At a glance
- Every bespoke project starts with a conversation about your space, your storage needs, and your ideas — there is no standard template.
- Designers prepare detailed drawings for your review and approval before anything is built. The process is collaborative from start to finish.
- Our team of carpenters designs and builds each piece by hand in our Bristol workshop, using FSC-certified Douglas Fir from a local Wiltshire sawmill.
- From surfboard stores to bowls club equipment sheds, we have built bespoke solutions for storage problems most companies would not even attempt.
- Typical lead time is around 10 weeks from order, with professional installation across Great Britain.
Not every storage problem has a standard solution. Maybe your garden has an awkward corner that no off-the-shelf shed will fit. Perhaps you need to store a specific combination of things — bikes and surfboards, garden tools and outdoor cushions — in a space that was never designed for storage. Or maybe you simply want something that looks right in your garden, built to your exact specification.
That is where bespoke shed design comes in. And if you have never ordered something custom-built before, it is natural to wonder how the whole thing actually works.
We have been designing and building bespoke storage since 2012 so we will walk you through exactly what happens, from first conversation to finished installation. If you already know what you need and want to talk it through, get in touch. We genuinely enjoy hearing about unusual storage problems.
Why Go Bespoke? When Standard Storage Will Not Do
Most of our customers start with our standard range — our bike sheds and garden storage products are designed to work beautifully in most gardens. But sometimes the space, the items, or the vision calls for something different.
Here are the sorts of situations where bespoke shed design makes sense:
- Awkward spaces: A narrow gap beside the house, a sloping garden, a niche behind the garage — standard dimensions simply will not work.
- Unusual combinations: You need to store bikes, a pram, and two surfboards in the same unit. No standard product does that.
- Specific requirements: A bowls club needs secure storage for green maintenance equipment. A homeowner wants a shed that matches their Farrow & Ball front door exactly.
- Getting it just right: Sometimes it is not about the space being awkward — it is about wanting something designed around the way you actually use your garden.
We are not going to pretend everyone needs bespoke. For plenty of people, a Pedalbase or a Garden StoreGarden Store is exactly right. But when standard will not do, there is nothing quite like having something designed and built exactly for you, your garden, and your needs.
So what actually happens when you decide to go bespoke?
How Our Bespoke Shed Design Process Works
It Starts With a Conversation
There is no online configurator here, no drag-and-drop tool. Bespoke shed design starts with a proper conversation — you tell us what you need to store, describe the space you have, and share any ideas you have in mind.
Some customers come to us with detailed plans and measurements. Our Brighton bowls club project started with the client's own drawings showing exactly where each piece of equipment needed to go.
Other customers ring us and say, "I have got this corner of the garden and I need somewhere for the bikes — can you help?" Both approaches work perfectly well.
We ask questions, suggest ideas, and draw on experience from hundreds of bespoke builds. It is a genuinely personal service — you are talking to the people who will design and build your shed, not a call centre.
You can reach us by phone, email, or through our enquiry form — whatever suits you.
Design and Drawing
Once we understand what you need, we create a bespoke design to your specification. You receive detailed drawings showing exactly what your storage will look like — dimensions, door positions, internal layout, everything.
This is where the collaborative part matters. Your feedback shapes the final design. Want the doors on the other side? Need an extra shelf? Prefer a lifting lid instead of a swing door? We adjust until it is right. Nothing is built until you are happy with the design.
It is a conversation, not a conveyor belt. And because our carpenters are the ones doing the design work, they understand what is structurally possible and what will work best in practice.
Built by Hand in Our Bristol Workshop
This is the part we are most proud of. Every bespoke piece is built by hand in our workshop at Bower Ashton Wood Yard in Bristol by our team of 10 carpenters.
We use FSC-certified Douglas Fir, sourced from a local family-owned sawmill in Wiltshire. Each piece of timber is measured, cut, and jointed individually — there are no production lines, no mass-produced components.
Our construction method matters, too. Panels are enclosed within frames for strength and security, and we build in expansion spacing so the timber can move naturally in wet British weather without warping. Every visible edge is hand-chamfered, and joints are hidden internally for both security and appearance.
