'She Shed'? 'Mummy Cave'? What are they called, and how do I design me

11 years ago

I have the chance to take over a big, bright upstairs bedroom and make it a private space away from family and the world (I know, lucky, huh?). I have two problems, which are paralysing my progress, hoping you clever and kind houzzers can help.

1. The room has very little wallspace left due to some architectural quirks (2 doorways leading to a walk-in robe and also an under-roof corridor space, plus the 'normal' door, a wall-long window starting at hip-height, a wall-long built in cupboard, deep sloped 'attic style' ceiling). Due to my lack of design skills, I can't picture how to best use the rare remaining bits of wall space, and how to use the middle of the floor.

2. I have so many (conflicting?) purposes for the space, I can't seem to narrow them down. Study, painting, relaxing, exercising, napping, meditating, crazy nekkid dancing. Basically all those things mothers of preschoolers don't get to do in the rest of their house. Can anyone suggest a process for me to get the purpose(s) more focussed?

ps the pic is not my actual room, more of a mood board pic that seems to hit a few of my needs.

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Comments (5)

Jenny Drew
11 years ago
Hi Christine, we love to call them 'She Sheds', but I would love to hear more suggestions. One Houzzer once suggested 'Lady's Lair' to me ... it's all about what the space means to you. Have a look at these great examples: https://www.houzz.com.au/magazine/the-nominations-for-the-ultimate-she-shed-are-in-stsetivw-vs~47399233

You're quite right though, the key thing is to decide on what you're going to use it for. It sounds like there's a lot of activities you want to tick off in there? Can you prioritise your top 3, to work out how the basic design of the space is going to function? For example, in my mezzanine space, I'm working to create a writing/reading zone to start to keep it simple, and am going to take the yoga mat so it doesn't feel too busy. Remember, it's a place to relax in and escape to.

Jenn
Christine Griffiths thanked Jenny Drew
junipergirl
10 years ago
I personally don't do the feminist thing of She shed, etc, I just call it MY ROOM AND IF YOU DISTURB ME YOUR CHOICE OF PUNISHMENT! Hee hee, no, I call mine my Workroom.

Like you I have a ton of things to do in there! I craft, I bead, I have storage, and I occasionally just go down there with a glass of wine, turn on a CD and chill on the chair looking out at the scenery.

My room is a work in progress, too. What I do is have designated spots for different work areas. So one wall has beading supplies, another wall has craft and knitting supplies and the other has storage and in the middle is a big rug where I can lay down and veg or actually do yoga if I so desire.

For you, I suggest you do a mix, since your walls are limited, put a chair and a table (can be longer like a bench if you have the room) along that hip height window. You need natural light for any painting, etc you like to do.

The cupboard you mention can become your storage area for the painting equipment. You mention you wish to study too, so having a half side of the table for painting and the other half for studying should do the trick.

The fact you want to exercise, run nuddies, relax etc can be done in the middle of the room. Without dimensions I can't really offer much else. Is it possible to get a few pics of the area with something in perspective, (kitchen chair is easiest) if there is no furniture already in there? Sounds like a hodgepodge in the Heaven Haven. ;)
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User
10 years ago
I can't afford a me space, as unsupervised, they get up to God Knows what. Now I have new stains to try to remove on the white basin. From Hair Chalk. They didn't even have that in my day!
wuff
10 years ago
Hi trib ...what is hair chalk!!????, I have my own garden shed as I was too messy in the now man shed, so he built me my own, and I am very happy with it. I have all my garden potions and paints for my projects and I don't get into trouble for being messy in there
User
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
They paint it on their hair in strips. It looks like a set of chalk in the packet. I might have to bleach the basin and floor.

you think that's bad, this morning before school was painting their lips and eyes like emo, but with some kind of black texta or similar. Against school regs, and a bgr to get off!

'She Shed'? 'Mummy Cave'? What are they called, and how do I design me

Comments (5)

Jenny Drew

junipergirl

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