I can't see that this is terribly ground breaking research. In fact I'm surprised that men don't on average spend more time in their sheds.
But this story got me thinking about the perfect shed design.

Obviously you're going to have to have some sort of evidence of a hobby, such as seedlings, potting material, mechanical stuff, formaldehyde etc. as camouflage. Comfy seating is a must, but nothing too obvious like a settee. A well-disguised fridge or barrels of homebrew, I wouldn't put a telly in there, maybe a radio to "listen to the gardening programme." And maybe, if the budget ran to it, a pressure pad alarm for the garden path. And, finally a back gate so you can order take away without HID noticing. Can't think of anything else apart from making it well insulated to keep you toasty through those long winter evenings.

A shed is truly a modern man's castle. Do you have a shed now since you've moved to Canada? Did you have one when you lived back at home?



Sheds

I have a shed. It came with the house. It's insulated and heated and has a little trap door for poking long things through. I have no need of a shed so I've just used it to store beer cans and wine bottles pending their return to the shop.

The shed could be important to me now. A prospective purchaser of the house thinks she could use it for work, she's a pyschic. I rather like the idea of it being the Shed of Seances.

I'd also install a loo and a stainless steel sink ! No, I don't have a shed. Never have had. I have a "play room" and a basement workshop where I can get out of the way of SWWould Like To Be Obeyed

I have to confess that I dont have a shed. I do however now have a poured 10x10 concrete pad to build one on! The rest of the essential design features I have to figure out.

If considering it a "man cave" I would think decent insulation would be the first requirement, otherwise its only any good to you for a limited season here!

Funnily enough practising the sax is often casually refereed to as "shedding" or "woodshedding", so sound proofing for the sake of the neighbours might factor in

At least it isn't referred to here as "cottaging" then.

I have an office in the basement. I can shut the door because "I am busy doing complicated things that I need to concentrate on." It has a TV and video because I need to watch instructional videos and DVDs. It has a settee (convenient for the TV) because clients need something comfortable to sit on. The office has its own door to freedom. All I need is the beer fridge and then I am sorted.

Mrs JonboyE works in the shed.

The Shed in Newfoundland is a thing of legend. The term is generally applied to any outbuilding used by Man so that includes garages. It's a place for carpentry, to store the toys - Skidoo, Quad, Snowblower etc, drink beer with the guys and generally do stuff that the Mrs won't let you do in the house. An uncle-in-law of mine has, at last count five shed's on his property but my buddy the RCMP officer has the best - woodstove, satellite tv, internet, every power tool known to man, compressor, welder, CNC milling machine etc etc. This shed, about 20 x 25ft isn't big enough so now has a rear extension and will shortly have a mezzanine floor. The british experience of a dusty, cobwebbed 6 x 8ft box is light years away.

My shed, (Garage) is 20 x 30ft, has it's own heating and urinal.

Right.


No need for a toilet just take a slash around the back of it. As for #2, just sneak back in when she's comotoised watching 90210 or Castle.

I don't have a Proper Shed here, but I do spend a disproportionate amount of time planning and sketching my ideal shed. Your functional specifications are very similar to mine, but I would add a little pot-bellied stove. I may also decide to take up pipe-smoking, but only in my shed.

My house in Norfolk used to have a shed, but the roof blew off in a storm and it fell down. It was never replaced, but it will be a nice project for me should I ever see my house again. Just thinking of it makes me want to put a nice cardigan on.

My old boss in Dubai has a shed in his garden with a window a/c unit hanging off it, and a proper English pub set up inside.

I admit that I am now a shedaholic. I breed spiders and ants there. Cute little buggers(!).

North Americans always have to go over the top with these things and have to make them as big as possible. What's he going to do next put in an escalator or gold plated fountain? There's a certain aesthetic with a smallish British shed, one that creates a cozy sanctuary that speaks to the simplicity of moderation. Maybe its big enough for one mate to come round to play crib but noting ostentatious and vulgar.

Both are nice touches.
You could also warm your soup on the stove while you potter.

Im sure some of those DVDs are very <coughs> instructional!

What do you think...if its indoors / basement it cant seriously be considered as a shed can it. Shed wannabe maybe, but not a shed.

Is it reasonable / possible to have both the basement mancave and the outdoors shed? Something to aspire to anyway...

No, if it's indoors it don't count. It's the physical separation of the garden that creates the refuge.

Yes, you need to be able to hear the rain on the roof, and see the windows steam up as you're heating up the tin mug of oxtail.