Shed of the Year winners: Workshop shed - Peculiar Pear
7 inspirational ways to transform your garden shed
The Cuprinol Shed of the Year 2021 competition saw 331 hopefuls enter with their shed transformations – the most in its 15-year history – and the Good Homes magazine team is super impressed by the winning garden shed ideas.
The enthusiastic ‘sheddies‘ competed across seven categories including Cabin/Summerhouse, Lockdown and Budget. A public vote through readersheds.co.uk decided on the best shed in each category, before the panel of judges crowned the overall winner.
‘We are truly amazed and delighted by the creations we’ve seen this year – they just get better and better,’ said Marketing Manager for Cuprinol, Kirsty Woodbine.
‘At Cuprinol we’re committed to inspiring people to find creative ways to transform their outdoor spaces – whether it’s a vibrant lick of paint on a brand new summerhouse or handcrafting impressive structures from recycled materials.’
So who else turned heads with their inspirational garden shed ideas? Check out the Shed of the Year 2021 category winners…
The Pub Shed
Creme de Menthe by Danielle Zarb-Cousin: After splitting from her fiancé – Love Island’s Jonny Mitchell – and moving in with her parents at the start of the first lockdown, Danielle started brainstorming garden shed ideas to transform her parents’ unloved shed. She painted it and filled it with retro decorations, furnishings and vinyl records from charity and vintage shops. The orange and mint green colour scheme gave her cocktail bar/writer’s den a real retro feel and earned her both the category and overall winner’s plaques.
Photo: Cuprinol
The Cabin/Summerhouse
The Bra Boss of Kent by Joanna van Blommestein: Joanna, 33, established her bra-fitting boutique in her back garden as a way to provide women with a relaxing and supportive space to get fitted and choose their perfect bra. Specialising in post-surgery, many of Joanna’s customers are women who have suffered from breast cancer. What a great way to use a garden shed!
Photo: Cuprinol
Lockdown Shed
Winterwood by Mark Campbell: Mark, 60, built a fairytale castle for his granddaughter when he was required to shield during the first lockdown. The design was inspired by illustrations from two-year-old Sienna’s favourite story books. The two-storey pine creation stands 12 feet tall. ‘We’ve not been able to get Sienna out,’ said Mark. A shed with a tower? We’re sold!
Photo: Cuprinol
Unexpected/Unique Shed
Bungy’s Backyard Bar by John Williams: Royal Navy Chief Engineer John ‘Bungy’ Williams, 46, roped in his son and daughter to help him build his hidden ‘pop-up’ pub shed in the back garden of his Plymouth home. ‘I wanted it to be unassuming when you walked past it, but would open like a pop-up book,’ said John. As garden bar sheds go, this has to be one of the most innovative.
Photo: Cuprinol
Nature’s Haven Shed
The Hideaway by Rosie Hoult: Holistic therapist Rosie, 59 and her 65-year-old retired husband David only intended to build a bird table in their back garden. But the couple from Shrewsbury ended up creating an idyllic bird-watching sanctuary shed decorated in a Moroccan theme. Rosie credits the lockdown project with bringing her and her husband closer together.
Photo: Cuprinol
Workshop/Studio Shed
The Peculiar Pear by Ally Scott: Ally overcame tragedy to win the workshop/studio category. The 48-year-old, from Southampton, lost her mum and her job in quick succession before deciding to build a studio in her back garden so she could pursue her dream of becoming an artist and signwriter. ‘This shed has changed my life,’ she says.
Photo: Cuprinol
Budget Shed
Tranquility Base by Les Rowe: Les’ seven-sided refuge is flooded with colour courtesy of a series of stained glass windows he rescued from a synagogue in Cardiff. The 67-year-old artist from New Brighton on The Wirral created his distinctive haven featuring outward sloping sides and a domed roof from material mostly donated by family, friends and neighbours. Les needed a shed for storage, but has decided this one is so beautiful he doesn’t really want to put anything in it!
Photo: Cuprinol