She Sheds: A Room of Your Own

by Erika Kotite

Create your very own hideaway for relaxing, crafting, reading, or simply to have a private place just for you. She Sheds  provides the instruction and inspiration. They’ve got their man caves, and it’s time for you to have a space of your own. She Sheds shows you how to create cozy getaways with inspiration from across the country. You will start by defining the goal and purpose of your space. Will you use it for entertaining? Crafting? Alone time? Then, use the gallery of over 100 photos as inspiration for your decor, paint colors, and landscaping. Construction ideas, as well as ideas for upcycling , and other green resources are at your disposal throughout so you may truly personalize your she shed.
Get inspired, and get started on your very own tricked-out retreat!

Genres: Nonfiction, Gardening, Art, Reference, Architecture, Adult, Crafts

176 pages, Hardcover

Published January 15, 2017

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yeah, I have as much chance of taking over our backyard shed as I have of getting some room for my stuff in the garage . . . but a gal can dream, can't she?

There are many, many lush photos for perusing and fantasizing for those who long for a room shed of one's own. The only thing that harshed my mellow was the thought of icky spiders invading my idyllic haven.

Perhaps I'll kick one of the kids out and take his room instead . . .

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great way to get extra 'me space'. She Sheds by Erika Kotite is in a way an answer to all information on 'man caves'. This book has all kinds of sheds in many different architectural styles that show potting sheds, an artist' studio, 'backyard getaways', a tack room, - plainly, "a room of your own". According to the author, these 'she sheds' are popping up all over the world. One major chief word for a shed is functional or practical. These she sheds are practical, but they serve all kinds of purposes including just a place that belongs to you as well as a place for you, a woman, to hang out. And I like this idea and this book! Well done!

[Scottsdale Public Library]

There's something so satisfying about a good shed, especially if it also provides a quiet sanctuary in which you can read, meditate, create or simply relax away from the hurly-burly of everyday life. This glorious coffee-table book contains beautiful examples of a variety of sheds meeting a multitude of needs. There's even a chapter on assembling a shed from a kit. I have fond memories of a "she shed" I would retreat to many years ago, and I hugely enjoyed getting my vicarious "shed fix" from this scrumptious book. ~Jess O.

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved looking at, and reading about, these charming small get-a-ways women have created outside but near their homes. I was especially drawn to the ones made into a cozy space for reading, but could also see how great it would be to have a garden shed, for my many efforts at potting, planting and growing, especially a shed that is not full of lawn and garden tools, lawn mower, other power tools, with actual room to move around, and to sit and enjoy! I might have to work on that.

[Christine (Tina) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! One of these would be all the space I need! I should buy a couple acres of land and build three of these - one for me and one for each kid! Seriously, read this book if you wish to pare down and build a life that isn't about stuff but about peace, serenity, focus, and... living!

[Bookish · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are much more like playhouses for grown-ups. Lovely.

[Stella · Rating 5 out of 5]

i want to get me one of these!

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read and pretty pictures of various styles of retreats. I have a She Shed that pretty stunning so it takes a lot to impress me.

[Catholic Mom and Daughter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a fun tour through the various spaces women have created to pursue their artistic goals. I highly enjoyed seeing all the pictures… not sure I could ever create a space like that, but they were fun to see.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A girl can dream.

[RocioST · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for my personal 52 Book Challenge 2023 under the category “beautiful cover”.

I picked this beautiful book up at a local bookshop when on a getaway at Nambucca Heads. Read it on a large wooden deck overlooking a beautiful nature reserve and with the sound of rain and beach waves in the distance! An awesome contrast to man caves and it gets 4 stars from me for beautiful imagery and stories.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

My brother owes me some money and my idea is to have him build a she shed AND a gazebo for me. I read this book for inspiration. One of the most important points, in my opinion, is to decide how the shed will be used as that will delineate style, layout, and furnishings. If you don't have a set purpose for this space, you may just end up with an unused room that takes up your time to maintain it without getting any enjoyment out of it.

So my next step is to make a decision on how I want to use this space: sewing (requires electricity), reading (may still require some electricity), or solitude and napping.

