Plankbridge hut owner Melanie had been searching for the perfect garden room for years, so when the opportunity to design a bespoke shepherd’s hut came along, she put everything into it, making sure it would be just right for her, her garden and her guests. In this blog we hear from Melanie, who shares what it was like working with the Plankbridge team and how her shepherd’s hut garden room has settled into its picturesque Devon setting.
What first inspired you to buy a shepherd’s hut? Had you always wanted one?
I’ve wanted a place at the top of our field for many years, there was an old corrugated shed full of rusty metal tools and scraps left behind by previous owners (this was once a farm) and it was a waste of a sunny space under our long, stone wall. Finally, a tree needed felling on the path above the shed, and it was easier to take the shed down than work around it, so I got my way. I had been looking at shepherd’s huts because I liked the idea of a ‘den on wheels’.
How did you first come across Plankbridge, and what drew you to our huts in particular?
I searched for a long time for the right shepherd’s hut, looking closely at design and materials. Plankbridge was not too far away, and the aesthetic felt like the right one for me – the wood-lined hut I saw in the catalogue was the clincher.
Can you tell us about the experience of working with our team and your hut journey from initial drawings to delivery?
I had a great time working with the Plankbridge team, from my initial visit, nurturing me through the decision to buy the right size shepherd’s hut, and helping to create an entirely bespoke space. I was able to have all the DeVol switches and sockets I wanted, in the right places, and the blinds made for my hut in the beautiful Volga Linen material I chose.
I visited the Plankbridge workshop several times in the final stages to discuss the last details, once with my little dachshund, and spent happy hours with co-founder Jane who drove me to and from the station. One of my favourite meetings was to discuss the finish of the sweet chestnut interior of my hut, the smell of the wax and encountering the enthusiasm of a true wood obsessive!
Delivery through the stone wall entry to our field was nail-biting but they did it! Quite a few people in the village stopped to wonder at the arrival of the Plankbridge shepherd’s hut.
Tell us a bit about your shepherd’s hut interior. How have you styled or furnished your garden room to make it your own?
The garden room is lined with sweet chestnut and has a bed and a handcrafted fold-down desk. Below the desk the lovely people at Plankbridge attached a little wooden plaque with the teenage signature of my mother, who died three years ago. It was the signature at the front of all her books when she was young and it’s no surprise that there’s a bookshelf the width of the hut over the bed, with some of her books sitting with mine.
I have an old sofa with an amber velvet back and a kettle, for teas. I often think of Jane when I choose a tea. It’s a creative space for thinking and writing.
Where have you positioned your garden room? Can you describe the setting?
We positioned our garden room at the top of our field with the door looking towards a mill leat and the steam train which runs on the other side. We have a bank of prairie planting on either side of a few slab steps between the hut and the grass. The windows at the side of the hut look out towards trees, including an old and prolific mulberry tree. The hut is hidden behind our wall, beyond that a secluded lane. It’s beautiful in summer and magical in winter.
How do you tend to use the hut? Is it more of a garden room or a guest space or both?
I lie on the bed in the hut reading books (with my dogs of course), or I sit on the sofa looking out over the field, also with my dogs. They like to stare at birds from the superior perch of the hut steps. My garden room also has the addition of a music stand because I have visits from the leader of the choir I sing with, and we have discovered that the acoustics are excellent. I didn’t plan that, so well done to Plankbridge! Occasionally my friend stops to admire a beautiful jay under the trees outside or the Canadian geese flying overhead to the river. My adult children have discovered the hut and have occasionally taken it over to write a dissertation or create a sanctuary from a busy London life. ‘I’m just going back to my hut’, says my oldest, winking at me.
What advice would you give to someone considering a Plankbridge shepherd’s hut for a garden room?
I could sell Plankbridge huts for a living if my friends were in the market! The garden room is universally admired. If you’re considering it, make it your own. Put your hut somewhere with a view. If necessary, plant the view. Better a hut than a holiday as far as I’m concerned, at any rate you won’t want to leave it.
- Read more Plankbridge hut owner stories by visiting our dedicated blog page
- Discover more garden room ideas
- Explore your Bespoke shepherd’s hut options
- Arrange a visit to the Plankbridge workshop
