Serious, practical questions: Where would you empty the shed to in the summer time, while you have those paying guests? Will you need to add more storage somewhere else, or hire a storage building? Also, if you don’t have the time or energy for a year-round B&B set-up, what changes during the summer to allow you to have the time for it? And, if it can be set up for guests, what prevents a parent (who you may or may not want quite so “conveniently” located) from deciding that s/he ought to move in?
Honestly, in my experience, back yard studios turn into giant disasters of storage for yard tools and a thousand things that you don’t even remember you own.
I have a backyard room (although still attached to the house) and I use it as a home office, art studio and craft workshop. I still see my wife and kids plenty, and it’s not been taken over by junk, mostly because that’s what the garage is for.
I dont know where you live but do you really want that insurance liability? Also does your area have zoning and licensing rules?
Don’t think your ther first couple to be seduced by beautiful pictures of backyard cottages/bungalos/barns/garden sheds or whatnot. Give it a few years and it will be a junk shed.
Good questions from you and Urban Redneck. . And that is exactly what I fear will happen. Hmn: your post gave me the brilliant idea that I should ask my husband to empty out the current shed from any stuff we don’t use anymore. If we are left with more then a couple boxes, the idea isn’t feasible. And if he does manage it, I have at least an uncluttered shed out of this daydreaming experience. I can’t lose.
As for guests, we have so few and far between that it is actually a lot cheaper if we pay for a luxury hotel room (there’s a such a hotel 3 minutes from here) for any guests we do have.
Strangely enough, there seems to be a huge difference between a shed that is attached to the house, and one that is separate from the house. If people have to change shoes to go to the studio, they don’t unless they have a very good reason to go there for a longer period of time.
stui magpie, does your post mean that your main house is your wife’s space?
If you’re going to keep electronics or musical instruments in this shed, you’re going to need climate control. Humidity and temperature can become issues. In the US, if you’re doing anything more than running an electrical line out to an outbuilding, you’re really going to need permits and inspections.
