Simple Backyard Shed Turned Into a Stylish, Family-Friendly Home Office

A family of photographers created an epic indoor-outdoor office space from a simple 140-square-foot shed, incorporating it seamlessly into their Atlanta backyard.

June 30, 2021

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Photo By: Flynnside Out

Shed-Office With Style

Tiffany Peterson and daughters Grace and River play on the deck of their indoor-outdoor photography studio, a shed structure designed for planning and producing upcoming shoots and retouching images. Tiffany and Robert both work while also home-schooling their kids, so it was vital to have an office space where both parents and kids could feel at home.

Connected to the Landscape

In order for the free-standing shed to fit seamlessly onto the property, it was situated in front of a lush row of trees and a classic farmhouse-style fence. A thick layer of gravel delineates the structure from the lawn and adjacent small greenhouse. The trees also provide some shade during hot Georgia summers, enough for the family to enjoy lunch at the small dining table on the deck.

Cable Rail Flair

To add both safety and modern architectural flair to the simple shed structure, Robert and Tiffany had their contractor add a cable system to the railing along the attached deck. They also had the eves extended an additional 40 inches to keep the strong Georgia sun from beaming down below.

Tone-on-Tone Exterior

After the shed was built, a deck was added to make it feel twice as large. For a cohesive look, the exterior siding, decking planks and steps are all painted the same shade of brown-grey.

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Simple and Streamlined

Since the space is used as a photography studio, the walls were kept white to bounce natural light around. For a sense of organization and calmness, the Petersons chose simple, streamlined furnishings.

Table For Two

An excellent designer trick for making the most of a tight work space is to push two desks together back-to-back, then float them in the middle of the room. The only tricky thing about making this work is having proper access to outlets for power.

Aha, a Floor Outlet

In order to make the back-to-back desks work seamlessly and stylishly, Robert and Tiffany had an electrician install an outlet directly into the floor below the desks.

Flexible Desk

The work station offers two different heights for sitting and standing. When working short-term on things like emails or managing calendars, the Petersons sit at the standard desk height.

Suited for Standing

Both Robert and Tiffany are regimented with health and wellness. To avoid sitting in chairs for long periods of time and dealing with postural issues, they opt to stand up while working for longer periods. A lift system directly on the desk surface raises for standing and can be stowed easily when not in use.

Core Ball Seating Option

At times, the Petersons swap out rigid chairs for flexible balance balls. These help correct posture and strengthen the core while seated.

Wall of Concealed Storage

With plenty of supplies that quickly create clutter, the Petersons assembled a ready-made Scandinavian style armoire and placed it behind their workstation as a concealed storage solution.

Architectural Door

One of the ways the Petersons elevated the overall look and vibe of the shed was by investing in an architectural door. This Craftsman bungalow door is made of oak and is painted a neutral shade of grey that matches the exterior trim.

Keyless Entry

Running back and forth from the house to the shed happens all day long. The Petersons installed a keyless lock on the door to avoid having to use a key.

Mini Split System

Since the Georgia summer can reach up to 105 degrees, it was important to keep the shed studio cool. To do this effectively, the Petersons invested in a mini split air conditioning system. This includes presets which keep the interior cool while also conserving energy. An original pop art piece of a vintage camera by artist Celery Jones hangs below.