A Room Of One's Own

As the former editor of Victorian and Romantic Homes magazines, Erika Kotite has long been smitten with outbuildings.

- Erika Kotite

“If it’s small, picturesque and practical, I love it – potting sheds, lean-tos, chicken coops, you name it...” she says. “So when I was asked to explore the emerging She Shed trend as a book, I dove in body and soul.”

She discovered that while the name might seem overly cute to some, She Shed is actually more than just an alliteration – the word “shed” is an extremely practical and functional term. It means shelter, even sanctuary. Put together, the words describe exactly what the space is.

“While there may be spaces within the house to relax, there is never true quiet unless you step outside the house,” says Erika. “Unless you live alone, solitude is rare. What’s more, the siren songs from the dishwasher, overflowing laundry baskets and bill pile cannot be heard from a She Shed.