When I am in Oxford Street I often take the opportunity to browse the particularly good reclaimed home decor section in Selfridges and when I saw a book called 'A Woman's Shed' I was immediately intrigued.
 
I had previously thought of sheds as boring places where you simply store garden tools, lawnmowers, bicycles, junk or even amusingly the place where men go to escape from their partners. Historically, it seems that sheds have only been associated with men, some of whose sheds are now famous worldwide and have even become museum exhibits. Both Dylan Thomas and Roald Dahl have used sheds as a sanctuary of creativity for their writing. Gustav Mahler wrote his 9th and 10th symphonies in a shed.
 
A replica of the writing shed used by Dylan Thomas went on tour as part of a festival celebrating the 100th anniversary of his birth earlier this year. So the idea of a woman's shed caught my eye and made me ask why sheds are not associated with women as a place where they too can create, think and escape.
 
In the book are unique quirky sheds created by women to give inspiration. Eco-friendly construction is a particular feature found in many of the sheds in the book. Many of the women seem to have a clear vision of sustainablity in their designs and some constructed the sheds themselves.
 
Another important factor in the shed designs have been how they blend into the landscape. Women often have a need to make a space more homely and beautiful and this is also shown in the shed designs. Many of the designs reflect this need for a finishing touch which may not always be evident in a shed designed and solely used by a man.
 
The shed created by Rosie is one of my favourites especially as the materials used were sourced from local auctions, the French Emmaus charity and reclamation yards. Rosie has also painted it an eco black which contrasts well with the surrounding greenery and then grown beautiful bright red roses over the roof. Another of my favourites, which some may not consider to be a shed, is Catherine's restored French barn. The large barn shed is divided up into areas for storage, DIY, painting , entertaining and relaxing. Catherine rescued the run down barn with materials reclaimed from old demolished buildings including doors found in Paris.

Women have arguably always been more instinctively drawn to the use of salvage in the home. Which explains that when given a free rein to create their own space the sheds often use reclaimed wood. Reclaimed wood has become very popular recently because it adds aged beauty to a home, and saves a tree at the same time.
 
The look of a newly built reclaimed wood shed would fit better into a country setting too where it can seem as if it has always been there. Reuse of old windows, shutters, doors and secondhand furniture is also evident throughout the book.
 
The women's sheds often show care for the environment with the use of green technology such as solar panels and wind turbines. But for some the more simple approach to life is a key attraction and lights come from lanterns or water from an outdoor shower. Another feature shown is a living grass roof.

The book makes you consider whether consumerism is making us as happy. Joel Bird won 'Amazing Spaces' Shed Of The Year 2014 with a green eco allotment roof, and he said that his partner had seen the shed as his domain. But he touchingly added that he considered it to be a family shed. Joel's tin bath was a lovely fun addition but as a woman I would opt for a more luxurious full sized antique bath tub instead.

We all seem to appreciate a home from home and a shed can answer a lot of unfulfilled needs not found in our own homes. The women in the book have used their sheds to fulfil various needs. These include spaces for creativity like writers, artists, and craftspeople and quiet spaces for meditation and to connection back with nature. Sheds have for some become the space in which they spend their whole working day or even the space in which they live. In most cases it has given that much-needed space where they can truly be themselves. And for those who have also used reclaimed wood for their shed their own life has now become part of the unique story for those pieces of wood.
 
So in case you are wondering, I started dreaming about having a shed of my own and immediately bought the book and proceeded to find a quiet spot in a nearby park and enjoyed every page.
 
For more inspiration to create a shed of your very own, 'A Woman's Shed' by Gill Heriz is published by CICO Books (UK, £19.99 and USA, $29.95). The book also has lovely images to inspire you further photographed by Nicolette Hallett.
 
Find all the reclaimed wood and other reclaimed materials you need to make a shed of your own for sale on SalvoWEB. Reclaimed wood suppliers and architectural salvage yards can be found on the SalvoWEB directory. Salvo Packs are available with a local directory and lots of handy hints to help you buy and use reclaimed materials. One handy hint being if you use reclaimed wood rather than new it can be left untreated without the need for preservative, varnish or paint and will last happily outside for years to come.