Katherine’s One-Room Schoolhouse

“I wanted to share how I use/used my Modern Shed over the past few years since its creation at our home in Busch Gardens, Pasadena. The Modern Shed (known to most of my friends as “The She-Shed”), was originally added to our property to give me an extra 90 square feet of  “office” space. During the Covid lockdown, it quickly transformed into my one-room schoolhouse! I continue to use it as my tutoring space/office space. I feel so lucky to have had this space as my classroom and to provide curriculum accessibility to my 780 students throughout the virtual learning year of lockdown. Thank you Modern Shed!”

Katherine

A She-Shed / office was the perfect solution in Busch Gardens.
Katherine’s Modern Shed allowed her to continue teaching and tutoring during the pandemic lockdown.

Thanks, Katherine for sharing your Modern Shed story with us! To learn more about how we can provide space and solutions for your family, contact our Design Professionals today!

Get In The Picture Contest with Modern Shed

Our clients inspire us every day, from state to state. Their creativity is simply astounding.  Help us celebrate your talent by sharing photographs of YOU using your beautiful backyard studio in our #ModernShedInspo photo contest.  Every month one lucky client will win a $100 Amazon gift card. Tag us on social media in a public post with a photo of you and your Modern Shed and use the hashtag (#ModernShedInspo) or send it via email (Connect@Modern-Shed.com) to be entered to win!

Fine print: all photos musts be your own Modern Shed. If you did not take the photo yourself, you must have full usage rights, and all photos submitted give Modern Shed same-said usage rights for reuse and publication This contest is not sponsored or endorsed by Amazon or their affiliate companies, we just like gift cards!

Introducing The PEAK Modern Shed

Introducing our latest Modern Shed design, The Peak. Our classic shed style is unmistakable and quality unparalleled, yet we continually seek to improve and expand our offerings. Keeping a mid-century vibe, The Peak adds further function and flair for our customers.

The Peak pictured here (10’x14’) features coextruded sliding doors with surrounding windows.

What’s different from our other models?  The Peak is TWO Modern Sheds placed front-to-front to form a gable roofline. As with all our sheds, The Peak design is easily customized. What is your preference in windows, door styles, sizes and location? How about interior and exterior finishes? Think big and share your vision with one of our specialized design consultants. They can’t wait to hear what you have in mind. All of our sheds are tailored for you!

Picture yourself inside this modern, yet warm and inviting cabin featuring cedar walls and ceiling.

Whether looking for a home office, guest house, art studio, or any other space, we’ve got the perfect studio solution for you!

Learn more about Modern Shed’s process and design by visiting our website today!

Should Have Bought A Modern Shed

One day, Modern Shed Design Consultant Jeff Bergerson received a call from Rafal, who was excited to build a structure on his property inspired by the Modern Shed design. He was already working with a contractor on his main house. “I had a contractor who convinced me that he could do it for less. And maybe he could have, but all the design work and structural engineering costs really added up, and that’s a service I know you guys can provide.”

Unfortunately, Rafal’s project dragged on and was more costly than he could have imagined. As the months passed, Rafal contacted Jeff with a few questions, and eventually shared, “I’ve spent almost $20k and all I have to show for it is a slab. I should have bought a Modern Shed.”

Modern Shed offers more than an idea.  From start to finish, the entire project is a finely tuned effort. Our Design Consultants like Jeff listen and work with our clients on every detail.  They have done it before. They know what it takes. For example, our prefabricated, segmented panels mean you spend a few days with a construction crew installing your new space, not weeks or even months.  Also, we use a unique, fully insulated, quickly installed floor system, and solutions for uneven surfaces. And then there’s the cost savings of Modern Shed’s buying power. “While we have felt the pinch over supply challenges for windows or doors over the past few months, we do have the buying power to keep costs as low as possible,” explains Jeff. Along the way, Rafal contacted Jeff, who was more than happy to assist however he could. “I tell everyone I know who is thinking about doing what I tried to just give you a call,” said Rafal. “It’s more than a great design it’s a thoughtful process.”  Thank you, Rafal!

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Mother Nature’s beautiful boulders go from construction challenge to unbelievably gorgeous landscape feature!

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA – Ryan and his family knew they had the perfect spot for a home office, even though there were a couple of (not so tiny) obstacles. However, as the pandemic loomed on, their idea shifted to an urgent need. Ryan contacted Modern Shed Design Consultant Jeff Bergerson. “No other shed manufacturer wanted to touch our space because of the boulders. It wasn’t until I got an on-site inspection by Modern Shed preferred installer Dave Walterick that I felt comfortable moving forward,” said Ryan.

