She Sheds

Men aren’t the only ones who crave a space of their own. A place to escape to when the going gets tough (read: the kids get rowdy) and you need some peace and quiet. In the times before everything had a cute moniker, you might have called these places hangouts, workrooms, or studios. But nowadays, if the room has been claimed by the man in the family, it is a man cave and by the woman, a she shed.

What can a she shed be used for, you ask? Well, really anything you’d like. Gardening, painting, reading, crafts, guests — the list could go on for miles.

Here are a few ideas for she shed designs that can be modified to fit your style and budget.

Guest house

Do you have frequent overnight guests and no guest bedroom? Create an oasis for your guests in your garage to give them (and you) the privacy they crave. Creating a she shed guest house is relatively easy and will fit most budgets.

Make sure your space is insulated against the heat and cold and has adequate ventilation. Smoke detectors are a must in any sleeping quarters. If your budget allows, add a small bathroom (even a half bath would be nice!) and kitchenette for the ultimate guest experience. Finish off the space with homey furnishings—bed, night stands, lamps, and small dresser— that will make your guest feel welcome.

Artist’s Studio

Do you crave a space where your creative juices can run freely? A she shed provides a great place for your artistic pursuits whether they be painting, writing, crafting, or sewing. Separate yourself from the day to day household chores and allow yourself to focus on the task in front of you.

The most important aspect of an artist’s studio is light. Consider adding a full view garage door — frosted, if you want privacy— to make the most of the natural light. You’ll also want enough storage for all of your supplies if you are a visual artist or a comfortable chair and desk. if you are a writer. Design your room around these key pieces, everything else is secondary.

Potting Shed

Are your gardening tools and plant pots taking over your car’s spot in the garage? Maybe it’s time to fully commit the space to your green thumb endeavors. This is usually one of the easiest garage transformations because your space is probably going to get a little dirty anyway, so why bother stocking it with the best and newest furnishings? A couple of heavy duty workstations, tool storage, and some shelves and you are in business!

Home Office

Are you working on the next big business idea? Get the peace and quiet you deserve in the garage. To create a basic she shed home office, all you need is a desk, chair, and a light. Of course, you can (and should) add other items to create a more productive and aesthetically pleasing space. A rug, bookcase, and wall hangings complete the look.

You may remember our recent blog about four companies that started in a garage. Maybe your company will be the next addition to this list?

A she shed garage makeover takes a little time, money, and planning, but the results are so worth it. Set aside a weekend and create your ultimate hideaway.

5 Cool Man Cave Accessories (to Make Yours the Talk of the Block)

Everyone’s talking about man caves these days. A space to get away from the daily grind and hang out with your friends playing pool or watching the game— what could be better?

Our last blog focused on creating a man cave. Have you done that already? Good, then you’re ready for accessories. In this blog, we’ve put together some cool finds that will make your man cave stand apart from the rest.

Custom Pool Table

We’re kicking off our list with a big one. A custom pool table doesn’t come cheap, but the wow factor is worth it! If billiards is your game and you have some money to spend, then it should be spent on a pool table with enough panache to wow even your most hard to impress friend. Custom pool tables can range from $2,000 up to tens of thousands, so be sure to shop around to find just the one you want. And need we remind you that when you measure your space, you need to allow for the table AND the area around it? Gotta make sure no one’s going to be bumping their cue on the wall when taking the winning shot.

Pallet Bar

What is a pallet bar, you ask? Well, it’s just what it sounds like— a bar made from wooden pallets. You can make it as rustic or intricate as you’d like (or as your handyman skills will allow). It can be painted or stained and topped with a number of surfaces— concrete, wood, granite, you name it!— that will fit any decor. And the best part is that it won’t break your budget, especially if you DIY.

Unique Bar Stools

Are you a ski bum, beer enthusiast, biker, or cowboy? No matter what your back story, there’s a cool bar stool to fit your style. Use an existing base and add your signature seat to the top— think snowboard (cut to size), retired motorcycle seat, or worn saddle. Whether you purchase custom bar stools or create your own, your man cave will be the better for it.

