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When environmental consultant and founder of First Field Environmental, Michelle, decided it was time to move her work life closer to home, she began searching for a flexible, stylish solution that didn't involve renting another commercial space. What she discovered was the SheShed Alpine cabin, a design that combined functionality, sustainability, and a sense of calm.
“I was looking for something I could build myself. SheShed made it easy- the designs were all online, the information was accessible, and I didn’t have to jump through hoops just to see plans.”
Unlike other companies that required appointments or set persistent sales calls, SheShed’s gentle, informative approach stood out. “Lizzie was my main point of contact throughout the entire process, and she was always lovely. I felt supported the whole way.”
After researching countless cabin options, the SheShed Alpine quickly became the obvious choice. With delivery arriving just days after ordering Michelle and her husband wasted no time getting started.
“I built some of it myself, but my husband did most of the work, with a local guy helping with the heaving lifting”, she says. “It all came together really smoothly. Lizzie was there to answer questions even as we unpacked and started building.”
While the building process went off without a hitch, there were still the usual logistics to sort out, like site preparation, electricity, and local planning. “Understanding what else I needed to do was the biggest challenge,” she told us. “That, and waiting to move in!”
But once complete, the Alpine cabin quickly transformed into a comfortable, fully functional office that felt both professional and personal.
The interior styling began where many creative journeys do, on Pinterest! “I finally used all those boards I’d been curating for years!”
Design choices were guided by both practicality and inspiration from a piece of artwork she plans to hang in the office. “The colours are based on that artwork. The rest is about utility; it’s a full-time office with space for my field equipment and an extra desk for visitors.”
Although the setup isn’t fully finished yet, she’s already loving how the cabin feels. “The paintwork might be what you’d expect from a couple of non-painters,” she joked, “And I’m changing the doors to a darker orange and the walls to a mossier green soon.”
Now, her daily commute is just 10 meters across the yard, a far cry from battling traffic and paying for parking,
“It's not far, but because it’s a dedicated office- it gives me that mental shift- I feel like I’m at work.” she explains. “The cat follows me and steals a chair, but that's about as stressful as my commute gets now.”
No longer tied to commercial leases or early-morning drives, she's embraced the flexibility the comes with having her own backyard workspace.
“It just makes sense,” she told us. “Get the work stuff out of your house. You can’t have real work/life balance if you keep walking past your office door at home. And no more rent increases or commuting!”
Visitors are always impressed by the transformation. “People can’t believe we built it ourselves. I keep hearing, ‘You built that? YOU built that?!”
She’s also quick to show off one of her favourite features of the cabin, the unique window system! “I'm always showing people how the windows work. They’re so clever and I can manage airflow throughout the day by adjusting them.”
While the finishing touches are still coming together, her SheShed Alpine already feels like a natural extension of her home and her business.
Through First Field, Michelle and her team conduct ecological surveys and vegetation plans across the greater Sydney region, helping clients navigate development approvals and environmental planning.
Now, with firsthand experience of building and managing her own SheShed, she’s able to help future SheShed owners with even more insight.
“We now understand SheSheds a little better,” she says. “So, we can also help people with planning requirements, bushfire and vegetation management for their own backyard cabins.”
Explore the range of SheShed cabins and start imagining the possibilities for your own space.