[Renee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let's change the title to "She Sheds: Full-sized Playhouses for Rich White Ladies with Nothing Better to Do With Their Money and Time". OK, that was harsh. But this book is for a very small, specific audience. OK maybe its for the rest of us if we "know a guy" who'll do the work and get you the materials for free?!?
I'll grant this book some really pretty photos, and could be good I guess just to daydream about - but this is by no means a book that is actually usable for the 99%.

[Frances Sharpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you're looking for an inspirational coffee table book with jaw-dropping "lady lairs" or you're in the hunt for nuts and bolts DIY instructions on how to create your own "hen hut," She Sheds has it all. This book is a breezy read with something for every woman who has ever dreamed of having "a room of one's own." Now I just need to get a bigger backyard so I can build my own She Shed.

[Text Addict · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than the average decor/remodeling type book, with actually useful and interesting discussions, and most importantly not a trace of condescension.

I still loathe the term "she shed," but there's not a lot I can do about it (besides refusing to use it IRL).

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great ideas, looking forward to my shed

[Onceinabluemoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun to see my friends shed in the book!

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a neat book.

[Danielle Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really want to build a she shed and just live in it!

[Janet · Rating 2 out of 5]

These are all lovely and fun but none of them exactly floated my boat except La Casita, which makes me realize I want a tiny house, not a she shed!

[Trinika Abraham · Rating 4 out of 5]

She Sheds by Erika Kotite is a collection of various types of sheds that women all over the world have modified for personal space outside their regular dwellings. That being said, she sheds are spaces that women have either built or converted into remarkable havens. This book is great because of the colorful pictures depicting the numerous styles of sheds that already exists. The types of sheds range wildly in cost and style. Author, Kotite breaks down the anatomy of a shed and identifies the different styles in which they take form.

Anyone, woman or man, looking for inspiration for their shed should consider checking out this book. Reading and seeing how others built their outdoor spaces will definitely be beneficial for anyone considering taking on such a project.

While many of the spaces shown are used for traditional gardening and storage uses, many others act as workspaces and studios. The women whose sheds are displayed in this book have put their own personal spins on what a shed should be. In the place of rakes, lawn mowers and planter pots, are work tables, easels, soldering tools, and sewing machines for those who run their businesses out of their she sheds. Others have converted their spaces into cozy retreats. The incorporation of furniture pieces in some sheds make for the perfect guest room or backyard getaway. These luxurious sheds feature chandeliers, linens, hardwood floors, beds, as well as plumbing.

Even if you are not a homeowner with an abundance of space in your backyard for your very own she shed, all DIYers can appreciate the creative uses of space as inspiration for a craft room or cozy yet functional corner within their house.

I would recommend this book to anyone who appreciates having their own space. She Sheds will provide the inspiration to take a leap and create your own personal space.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sheer joy. " Love in the Time of Cholera," read and done that. Now "Finding Joy in the Age of..." and you don't even need a Back 40 or a perfect terrace in Provence. I live in a Senior Independent Living 3rd floor apartment where I have a shed on my 5'x7' balcony with potting bench, a café table I bought and carried home on the bus in Paris, two dried date palm fronds from Tunisian oasis, carried on two different flights to Tunis and then to Paris, thanks to wonderful check in staff and cabin crews, painted ceramic pots from 5-6 countries, all bought in person of course...sorry, I digress. This is supposed to be about the book but I suspect every shed creator would understand! So I won't go on about faux shed along 6'x5' bedroom window wall, starting with the raffia coconut palm tree from Madagascar bought by side of the road out in the country side and somehow brought home. This book confirms I was not wrong to collect these treasures and memories.

The wonderfully illustrated, more than 150 pages of great colour photos, slightly oversized book, shows a variety of styles and uses of sheds. I don't use phrase she sheds as I don't use man caves. It has helped me decide end use of my second bedroom, now still post move in box room. It will be, using the book's term, an artist/writers shed. Calling a room a shed gives one so much more freedom to experiment, to not make it a second bedroom where I hope to write a bit, maybe get out the watercolours.

