Working from Home, 2021 Edition: SheShed Retrospective

It started when we had COVID. It was October 2020, and I was tired of all the moving.

As the pandemic disrupted the entire world in early 2020, our home was no exception. Our two college-aged kids came home for spring break and didn’t go back to campus. Our elementary-aged son and daughter were growing to need individual bedrooms instead of the shared space that worked when they were little. My 21-year-old son and 19-year-old daughter shared a bedroom for a time. My office space moved between four rooms in our house over the course of six months.

By fall, my oldest had his own apartment and a job 3 hours away. My second was back in a dorm on campus but frequently visited and slept in the same room as my desk. When either of them were home, I would have to invade their space, start my conference call, and shoo them away. I started looking at real estate listings and wondering what a house with room for all of us — and a few extras — would cost. The hassle, cost, and commitment of a new place, combined with some unique advantages of our current living arrangement, became my justification.

We could have managed without the shed and did for a long time, but I wanted a dedicated space. My new role at GCP is permanently remote, and I no longer wanted my workspace to be an afterthought. We started planning the shed.

Before I go further, I need to acknowledge all the work my husband has done. I did a lot of planning and dreaming, and he did most of the coordination and all of the hard work. I can’t remember a thing I wanted he declined or a task hec was unwilling to undertake. In many ways, my office is his labor of love — a mini Taj Mahal that is a tangible reminder of all he is and does for our family. A couple of decisions I made inadvertently made his job harder (like the number of outlets spread around the building). He didn’t complain and worked right on.

My approach to the budget was pretty open; I had a general idea of what it would cost but made a commitment to myself. I was not going to nickel and dime my way through this project. I wanted the space to be something I would enjoy. I did not want to look around the room and see areas of regret, places where I wished I would’ve spent another $100 to make life and work consistently easier. At the same time, I didn’t want to overindulge on items that wouldn’t matter. I think we struck the right balance.

I’m notoriously bad at spatial reasoning. I struggle to understand how items fit into three-dimensional space and because of that, I used the Home Room Planner app to experiment with layouts and floor plans. I combined this with the website of the shed company, which allowed me to design the shed how I wanted. I settled on a layout, and we ordered the shed in November of 2020. We chose exterior vinyl siding instead of board siding, which delayed delivery by five weeks. It was worth the wait to get what I wanted.

After a few weeks delay, the shed was delivered and placed on February 1, 2021. Before any finish work could begin, we needed electricity and insulation. Electricians were in short supply in our small town, and it took over a month to get the electrical work done. A friend helped with the internal wiring, and we had foam insulation blown in. The foam was slightly more expensive than rolled insulation, but we were glad to avoid dealing with itchy fiberglass.

As we considered the material for the walls, we didn’t want to manage drywall with all the taping, mudding, and sanding. Instead, we chose beadboard wood paneling which, when finished, created a lovely effect and opened up design options I did not initially consider.

Of all the decisions we made, I’m most pleased with the heating and cooling system. We chose a mini-split with a wall-mount unit inside and a compressor outside. The mini-split was significantly more expensive than our other options, a dual-function window unit or a PTAC, and required professional installation. It quietly and efficiently heats and cools the space. I’m so glad we didn’t compromise here.

We made a couple of logistical decisions that made the finish work easier. We sanded and primed the ceiling boards before installation. We primed and painted all the trim work before he nailed it in place. For the flooring, we chose the same type of vinyl plank we installed in the house. It’s relatively easy to install (compared to hardwood), is water-resistant, and durable. I chose a more rustic pattern and was nervous when we started putting it down, but I’m so pleased with the look now that it’s done.

When he began to install the bead-board paneling, I seriously considered a natural wood finish instead of the paint I had initially planned. After looking at designs in my app, I decided on a dark stain for the wall behind my desk, the same stain for the overhead beams, and paint for the wall and trim. I have no regrets.

We purchased unfinished cabinets for storage and painted them white. I’d planned on a Formica countertop — not ideal, but I could not justify the expense of a granite countertop. While shopping, we noticed the butcher block countertops and decided, on the spot, to purchase one. It was more expensive than Formica but worth the extra cost. My husband cut the countertop to fit, and I stained the butcher block with the same dark walnut color. I added a couple of layers of high-gloss polyurethane; I’m so happy with how it turned out.

But what about the tech?

From a technical perspective, the SheShed is a remarkably low-tech endeavor. I didn’t install any WiFi-connected home automation devices. We ran 5 CAT-6 drops which will terminate into the cabinets. I’ve installed wall jacks but have yet to terminate them in the cabinet. WiFi from the house reaches the building just fine.

We did not install plumbing in the building. The added cost and complexity of running water were more than we wanted to undertake — especially since the building is 12 steps from my back door.

Anything I would do differently?

First, I’m thrilled with the space and our approach. If, at some point, we no longer need an office, this space can be turned into a mother-in-law suite or used to provide sleeping space for people in transition.

If I were to undertake this endeavor again, I would make a plan for storage. Except for the cabinets, there’s no built-in storage space. It would have been nice to include closet space in the design. We will mitigate this with furniture as we go along. I’ve been slow to furnish the space until I experience it. I’m taking time to adjust and settle in.

My only design regret was using a high-gloss polyurethane on the back wall. Initially, I’d used a satin finish but added the high-gloss when I stained the countertop. The high gloss adds a glare that I don’t like on my video conference calls. My husband wholeheartedly disagrees with me here. I considered sanding down the high-gloss poly and re-applying the satin finish but decided I didn’t dislike it that much.

All in all, my SheShed office has been a rewarding undertaking. My husband has decided he likes woodworking, and I suspect he will take on more projects soon. I now have a peaceful and dedicated space for work. If you’re curious about the costs, here are the highlights below. Labor for electrical and HVAC are included in these numbers.

Building	$8,300
Lumber	$1,750
HVAC	$2,500
Insulation	$1,900
Paint / Stain	$500
Electrical	$2,050
Flooring	$1,000
Cabinets	$220
Counter	$350
Fridge	$200
	$18,770