Simply put, Ryan, Jeff and Dave realized the standard 10’x12’ shed wouldn’t fit, i.e., “in between a rock and a hard place.” As a result, they decided that Modern Shed would tailor the shed to fit – a 9’x12’ shed. “The space is REALLY tight between the rocks and the setback rules; it is literally inches away from one of the boulders,” Ryan explained.

“Once it started to rain, the dirt covering the utility trench started to settle, and Dave’s crew came back to jack up the shed in that corner,” said Ryan. “Luckily, the very large timber used under the walls and floor was strong enough that the shed hardly moved.”  This is an example of the strength and durability of Modern Shed’s unique floor system.

If you’re ready to invest in a lifestyle upgrade for yourself, contact Modern Shed today!

SoCal Serene

SAN DIEGO – As a successful architect in Southern California, Nastaran knows what she wants from the spaces she designs: aesthetically impactful style with the highest quality and functionality for the budget. This is why she came to Modern Shed when it was time to expand the square footage of their living space. She deeply appreciated the high standards of quality to which Modern Shed builds our products, and knew that her investment would stand the test of time.

Nastaran first started looking at a home gym from Modern Shed back in 2016 while she was remodeling their home with her fiance, but the project was put on hold to divert the funding to the essentials going on in the home. However, as the pandemic hit, Nastaran found herself needing a home office space quickly. While her previous research regarding Modern Shed combined with her expertise as an architect herself dramatically sped up the process to plan and purchase her new office, Nastaran also valued her Design Pro, Trevor’s expertise and professionalism in helping the entire process run smoothly, especially as pandemic-related delays started to affect the delivery time frame. She also adds that his knowledge and explanation of the design and build process would be invaluable to someone less familiar with the ins and outs of construction.

“I definitely made it a bit more interesting for Trevor and the installer, Chase,” Nastaran reflects. “I came to them with a full electrical work up for puck lighting and the ceiling fan, even a floor outlet. They were great! They wired in all the conduit based on my instructions.”

The investment in their property was well worth the investment in time and resources to help Nastaran bring her long-term vision for their outdoor space closer to reality. Even though her 120 square-foot shed is currently being utilized for an office, she already has plans to bring the home gym or even a guest space back into the area when she returns to work in her usual office. “I really appreciate how functional and flexible the space is. It’s just beautiful. If I had to do it all again, I’m not sure if I would eat up 30” of space for the lavatory. It will be handy for guests someday, but right now it doesn’t really get used,” Nastaran mused.

Overall, though, she is absolutely pleased with the whole process. “The install was just amazing. The shed itself took just four days, and they stayed for 10 days finishing every last detail for us. Being in the industry, I’ve worked on projects that are in construction for two or three years, so that’s just brilliant.”

“I would recommend people think of their project as a long-term investment and really think ahead. For example, we also wired for a mini-split to cool our Modern Shed, which will be installed in the summer. The more thought you put into it, the more you can enjoy it!”

“I just love coming out here to work, or just rearrange my space. It’s quiet and serene. We even joke, it’s probably sturdier than our house!”

To learn more about how to plan your own quiet escape, download our Modern Shed catalog here: https://www.modern-shed.com/catalog

Planning a Modern Shed Studio Space: Getting Financing

The world of home improvement loans offers a variety of options to get you on your way to owning your very own Modern-Shed home office, music/art studio, or home gym! But sorting through these options and securing your loan quickly is one of the most important steps to getting your space built and installed as quickly as possible.

Many Modern-Shed clients can draw on their current home equity, especially in our current financial climate, in order to finance their new space. You can choose between a Home Equity Loan or a Home Equity Line of Credit, or a home re-finance. All of which have many advantages to consider. Also, since your loan or line of credit is secured using your existing home as collateral, you can get a lower interest rate than an unsecured loan.

Another option for those with good to excellent credit would be an unsecured personal loan, especially if you have recently purchased your home and haven’t had time to build up enough equity to cover improvements. There are several financial institutions that offer these types of loans based on what your financial goals are, such as longer terms with lower monthly payments or securing the lowest interest rate. Modern Shed has partnered with Acorn Financing as a provider of this type of financing option. See our website for information and pre-qualification.

Acquiring financing can take some time, especially if you are using your home for collateral and an appraisal needs to be done as the mortgage industry is as busy as ever so we highly recommend getting approved for as much as possible as it is much easier to not use all of the loan, but it is more difficult to ask for more once the loan is secure. 