Theater Seating

If you like to kick back with friends and family for movies and popcorn, think about furnishing with theater seats rather than an ordinary sofa. Many offer power recline, cup holders, and adjustable headrests, and come in a variety of upholstery. Some even feature a table fixed between the seats – the perfect spot to rest your popcorn. If you’re a next-level cinephile, consider adding risers (often sold as an accessory to the theater seats) so the back row has just as good a view as the front. Theater seats can be pricey, so be sure to shop around to find the chair that fits your budget. Like the idea of theater seats but don’t have the budget? You can build your own theater seating from — you guessed it— pallets! Check out some great design ideas here.

Upcycled Beer Bottle Clock

With this cool timepiece, it’s always beer o’clock. Out of all the accessories listed today, this is by far the easiest to DIY. With a few empties, some wood, and a clock mechanism, you can make your own in an afternoon. Swap out the bottles for bottle caps for a more compact version. For a kid-friendly or teetotaler version, use soda bottles. Easy, cheap, and sure to be a conversation starter.

Now that your man cave has been outfitted with everything you need, all that’s left is to enjoy it!

Creating a Man Cave in Your Garage

Ah, the man cave. A place to get away from the daily stresses of life and enjoy some well-deserved time off. If you are thinking of creating a man cave in your garage, we can help. Follow our tips to get the most out of your renovation.

Design

First, plan your man cave. Are you more of a let’s-get-together-and-watch-the-game kind of guy or a I-need-some-time-on-my-own-to-play-my-drums kind of guy? Make sure that your man cave fits your personality. Once designed, give your garage a thorough cleaning to get rid of all cobwebs, grease, and dirt. This is a good time to get rid of unused items and to return your neighbor’s leaf blower that you borrowed last year (or was it the year before?) to clear your yard.

Insulate

If you live in an area with widely fluctuating temperatures, it’s a good idea to insulate your garage. And besides regulating the temperature, insulating will also help soundproof the space. This is something you can choose to DIY with a few tools and a little carpentry know-how. Depending on the construction of your garage, you may need to frame the walls before insulating.

Flooring

Based on the aesthetic of your design, you may need to upgrade your flooring. The concrete floor may look good if you are going for an urban industrial style but not so good if you want a more polished look. We covered several types of flooring in a past blog, and adding throw rugs to the finished floor is a great way to provide more comfort.

Paint

A super easy and inexpensive way to freshen any space is with paint. Pick a color that makes you happy and get painting! Many people agree that a nice neutral shade works well for most spaces and you can add accent colors with decorations or furniture color. Look for a paint finish that washes easily, like eggshell or satin, and be sure to prime the surface first.

Furnish

Pool table, big screen tv, drum set — pick your flavor! Then add complementary furnishings such as a couch, bar (complete with bar stools), or gaming chairs. These items don’t have to be high priced to make an impact. There are loads of consignment stores, Facebook groups, or websites with deals ready to be made. Remember the old adage “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure!”

Protect

Once you have completed your garage man cave, you need to protect your investment. You wouldn’t want to put all this work (and money!) into a new space and equipment only to have it burgled. Ensure that your garage doors and windows lock securely and that your security system is functioning properly.

Enjoy!

Now that your man cave is complete, it’s time to kick back and enjoy it. Invite some friends over, cook up some wings, and show off your new digs! For the ladies in our blog-reading audience, don’t despair, we will cover she sheds in a future blog.

4 Companies You Didn’t Know Started in a Garage

Every business has to start somewhere, right? It only makes sense that if you are just starting out you may not have the capital to spend on office space and you’ll need to make do with what you have. Some start-ups don’t even have the cash for desks — in fact, Jeff Bezos (Amazon’s founder) used an old door with 4 x 4s for legs as his first desk and still keeps a similar model around to remind him of his humble beginnings.

Most people are aware that Amazon and tech biggies Google, Apple, Microsoft, and Dell all started in garages. But here’s a list of 4 other highly successful businesses that you may not have known started the same way.

