Build a Teen Retreat

With parents and three robust boys aged six, 14 and 17, our narrow two-bedroom weatherboard workman's cottage was so crowded something, or someone, had to go. We had already added a storage attic to the roof and needed a lot more than the tiny garden shed to accommodate surfboards, tools, furniture and the home office that was operating from the lounge room.

The Cabin Plan
After plenty of research we decided on a small self-contained studio with a shed at the side. We compared architect-designed studios to DIY kit cabins, but nothing came close to the basic kits made by Sydney-based company Backyard Cabins (www.backyardcabins.com.au). The project seemed simple. Pay the supplier, set aside a few weekends and build the studio. So we made it a little more complicated.

Modifying the Layout
The original standard cabin had one big room with two windows, a cathedral ceiling and verandah, but we wanted a more focused space for our eldest to study for his higher school certifi cate, a loft bed, toilet, shower and space for the contents of the garden shed we demolished. The cabin company was flexible in altering the plan without a big cost increase, and the 4.8 x 4.2m cabin was about $14,000 including timber frame, windows, doors, roofing, insulation and Weathertex cladding. We figured it would cost a few thousand more for lining and sundries and take, with help from our builder friends, about two weeks to finish.
Setback - We didn't take into account the weather, the availability of friends or changes to our original plans.