How much do you need? Modern Shed’s Design Professionals will help you create your budget by providing a quote for the Modern Shed structure as well as help with calculating the ancillary costs of shipping, ground prep, interior, and exterior finishing, and in some places, electrical contracting. Whether you choose to self-install or have a Modern-Shed preferred contractor install and finish we advise our clients to secure a loan 10-20% larger than the estimate for their project to make sure their project doesn’t encounter delays due to financing. (And always choose a loan that has no pre-payment penalties!)

The best part about investing in your new Modern Shed studio will be the quality and craftsmanship that we bring to your property, as our Sheds are built to the highest standards and designed to last as long as your home (if not longer). For more information about how you can invest in your own home office, gym, or art studio, contact Modern Shed today!

A Vison for the Future: Meet Marc

Marc Fuller is deeply curious.

From his background in finance, and later software solutions, the question of ‘why’ has driven him to look deeper at what solutions the people around him are asking for. He joins the Modern-Shed leadership team now with a vision of not just growth, but continued excellence in craftsmanship and service.

“What I love about Modern Shed is there’s so much demand for our product.” Marc has seen and heard the concerns from potential clients who are excited about what we do, but our sales and manufacturing teams are just so busy that we’re not able to get it done for them. “That is step one moving forward: being able to fulfill demand and deliver what they want. And not just any shed, but deliver a service and a quality that Modern Shed is known for.”

“I always wanted to buy a smaller business and run it. One of the things that drew me to Modern Shed was my family now lives in an area and time where there’s a massive housing shortage, and a lot of challenges to expanding the square footage of your existing home, which is also happening across the US. I did some investigating, talked to Ryan (Smith/founder) and Tim (Vack/GM) and listened to their approach to the solution and saw a huge opportunity to grow and expand the company, and provide a quality product to anyone who wants it, all across the country.”

“My long-term view is that, as housing prices continue to increase, more and more people are relying on their home as an investment in their financial stability. We want to make sure that when you’re making investments in improving your most valuable asset, your Modern Shed is truly an extension of your home, not just a place to store bikes and rakes. This could be an office, a gym, or even a second living room.”

The Modern Shed team is excited to work with Marc to implement his vision of scaled operations and expanded offerings, and appreciate his drive and enthusiasm for all that we do! We look forward to bringing you continued excellence in quality and service, with style.

Design Pro Spotlight: Meet Jon

Modern Shed would like to introduce you to the newest Design Professional to join our team! 

Design Pro Jon Clearwater

Jon Clearwater started doing logistics for Modern Shed in 2015 and has recently transitioned into his new role helping our clients create the home office or studio shed of their dreams. His background is in logistics and residential & construction materials, so he is perfectly suited to guide customers through the Modern Shed process and thoughtfully explain each step along the way. 

On the personal side, Jon grew up in Oregon and moved to Washington in 1989, living in the Puget Sound area since. He now lives on the Olympic Penninsula with his 17-year-old son, a senior in high school, and his wife. When not representing Modern Shed, he keeps busy with woodworking and landscaping projects.

Jon says he is truly excited to take this next step and be a more integral team member of Modern Shed. He loves being able to represent a great product & great company.

We’re thrilled to have you serving our clients, Jon!

Customization in a Pre-fab World

Most Modern-Shed clients come to us with a very specific vision in mind. They’ve done their homework, and know that an off-the-shelf design just won’t do. Or maybe it would, but the level of service they’ve gotten from other ‘big-box store’ retailers doesn’t instill confidence in their investment. After all that researching, emailing, and calling around, there’s only one company that stands out for customer service, quality, and quick turn-around: Modern-Shed.

So how do we get it done? Modern-Shed starts with the speed and repeatable quality of prefabrication. Building our sheds in a temperature-controlled environment to the highest build standards with materials that satisfy even the strictest codes (looking at you, California) allows us to bring an exceptional product right to your property without the hassle of turning it into a long-term construction site.

Modern-Shed also recognizes you want your investment to reflect your aesthetic and completely suit your needs. This is why our Design Professionals take the time to connect with you, understand the layout of your property and existing features, and listen to your story. We don’t want to just sell you a shed; we want you to be delighted with a structure that adds value to your everyday life. If your design needs to be 8 inches shorter to fit between rock features or trees, we can make those adjustments. If you need an extra-long roofline to provide shade or weather protection, our Design Pros can make recommendations that fit your budget. We take the time to understand your dream space, and help to make it a reality.

In the end, our clients are continually thrilled with a Modern-Shed that adds to their quality of life every day. From art or music studios, to library and office space, to guest suites and ADUs: Modern-Shed Design Pros will walk you through the design, permit, and build process, keeping your dream, timeline, and budget in mind. To get started on your Modern-Shed, download your catalog today.