Saving My Mental Load While Working From Home
Parents… you’ve been there. The middle of your Zoom call is infiltrated by the adorable hands of your toddler demanding entry to your workspace. When working from home blurred the lines of work life and mom life, I knew that something needed to give. I dreamed of creating a sanctuary space like I’d seen in magazines that would be a peaceful place to work and include a short commute with just a walk through the garden holding a cup of coffee.
And so, with about a year of persuasion, we created our version of the She Shed. This 8x12 She Shed has taken many forms, from landscaping trial and error to many coats of paint in a quest to find the perfect balance of creativity, zen and solace. It’s the best money we’ve spent, and we have had multiple friends recreate for their own homes.
A few of my favorites that make me feel right at home.
1.) Stand Up Desk Legs - luckily, I am married to the founder of WellKept home, which means I did not have to settle for an out of the box stand up desk. We sourced a beautiful wood top, and secured it to these fully customizable standing desk legs creating a custom stand up desk for a fraction of the cost.
2.) Beautiful coat hooks - whether I’ve walked out to the shed in a robe or a winter coat, it’s handy to have a beautiful coat hook to hang your “commute” outfit. These are different than what we bought at the time, but what I would’ve selected had I seen them at the time of building!
3.) Steelcase Ergonomic Chair - When it is time to sit, this is the chair you want. While I aim to stand or walk on the walking pad, sometimes the work day gets busy and I need a sturdy, supportive chair to lean on. After a lot of trial and error, the Steelcase has been a game changer for my back.
4.) Walking Pad - speaking of… there’s not better solution to beating the office blues than a stand up desk and walking pad combo. I've had this one for many years, and it’s been a great solution to getting my steps in when I can’t get away from my desk.
5.) PEMF Mat - wellness is my passion, and creating a workspace with healing modalities in it has been transformative. If you’re into a little bit of woo woo… this PEMF mat is the perfect mix of heat therapy and electromagnetic frequency to really amp up your office experience.
I have to say, of all the great things within the walls of this shed… my favorite upgrade, by far, has been the addition of the mini split keeping the temperature regulated has been a game changer for me in the really hot months of summer, and the freezing cold of winter here in Boise.
Looking to DIY? Feeling technical? Here are a few of the things we used to build!
1.) Mini Split - Blueridge BMX1220 - 115V single zone ductless Mini-Split Heat Pump System (wifi capable)
2.) Blueridge WFWM - Wifi Capable Wall Mount Air Handlers (version 2.0)
3.) Alpine AG-WHP10 #10 Gauge
4.) Refrigeration Technologies RT201B
5.) Vacuum pump kit w/ guages (to test the lines after install)
6.) Insulation - we used fairly high r-value (r-30) and bought 16” faced insulation
7.) Ceiling - we went higher with r-49 faced insulation
8.) We also added a layer of 6-mil polyethylene sheeting over the insulation before putting up drywall to create a vapor barrier and try to keep moisture off the insulation
If you have a shed you’d like to transform, but aren’t feeling ready to tackle it yourself. WellKept is happy to help expand your home’s functional space!
Keep it Well,
Your WellKept Team
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