The Yankee Candle Company

In 1969, teenager Michael Kittredge set out to make his mother a one-of-a-kind gift for Christmas. He used simple supplies found in his home, mainly crayons, to create a unique scented candle. His neighbors loved his creation and urged him to make more for them to purchase. He continued working out of his garage for about 5 years until he was able to afford a storefront. Yankee Candle remains one of the most popular manufacturers in the world today.

MagLite

In 1955, Tony Maglica put a down payment of $125 on his first lathe with the intention of manufacturing precision parts in his garage. This was a step up from years of working odd jobs to make ends meet. He eventually opened his own machine shop, Mag Instruments, and delivered flashlight components. After receiving a tip from an ex-cop in the early 1970s that police needed a more durable flashlight, he developed the MagLite, a heavy-duty flashlight that has become the standard for police and homeowners alike.

Harley-Davidson

You may not be surprised to learn that Harley-Davidson was started in a garage. But at a cramped 10×15 feet and lacking a car-sized opening, the building was more of a shed than a garage. In 1901, William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson set out to develop an engine for a bicycle. Two years later, they had built a prototype for a motorcycle. It did not take long for their business to take off and in 1903, Harley-Davidson was officially a company and went on to become incorporated in 1907.

Mattel

Mattel was started by husband and wife Elliot and Ruth Handler and friend Harold Matson in a Southern California garage. They were already running a moderately successful picture frame company and started using the wood scraps to make dollhouses and dollhouse furniture. Their dollhouses took off and they soon turned their efforts away from picture frames and toward toys. In 1948, Mattel was incorporated and 11 years later, their best-known doll, Barbie, was created.

What’s the point of our history lesson? Every business needs to start somewhere and by using your available resources and thinking outside of the box (or inside of the garage), your business could be featured on our list of companies that started in a garage.

A Brief History of the Garage

Although the first automobiles gained popularity in the early 20th century, the garage (or some semblance thereof) had already been around for centuries. The word garage, coined in 1902, comes from the French verb garer which means “to shelter”. Let’s take a look at how the modern garage came to be.

Carriage Houses

Carriage houses were originally used to shelter carriages or other rudimentary wheeled vehicles and were not usually attached to the home. Some carriage houses also housed horses. Carriage houses were good at sheltering horses and carriages from the elements, but not overly convenient as the owner was still exposed to bad weather when walking to and from their home.

When the gas-powered automobile was invented in the late 1800s, it was an open-topped vehicle leaving the driver completely exposed to the elements. This design required that the vehicle be covered when not in use in order to protect the owner’s pricey investment. Many owners repurposed their already existing carriage house to house their automobile. Out with the old and in with the new, as they say!

Public Garages

Once the automobile became more commonplace, people looked for alternatives to carriage houses. They were tired of their vehicles being stored with the animals and smelling of manure. Additionally, city dwellers did not always have access to carriages houses. To solve these issues, public garages were built (or larger carriage houses repurposed) and automobile owners were charged a monthly fee to store their vehicles in the garage. While these public garages solved the issue of where to store your vehicle, they were not without shortcomings, the largest of which being that car owners had to walk or find other transportation to the garage, lessening the convenience of owning an automobile.

Private Garages

As the shortcomings of the public garage started to outweigh the benefits, homeowners began to build their own private garages. These were small, shed-like buildings, similar to carriage houses but only equipped to store vehicles, not animals. Some had hinged doors, which could be hard to open in snowy weather, and others had sliding doors. Sears Roebuck & Company developed and sold a portable garage that could be set up wherever it was needed. These early garages, portable or not, were quite basic and were not usually heated.

Modern Doors and Electric Openers

As the car gained popularity and became more affordable (thanks to Henry Ford’s assembly line), people craved an easier way to access their vehicle in the garage. In 1921, C.G. Johnson invented the overhead garage door and with it the Overhead Door Company. Overhead doors allowed more space in and around the garage and were easy to open during snowy weather. The overhead door took off in popularity and just five years later Mr. Johnson invented the electric automated door opener, making it more convenient than ever for car owners to access their vehicles.

Garages and garage doors have seen many improvements over the years, but one thing remains steady— a garage is the best and most convenient place to store your vehicle.