warm in winter).
8. Secure (with BS quality fittings to be readily insurable).
9. Re-sellable (and to have a significant residual value - and to add value to the house).
10. Attractive (both interior and exterior suitable for the home).
All Henleys conform to all 10 principles of a personal office.

CEDARSHED Purveyors of fine backyard home office kits. And other nice products including sheds and small cedar cabins.

"Cedarshed is located in Langley, BC, Canada, and has dealers throughout North America, Europe and Asia. We also distribute locally in the greater Vancouver area in: Surrey, Langley, White Rock, Coquitlam, Richmond, North & West Vancouver, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, and other BC cities throughout the Province."

THE GARDEN ROOM COMPANY This business is based in the United Kingdom. They seem to have two basic models available now: The Duo & The Mono. The picture on the right is of their "Mono Garden Room".

"Our mission is to provide our customers with the highest quality garden rooms for the purposes of work or leisure. Creating some extra space in the garden has many benefits: Shorten your commute to work with a journey down the garden path; add value to your property with a room that is built to current housing standards; avoid the costs and hassle associated with other forms of adding space, such as loft conversions and extensions. Investing in a garden room will deliver a good return for you, your family and the environment. When used as an office, a garden room helps to create a physical and psychological distinction between your professional and family space, promoting a healthier work-life balance. With two ranges, The Mono and The Duo, coming in a variety of sizes, we provide you with a stylish and fully finished garden room that will suit your needs. To tailor your building and make it your own, we give you a wide choice of options both inside and out."

TIMBERLAST This business is located in Rochester, NH. Ask them about their 10ft x 12 ft Shed Kit Promotion. They do not say on their website if they build the shed using the timber frame method.

"Our mission is to utilize the centuries old technique of timber framing to create truly sustainable structures that will provide strong, aesthetically pleasing shelter for generations to come. Our goal is to build "small" in terms of both size and impact. We use locally grown, sustainably harvested timbers and other green products that help conserve our natural resources. We employ traditional handcrafted joinery to create a warm, comfortable environment. We specialize in hand-sculpted arbors, pergolas and garden structures. We offer kits in standard sizes as well as custom designs to meet your specific needs. All our structures include:
Custom Cellular PVC Post Bases. A Timberlast Exclusive! No digging holes, quick setup on any level surface and no post rot. No Chemical Wood Treatments or Insecticides. Safe for your family and pets. Sustainable, Fast Growing Eastern White Pine. No use of endangered wood species or deforestation harvesting. Natural Finish. Choose to let it weather naturally or stain it to match your home."

WEBUILD PORTABLE BUILDINGS Even though these prefab buildings are generic in nature; can be set-up for most any use - they look like they would work best as a home office.

Top quality portable polystyrene panel buildings to the design of your choice, built for easy transportation. Available in 50mm/75mm or 100mm insulated panel, to walls and roof. Electrical fittings of your choice. 18mm treated plywood flooring on a duragal steel base. Webuild your home - cottage - office - granny flats - holiday homes - classrooms - sleepouts - site sheds etc. Special needs requirements also avalible. We at Webuild will build it for you - built to your budget.

WEBUILD PORTABLE BUILDINGS • Ph: 0508 932 8453
Mobile 027 593 2845 • Fax 64 3 615 7873
Timaru, New Zealand • Email: info@webuild.co.nz

Suncrest Home Office
One of the Suncrest Sheds designs in Florida

Date Last Updated: February 25, 2010