I highly recommend it.

Friends: I'm hearing great things about air mattresses.

[Sunnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

For anyone who has even had the slightest inkling of designing/constructing a space of their own to be utilized as a potting shed, artist's studio, reading nook, or design studio, this book is a step closer to realizing your dreams. Yes, it is geared towards women, hence the title. But, ANYONE can look at the rich, colorful pictures that provide suggestions as to what is possible. There are brief descriptions regarding actual construction (whether accomplished by a professional or by the reader), foundations, shelving, sinks, use or lack thereof of electricity, insulation, windows, doors, etc. Fulfill your fantasy, or add to it by considering the materials covered in this book. Makes a wonderful gift for that special person who has mentioned their dreams of having a "she shed", or anyone who admires eclectic architecture. There are even designs for "green" roofs with instructions for planting matter, plants, and a reminder that extra support is needed to handle to extra weight. Don't forget to read the book before you gift it to someone else. Or, add it to your own library to continue making your own dream come true.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I told my husband I wanted a She Shed. He very nicely suggested I use the ‘unused living room.' I had heard the term ‘she shed’ earlier this year; a place just for the woman of the house to call her own. I wanted to know what all the hype was and I was very excited to discover this fantastic book with more ideas than you can imagine. Stop. Imagine an outdoor haven just for you to read, sew, exercise, meditate, use as a planting shed, or whatever you need – it is your new oyster – go with it.
While the pictures tell a thousand stories, the content is spot on. You will learn so much with this book, and you will be able to challenge your inner decorator skills along with a few skills that might channel your hidden woodworking abilities. If you have some tools you have never attempted to use, or want to bone up on learning how to use a new device, this book might be just what you have been waiting for to engage that project. So if you have a dilapidated or unused shed in your backyard (or even an old playhouse), this book is full of inspiration on how to turn it into your own space. Enjoy your new zone! Meanwhile, I will be in my living room debating on how to redecorate.

[Rachel Vryhof · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely picture book for adults with some practical advice. My only dislike is it's a majority of aspirational projects. Not a lot of rehabs of existing structures, more new builds. And these are in the 10k-30k budget...way outside mine! It was interesting that there's no solid concept of she shed, because these ran the gamut of simple potting shed to livable guest house. It's nice that it can be anything you want it to be.

I have a small greenhouse and I'm glad it's not a multifunctional space like some in this book. If it were, and I didn't use it to paint and journal and sew I'd feel guilty about having spent a lot of money/effort to build a room that wasn't used to it's full potential.

[Emma Bond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this book! Hardcover and beautiful colour photographs. Great ideas for those interested in having their own 'she shed', although I think the instructions at the end of the book about how to build your own are a tad simplistic. I was impressed with the range of 'ad hoc' she sheds in yards to those that would definitely pass council approval. Very inspiring, now I just need to find the right block of land!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was pretty awesome. My sister in law has her own glass business and she does it out of her own house. At the moment her dining room is her crafting/construction office. Something like this would be perfect for her. These areas were functional, cozy, beautiful, and full of awesome ideas. I would love to have something like this for myself, a little hide away for de-stressing and unwinding. There are so many great ideas for these type of spaces.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doesn't everyone need a room of their own? Or perhaps a mini-house in the form of a shed of their own? I don't have the space for one in my yard, but I love the idea of these spaces for women to dream, build, create and express themselves. Somewhere apart from the responsibilities in the home and a place where you don't have to compromise. What would you do with your shed?

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

These were unique and expensive and sparsely decorated spaces. If she’s are really living like this I need to meet them. I was hoping for a filled with books cozy spot, an artist studio with paint splattered floors. Gingham curtains, window boxes. Garden sheds with tools and seed packs. I bought for a friend and thought I’d skim through- it took me 2 years. Ehh

[Ladytal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Books like these I find inspirational - not that I am currently going to run out and build a shed! - but the pictures and the stories of women creating beautiful and productive spaces make me consider how I can create my own nurturing space with what I already have. In the end, books like these just make me feel good.