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Houzz Tour: Ecofriendly Home-Office Shed in Austin
A new father finds work-life balance with a stylish home-office shed in the backyard
Media designer Joey Williams asked builder Mike Speciale to build a home office within plain sight of his house in Austin, Texas; Williams wanted to be close to his family in case his wife needed him while caring for their newborn. Speciale's solution: a modular home office that was customized to the client's specifications within six weeks, shipped in parts and assembled onsite in five days.
Speciale agrees that he isn't the first builder or architect to remake the shed. In fact, he acknowledges that they're not entirely remaking it but simply taking "what [they] do in their larger home builds and scaling it down to a studio that's efficient, made with honest and durable materials, and customizable to the lifestyle needs of the client."
Houzz at a Glance
Who works here: Joey Williams
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 96 square feet
That's interesting: The studio's wood siding was charred in a process called shou-sugi-ban, making the wood resistant to fire, rot and pests.
Speciale agrees that he isn't the first builder or architect to remake the shed. In fact, he acknowledges that they're not entirely remaking it but simply taking "what [they] do in their larger home builds and scaling it down to a studio that's efficient, made with honest and durable materials, and customizable to the lifestyle needs of the client."
Houzz at a Glance
Who works here: Joey Williams
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 96 square feet
That's interesting: The studio's wood siding was charred in a process called shou-sugi-ban, making the wood resistant to fire, rot and pests.
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| The home office is modern in design but blends well with the client's cottage, built in 1920, and his eclectic neighborhood in Austin. Here, the woman of the house relaxes outside of the office studio with a friend while the couple's Labrador, Dealer, watches. The studio's wood siding and compact volume are perfectly at home in the backyard; they respect its surrounding environment and remain unobtrusive. "Austin doesn't require permits for backyard additions that are under 200 square feet, so a studio like this is ideal for someone like Joey, who, like many people who work from home today, realize the importance of being present in both their family and work lives," says Speciale. |
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Williams and Dealer perch themselves outdoors. The deck was built around a young oak tree.
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Notice the exterior wood siding created with the shou-sugi-ban technique. The treatment weatherizes the wood, prevents rot and bugs, and enhances fire resistance. Large windows and sliding doors blur the lines between the indoors and out, making the space feel larger.
"People have been using the shou-sugi-ban treatment in Asia for a long time, but we're just catching on here in the States," says Speciale. "Typically, the charring is severe and produces a kind of alligator look. We wanted a milder charring for this home office — something warmer."
"People have been using the shou-sugi-ban treatment in Asia for a long time, but we're just catching on here in the States," says Speciale. "Typically, the charring is severe and produces a kind of alligator look. We wanted a milder charring for this home office — something warmer."
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Here's a closer look at the charred wood before a rosewood oil finish is applied to the surface, bringing out the reddish-brown color. The wood in the studio was milled by hand to Williams' specifications.
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The interior surface is made of Monotread, a durable and sustainable material used on floors, walls and ceilings. Milled from oriented strand board, Monotread is produced from underutilized and inexpensive wood species. Structural insulated panels (SIPs) make up the walls of this home office. "SIPs have fantastic hurricane ratings and are easy to build with," says Speciale, adding that the panels allow the space to stay temperate in extreme weather conditions.
A wall-mounted monitor, a low window and the floating plank desk and hard drive give the space an expansive feel.
More:
Shed-Turned-Office in a London Garden
See more backyard studios and escapes
A wall-mounted monitor, a low window and the floating plank desk and hard drive give the space an expansive feel.
More:
Shed-Turned-Office in a London Garden
See more backyard studios and escapes
Ideabook published on July 1, 2012.
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SETT Studio
1130 Rutherford #220,
Austin, Texas,
Phone:512.200.2755
Website:www.SettStudio.com
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http://custm.co/hz/5