DIY backyard studio 2.5m x 4m for ‘lady lair’ at Ormond, Melbourne VIC

The day-to-day bustle of family life can leave any parent or partner craving more ‘me time’. But how to get your own personal space when everyone lives together in the family home?

Our customer, a hardworking ‘mum’ from Ormond, a leafy suburb of Melbourne, made her plans very clear. She wanted a separate ‘she-shack’ for arts and crafts, relaxation, meditation, yoga, her PC – and for her husband to build it for her (with a little help from Backyard Pods). Check out the project pictures above.

REAL-LIFE REVIEW FROM OUR HAPPY CUSTOMER

“Thanks, Backyard Pods. It was a big job for hubby but he almost single-handedly did it himself. I am very proud of him! I love the space and have future plans for the surrounding garden to tie in better.”

LA of Ormond, Melbourne VIC

While some people might call this kind of backyard studio a ‘she-shed’ or a ‘sheila-shack’, our customer decided hers was a ‘Mum’s retreat’ at first and later, her private ‘lady-lair’!

The original idea for a backyard studio 3m x 6m was modified down to 2.4m x 4m – one of the most popular sizes for home-offices – and with eaves for character and better all-around weather protection. Our Backyard Pods team helped our customer with their colour selection. Some customers say that neutral-toned Colorbond Shale Grey looks more like standard Zincalume in real-life, so Shale Grey was not going to be an option. Colorbond Basalt was suggested as a slightly darker neutral shade, but eventually our customer settled on contemporary Colorbond Monument for the exterior wall cladding combined with Colorbond Surf Mist for a cool and light-reflecting contrast on the underside of the eaves. Electricity was connected for interior/exterior power and lighting. The interior was finished in plasterboard with dark-toned bamboo floating floorboards – all very durable and low-maintenance with a stylish and modern vibe.

Obviously, our customer is very proud of their ‘lady lair’ and her husband for doing such a fantastic job on the installation and finishing! Any handyperson with proper tools, sufficient building experience, and a little help from their friends can erect a backyard studio like this one. If you’d like to build a Backyard Pod as a DIY project, get independent professionals in our network to build for you, or need advice on building exemptions and approvals – tell us about what you’d like to do and we’ll help.