art studio

Customization in a Pre-fab World

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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.

Palm Desert Paradise

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PALM DESERT — When Tom and Casi moved into their 1,740-square-foot Palm Desert home four years ago, they identified a spot where Tom could eventually have a home office.

Each of them work from home — Casi works as a financial consultant for a high-end designer, while Tom, a former stand-up comedian and actor, writes content for programs such as awards shows or music specials for a Hollywood producer.

When it came to their new home, they worked with their builder/designer to create a space exactly how Tom wanted it — however, Casi was the first to land a job, so Tom found himself back to where he started, working from various spots in the house, such as the dining room table.

“Her jobs tend to be long-term, while mine are a month at a time,” Tom said. “The office became hers, so I patched along for a couple of years.”

When the COVID pandemic struck, they began to research home offices they could put up in the backyard. Their experience with Modern-Shed went quickly. 

“We were stuck at home, and in late August, well into the COVID experience, I showed Casi what I had seen online,” Tom recalled. “To my surprise, she agreed to build one. Our first email was sent in September and we were building in November.”

Tom was attracted to the design of Modern-Shed, with the transom windows and the look of the wood coming from the eaves. Casi watched all of the videos on Modern-Shed’s gallery online to get a sense of everything someone could do with a shed.

Continue reading →

The personal touch

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Rebecca’s 640-square-foot Modern-Shed home and workspace

PORT TOWNSEND — Rebecca’s experience with Modern-Shed came about through a desire to be closer to old friends and have a space to work on her art. It also included a little bit of luck.

Rebecca, a sculptor and woodworker, grew up in Seattle, but lived in Alaska for 30 years and later Portland, Ore.

She decided a couple years ago that she wanted to move to Port Townsend, a picturesque coastal city in Washington, where a close-knit circle of her childhood friends lived. However, she struggled finding housing.

“I was looking around for an already built home, but I couldn’t find one at the time,” Rebecca recalls. “I wouldn’t have built a house from scratch if I could find one. I had done a fair bit of construction in Alaska and didn’t want to invest a lot of time building, but there just was nothing available. That’s the truth, there was nothing appealing whatsoever.” Continue reading →

Relax with a Modern-Shed sauna

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It’s the end of summer, but you can still find time to unwind, especially if you’ve got a Modern-Shed primed for relaxation, like Natasha and Bill. Natasha’s art studio and sauna sheds were featured in July’s issue of Seattle magazine, but she gets to reap the benefits of a Modern-Shed relaxation space year-round.

We spoke to Natasha about her sheds two years ago, and it’s great to hear she’s still loving her shed and enjoying time in her sauna.

DSC_1219 Continue reading →

The Painter’s Dilemma: Meet Barbara

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Before finding Modern-Shed, Barbara’s large-scale paintings had begun to take over her living space.Before finding Modern-Shed, Barbara’s large-scale paintings had begun to take over her living space.IMG_6718

“I’m a large-format painter, specifically I paint portraits, but for the last seven years I’d been painting in our dining room,” she said. “The last series I did were roughly 30-by-40 feet. Sometimes I do 36-by-72 feet work. I work in panels and by the end of the day I’d have stacks of paintings.” Continue reading →

The sauna shed

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Natasha’s 8′ by 10′ Modern-Shed art studio on the left and 8′ by 6′ Modern-Shed sauna.

SEATTLE — Growing up in Russia, Natasha has always considered using saunas to be an integral part of life.

Her husband, Bill, who worked in Russia for years, agreed, so when the couple started looking to expand their Seattle home, they knew they needed a special space.

“It’s our weekly ritual to relax,” Natasha said. “It’s cleansing and rejuvenating. We didn’t really have space in the house to have it and we saw Modern-Shed products online. They pop up and catch your eye.” Continue reading →

“Perfect For What We Need”

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Cory and Jeremy in front of the first Modern-Shed on their property, which they turned into a studio and then a guest suite.
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 →

A sacred spot

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Lin's 12' by 16' Modern-Shed nestled in the front yard of her Vashon Island home.
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 →

An immediate solution

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This Modern-Shed 12′ by 18′ home office and art studio provided the perfect space solution for a busy, growing family in Berkeley, Calif.

BERKELEY — Karina and her husband Thomas never expected to stay in their two-bedroom, one-bathroom 1939 California bungalow for long, but after 11 years and two kids, they’ve grown accustomed to their neighborhood and their cozy home.

“We thought for sure we’d have moved on by now, but we don’t want to leave the schools and the neighborhood,” says Karina, a fine artist who works from home. “We wanted a way to accommodate our growing family and keep us comfortable.”

Enter Modern-Shed. Continue reading →