If you want to know more about how we build, our Why We Are Better page goes deeper into the craft behind every bespoke shed design.
Every shed is assembled, finished, and painted in-house before it leaves the workshop. Four coats of specialist wood paint on painted units. Eight standard colours, plus RAL colour matching and Farrow & Ball options if you want an exact match.
Designed and built for you, by craftsmen, by hand. It is a genuinely rare thing.
Professional Installation
Our dedicated installation team delivers and installs your bespoke shed anywhere in Great Britain. They arrive with your completed unit, level it using adjustable steel feet, and make sure everything is finished properly on site.
You will need a solid, level base — a concrete slab is ideal, though paving, tiles, or decking work well too. We include adjustable feet so minor unevenness is not a problem.
Typical lead time is around 10 weeks from order to installation. Handmade takes time, and we would rather get it right than rush it. During busier periods, it may take a little longer — we will always give you an honest timescale upfront.
Bespoke Projects We Have Built
Every bespoke project is different, and that is the whole point. Here are a few examples that show what is possible when you are not limited to what is on the shelf
Surfboard and bike store
A family needed to fit two adult bikes, a scooter, a pram, and two adult surfboards into a limited space. We designed a split-level unit with bikes on hangers, the scooter and pram tucked in below, and surfboards stored vertically through the floor levels. No standard product could have solved that one.
Bowls club equipment store, Brighton
The club came to us with detailed drawings showing what they needed: secure storage for green maintenance equipment and playing bowls supplies, organised so everything had its place. We refined their design, built it to specification, and installed it on site.
Bike and cushion store
A homeowner needed to store one bike and a set of outdoor furniture cushions in a small garden niche. The challenge was fitting everything without it feeling cramped. Careful space planning and a considered internal layout made it work.
These are not one-offs for the sake of it. They are examples of what happens when skilled people take the time to understand a problem and design something that actually solves it.
Ready to start your bespoke project? Tell us what you have in mind and we will design something that works.
What You Need to Know Before Ordering a Bespoke Shed
Planning Permission
Good news: most garden buildings fall under permitted development and do not need planning permission. The key rules are that the building must be single storey, with eaves no higher than 2.5 metres, and it must not cover more than half the area around your house.
The Planning Portal has the full details. We can also advise during the bespoke design conversation if you are unsure whether your project qualifies.
Base Preparation
Your bespoke shed needs a solid, level base. A concrete slab is ideal, but paving slabs, tiles, or sturdy decking work well too. We include adjustable steel feet for levelling, so minor unevenness is easily managed.
Colours and Finishes
Choose from eight standard colours, or go for RAL colour matching and Farrow & Ball paints if you want your shed to match something specific. Natural timber finish with UV protection is also available.
Guarantee
Every bespoke build comes with our 5-year guarantee covering materials and manufacture. Painted sheds receive four coats of specialist wood paint; natural timber gets anti-fungal treatment to prevent black spot and insect damage.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bespoke Shed Design
How much does a bespoke shed cost?
Every project is different, so pricing depends on size, complexity, and specification. We provide a clear quote after the design conversation, before you commit to anything. You can request a quote through our bespoke page.
How long does a bespoke shed take to build?
Typically around 10 weeks from order to installation. Each piece is handmade in our Bristol workshop by our team of carpenters, so the timescale reflects genuine craftsmanship rather than factory production. Busy periods may take a little longer.
Do I need planning permission for a bespoke shed?
Most garden buildings fall under permitted development and do not require planning permission, provided they meet size and positioning rules. The Planning Portal has the full guidance, or ask us during the design conversation.
Can I see a design before committing?
Always. We create detailed drawings for your approval before building starts. The design process is collaborative — nothing is built until you are happy with it.
Do you install bespoke sheds?
Yes. Our dedicated installation team covers Great Britain. We handle delivery and professional installation as part of the service.
Every bespoke project starts with a conversation. Whether you have detailed plans or just a vague idea and an awkward corner, we would love to hear about it.
Get in touch and tell us about your space. We will take it from there.