With less than 10 weeks until Memorial Day — the unofficial start of summer and the beginning of a season of patio parties and barbecues — it’s time to give more thought to the space where we might do a lot of our entertaining, eating and lounging: our backyard.
Many of our Modern-Shed customers use their sheds to anchor their outdoor living spaces, and more and more we’re seeing a blend between indoor-outdoor living.
Maybe you’ll spend two or three hours in your Modern-Shed art studio working on a piece, then you’ll step outside to breathe in inspiration from your garden or perhaps take your lunch break out on your patio with your partner or kids.
But maybe you’re in need of ideas, or you’re tight on space or budget? Don’t worry. Here are some ideas to liven up your Modern-Shed outdoor space. Continue reading →
Woodinville, Washington — Music is one of the most important things in Vinay’s life, but a couple of years ago, the software engineer was finding it increasingly difficult to make room in his life for that passion.
“We weren’t necessarily looking for a shed in the beginning,” he recalled. “There wasn’t any space for my music. Everything was spread out everywhere. I had four guitars and music scattered all over the place. I couldn’t find any of my sheet music. It was horrible.” Continue reading →
A Modern-Shed home office interior, located in a customer’s backyard.
Modern-Shed General Manager Tim Vack has worked from home for 20 years, broken up for a time working in an office with employees.
“Working from home with no commute is the best … for me,” he says. “For entrepreneurs and small business owners, there are large benefits in cost savings and tax advantages. For employees of other companies, the big savings is in time, frustration and cost of the typical commute.”
We know working from home has its challenges as well, and since so many of our customers use Modern-Shed to work from home, we’ve outlined some tips to be your most productive self without sacrificing the benefits of working from home.
Keep an eye on the clock: Working from home can be distracting, so discipline is necessary to keep focused. Just as if you were in an office, let the clock be your guide. Set and keep business hours. Sticking to a set time to start and end each workday creates a regimen and making it easier to maintain focus to keep from sleeping in, knocking off early or spending half the day doing errands or house chores.
Maintain a work mindframe: Have the attitude that you are at work. This might include how you dress and interact with anyone else that might be home such as spouse, parents or children. Make sure people know that just because you are at home, it doesn’t mean you are available. Be clear with your mate and children about how or when you can be contacted, disturbed or interrupted by appointments or emergencies.
Be responsible: The responsibility to get your work done rests on you. Create guidelines, benchmarks and goals for yourself weekly. Be accountable to yourself for getting through the to-do list, the calendar or the Post-It notes. If necessary, create a “report” you can share with the “boss,” whether that is a real boss, yourself or your spouse.
Get out: We know it’s easy to not leave the house all day … or all week. To keep your sanity, get out into the world. Go out for lunch once a week. Go outside for a 10-15-minute walk for a midday break to get fresh air. Join a local networking group. It is important not to get stale with just your own thoughts, ideas and opinions. Being around other business people generates energy, new ideas and possibly new customers depending on your career.
Ultimately, one of the biggest tips we can give you is to create your own space.
Working from your bedroom, dining room table, the basement or even a spare room might not be the best way to have a productive work life, says Tim, who has worked in all manner of spaces.
“It doesn’t matter how big your dining room table is, you’ll be thinking of what to make for dinner, or how big your bedroom is, you might be tempted to take a nap,” Tim says. “Even a separate room may not be enough to keep out the sounds of a child crying or the dog needing to go out.”
That’s why the No. 1 use for our Modern-Sheds is a home office space, conveniently located in a private and professional space only steps from the house.
Invest in a quality desk and make the space your own.
Make your Modern-Shed home office inviting by investing in a quality desk (perhaps a standing one to increase calorie burn) and phone, one that won’t be interrupted by personal calls and texts.
Consider the colors and textures that you like, keep your space organized and comfortable and let windows bring in natural light to restore your energy and relieve eyestrain from staring at a computer all day.
The biggest reason why people turn to a Modern-Shed home office beyond having their own private space is, of course, the cost savings.
From the dreaded commute that wears on your vehicle and your wallet to the added bonus of a tax advantage, there are many considerations to keep in mind.
“What you can save in fuel and wear and tear on your vehicle alone is amazing, let alone the time savings,” Tim says. “Just think what you could do with 250-375 hours per year and an extra $4,000 to $5,000.”
Let windows and doors bring in natural light to your Modern-Shed home office.
Talk to your tax professional for details about the IRS’ home office deductions, which can be significant when considering the purchase of a Modern-Shed or converting an existing space. Bills such as utilities, phone and internet can also be deducted, in accordance with the IRS guidelines.
There are large benefits to working from home — it saves time, money, the environment, your sanity and your relationships (we haven’t even discussed being closer to family).
If you invest in a Modern-Shed home office, you could work full-time, have an additional 275 possible billable hours per year, with the Modern-Shed paying for itself in commuting costs within four years. Talk about return on investment!
Visit modern-shed.com to see what Modern-Shed can do for you.
SANTA CRUZ — It’s been one year since Don installed a Modern-Shed meditation room in his backyard, and he couldn’t be more at peace with his decision.
“I think I was the ideal client,” Don recalled of the process. “I needed something like this, but I didn’t know anything like Modern-Shed existed and I didn’t have any options to get something built in less than three months. This prefab solution was perfect in my situation.”Continue reading →
Dirk and Diana selected two Modern-Shed 10′ by 12′ home offices.
Whatcom County, Wash. — Ever since Dirk and Diana bought their one-and-a-half story home, they knew they wanted to remodel.
“Dirk and I have been wrestling with this home and how to figure out how to fit two offices in our house and all that stuff,” Diana recalled. “Adding onto the home itself opened up a can of worms.”
This 10′ by 12′ Modern-Shed will serve as a gym and later home office.
BAY AREA — For Devan and Anne-Marie, finding the time to go to the gym when they had a new baby on the way and both worked unconventional hours beyond the typical workday proved to be a challenge.Continue reading →
Since we are introducing our new model featuring a new roofline; The Butterfly, we thought this would be a good time to talk about the different roof style options that Modern-Shed offers. Continue reading →
Cory and Jeremy with the first Modern-Shed on their property, which they eventually turned into a guest suite.
KIRKLAND — When Cory and Jeremy toured their future home two years ago, they were surprised to find a Modern-Shed already installed on the property.
“It was definitely a cool surprise,” Cory said. “When we saw the studio there during the open house, we thought it would be great for us. My husband does a lot of electronic stuff, working on projects with computers and robotics, and we wanted to keep that away from the kids and cats.”Continue reading →
Lin’s 12′ by 16′ Modern-Shed nestled in the front yard of her Vashon Island home.
VASHON ISLAND — In the early 90s, near the start of Lin’s career as a professional artist, she began working from home and relished having the personal space to create close by.
“It made sense with raising kids that I could work at a studio at home,” she says. “I could be more available for them. My work changed for the better.”
Over the years, Lin has worked from various home studios, but none has worked out quite as well as her new Modern-Shed art studio.
“My last studio, I had half the basement and at another house, which I had designed, I had a whole wing as a studio,” she says. “But when you worked in a studio actually in your home, it can be distracting. You’re always tempted by, ‘Should I start dinner? Should I do laundry?’” Continue reading →
Since we are introducing our new model featuring a new roofline; The Butterfly, we thought this would be a good time to talk about the different roof style options that Modern-Shed offers. 
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