What makes the perfect shed?

[johnty greentoes]

My plot is a completely blank canvas. No fences, no shed, no plants. So I have the perfect opportunity to create things just like I want them.

So I'm asking myself what my perfect shed should be like. Like most sheds it will be a workspace, a hideaway, a spiritual retreat (if the spirit is single malt). Obvioulsy the following are prerequisites...

• A cubbyhole for the whisky
• A woodburning stove
• A wind-up radio

Can anyone tell me what is the favourite thing they like about their shed? I'd like not to miss out something vitally important.

[Two_Sheds]

I love my shed. It's blue, with clematis and passiflora growing up it. Its carpeted, shelved and has a cupboard for snacks. A radio (rechargable batteries, I couldn't get on with the wind-up one). Gardenings books and mags. 2 chairs and a hammock. 4 lovely windows and binoculars for watching the birds (and other plotters). I'd really like some sort of stove to brew tea, but I'm petrified of fire, so I have a Thermos instead.

[shine388]

i'd have...

• a comfy chair to relax in whilst reflecting on what you've just achieved
• a place to hide a stash of chocolate
• a kettle and lots of sachets of hot chocolate/coffee

x

[NOG]

a bloke on our plot dug a hole below his shed and lined it with bricks and wood then put a trap door in the floor. So he can hide his tools there. He leaves the shed unlocked and the youth rummage through it and his tools save safe below....

[JennieAtkinson]

I wish I loved my shed! Its just a mess of everything that I don't want in the greenhouse and polytunnel.

so - I will watch this thread and change it!

[Protea]

In an idea world......I'd have a shed big enough to house all my tools in a neat and ordered way (hanging racks on the walls etc), maybe some sort of chest to keep my fleece and netting in when not required, a chair, a little stove and ketle for making tea, a loo (compost version of course!), a light (solar powered) and a heater would really finish it off!

In reality i have...a small shed as it was all i could get (our joint Xmas pressie from parents - couldn't ask for anything bigger!), it is stuffed full of all our tools, carpet, fleece, netting, fertiliser buckets...generally all our c**p, in a great big heap, oh and not forgetting the spiders <shudder> which means i won't go any further than the doorway. On the plus side the roof just slopes one way (can't remember what it's called - but it has no peak in the middle), which means its much easier to connect guttering to for collecting rainwater (guttering only required one side) and it has a side door which i think makes better use of the space.

Once spring arrives my plan is to clear it out and get some shelving in there to sort it out! (and get Mr Protea in there with a duster ). I love the idea of planting a climber next to it, at the moment i've just got a pallet leaning up against it!

[johnty greentoes]

I've 2 wind up radios

One is brand new and 30 seconds of winding lasts for about 20 mins. The other is about 5 years old and 5 minutes of winding seems to last about 2 minutes.

Both have solar panels but... I live in Hull.

[nick the grief]

My plot is a completely blank canvas. No fences, no shed, no plants. So I have the perfect opportunity to create things just like I want them.

So I'm asking myself what my perfect shed should be like. Like most sheds it will be a workspace, a hideaway, a spiritual retreat (if the spirit is single malt). Obvioulsy the following are prerequisites...

• A cubbyhole for the whisky
• A woodburning stove
• A wind-up radio

Can anyone tell me what is the favourite thing they like about their shed? I'd like not to miss out something vitally important.

The Only spirit in mine is Methylated for the back up stove in case I run out of Gas

• I like the sound of the windup radio but tend to use by Mobile fone as it doubles as an MP3 player & Radio.
• Comfey chairs is a must
• Tea & Coffee facilities ( ASDA do 2kg tins of filter coffe for £3-59 at the moment - excellent value and the smell of fresh coffee really is great plus you can tip the waste in the compost heap )
• loads of shelves for storage
• most important of all no leaks !!! Mine has a corrugated steel roof & I was thinking of tuning it into a living roof with alpines & the likes to help insulate it from the cold in winter & the heat in summer

[Snadger]

My plot is a completely blank canvas. No fences, no shed, no plants. So I have the perfect opportunity to create things just like I want them.

So I'm asking myself what my perfect shed should be like. Like most sheds it will be a workspace, a hideaway, a spiritual retreat (if the spirit is single malt). Obvioulsy the following are prerequisites...

• A cubbyhole for the whisky
• A woodburning stove
• A wind-up radio

Can anyone tell me what is the favourite thing they like about their shed? I'd like not to miss out something vitally important.

If you're going to have a woodburning (potbellied) stove the shed will need to be quite a size as they get very hot and you can't sit too near!

I have sloping windows which I use a bit like a 'greenhut' for seedlings and draw the curtains each night to keep out prying eyes! I heat that small area within the curtained area with a paraffin cold frame heater for seedlings and chitting seed potatoes!

[JennieAtkinson]

I've 2 wind up radios

Both have solar panels but... I live in Hull.

You think you have problems!

[johnty greentoes]

Love these ideas.

I have brambles in the vicinity and I'm thinking of getting them trained around my shed. Love the idea of something warm and cosy surrounded by fierce thorns.

NOG - the cellar for contraband is very cute.

Protea - the composting idea is very intriguing. I wonder if my tenancy will allow it. A well positioned window and I could do the composting, whisky drinking and bird atching all in one go - and listen to Radio4. Sounds like heaven.

I am definitely after a stove - which means that a stone/concrete floor or metal sheet is a must.

And fire sort of rules out a B&Q shed. I really want to build something unique, something Little House on the Prairieish (see my blog below!). Has anyone got any plans/designs/pics. I reckon you can tell a lot about someone from their shed. Anyone prepared to send pics as attachments?

[johnty greentoes]

Jennie - yep - Shetland and sunshine don't usually go together.

Is your shed crannog like - 6 foot thick double-walled and stone built?

[nick the grief]

Love these ideas.

I have brambles in the vicinity and I'm thinking of getting them trained around my shed. Love the idea of something warm and cosy surrounded by fierce thorns.

NOG - the cellar for contraband is very cute.

Protea - the composting idea is very intriguing. I wonder if my tenancy will allow it. A well positioned window and I could do the composting, whisky drinking and bird atching all in one go - and listen to Radio4. Sounds like heaven.

I am definitely after a stove - which means that a stone/concrete floor or metal sheet is a must.

And fire sort of rules out a B&Q shed. I really want to build something unique, something Little House on the Prairieish (see my blog below!). Has anyone got any plans/designs/pics. I reckon you can tell a lot about someone from their shed. Anyone prepared to send pics as attachments?

I can recommend a book to you that I bought ( sad really isn't it)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Building-Gre...e=UTF8&s=books

[Two_Sheds]

Building Great Sheds - lovely book. Shed-porn it is

[JennieAtkinson]

Is your shed crannog like - 6 foot thick double-walled and stone built?

No - just the house! The shed is attached to driveway!