Frugal Babe

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Pictures Of Our Backyard Office

March 26, 2011 By Frugal Babe

I forgot to take pictures of our backyard shed when it was first installed, but I did get a few pictures of the interior soon after we began the process of finishing it.  Here are some shots that show the inside after we had put up insulation and a little bit of drywall:

IMG_0256IMG_0255

And here is how it looks now:

office1

With the couch we got on Craigslist for $75:

office4

I found the office chair at a thrift store for $20.  The desk is the one my husband has had for years (we got a new desk for his basement office from the same people who were selling the couch.  They gave it to us for $10).  The box under the window is where the battery and inverter are stored for our solar setup.  My husband built the box from 2x4s and plywood, and then I painted it and put on some recycled baseboard.  All of the baseboard and windowsills came from a used building supply store, and cost about $12 for the whole room.

office2

We left the rafters exposed and went with a vaulted ceiling.  It took a bit more effort that way, but we’re really happy with the results:

office3

Our current project is building a path to get to the shed.  We found a mold that makes concrete look like little paving stones, and the 8 feet or so that is done so far is really cute.  We also picked up supplies last week to build a little porch on the front of the office.  We’re thrilled with how the whole project is turning out, and my husband loves being able to go to work somewhere with a view of more than a concrete wall.

Filed Under: Debt 12 Comments

Comments

  1. Molly On Money says

    March 26, 2011 at 3:55 pm

    It’s very sweet looking.

    Reply
  2. Leah says

    March 27, 2011 at 7:21 am

    That is so beautiful! I’m impressed :-)

    Reply
  3. Cassy says

    March 27, 2011 at 4:45 pm

    It’s really awesome looking. I love the sky roof. Good work babe

    Reply
  4. Darla says

    March 28, 2011 at 9:06 am

    You said earlier that you had a small heater for warmth. Do you have any way to cool your new office (is that even neccesary)?

    Reply
  5. Meg says

    March 28, 2011 at 9:27 am

    It looks awesome! Great job!
    Now…want to come and do one for us? :-)
    Thanks for posting the pictures. You really did a great job.

    ~M

    Reply
  6. Frugal Babe says

    March 28, 2011 at 9:29 am

    Thanks everyone!

    Wayne,
    I didn’t take a picture of the solar panel yet. It’s a 120 Watt, 7 amp panel that is on a metal stand on the ground next to the shed. It’s easy to move the stand, so we move it a few times a day to follow the sun. We didn’t mount it on the roof because the shed doesn’t have a south-facing roof. We thought about mounting it on the top of the south-facing wall on a swivel mount, but the expense and complications involved made us re-think that.

    Darla,
    We have a small fan that we can put out there, and it doesn’t draw much electricity. A/C is out of the question – it would draw far more energy than the solar setup can supply. During the hottest months of the summer, my husband will probably be working in the basement instead, since it’s nice and cool down there during the summer. The outdoor office will be perfect for spring, summer, and the less extreme days of summer and winter.

    Reply
  7. Kelly says

    March 28, 2011 at 11:53 am

    It looks awesome! I know my husband really wishes he could work from home, and he does occassionally, but for him to do it on a more full time basis we would need a home office. Great job!

    Reply
  8. Emma S says

    March 28, 2011 at 1:18 pm

    Wow that looks amazing! Great job!
    I’m always astonished at the great deals people can get on used items. I never seem to find things I like for the prices I like. Maybe it’s part of living in a small town – not much selection.

    Reply
  9. Jessica07 says

    March 28, 2011 at 1:59 pm

    Wow! Those pictures are VERY impressive.

    Reply
  10. Jason says

    April 1, 2011 at 8:52 am

    Wow, very nice. Impressive!

    Reply
  11. Rachel says

    April 8, 2011 at 1:19 pm

    Stopped by to see if the baby had arrived yet – wishing you luck for another awesome home birth!
    This shed/office is amazing. I am so impressed with your construction skill and thrift.

    Reply
  12. Cortney says

    April 18, 2011 at 1:26 pm

    That office looks amazing! Great work :)

    Reply

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