Maybe not everything is bigger in Texas. 

When Virginia, her wife, and toddler were searching for a home in Houston, it was nearly impossible to find the perfect combination of square footage and backyard space. They found a great house with an amazing backyard… but they were a little short on space. In her words, “Our toddler had become a regular (and very loud) guest star in our Zoom meetings, turning every call into a high-stakes game of ‘mute the mic before the meltdown.'”

A lightbulb moment

Then, Virginia’s wife, Lily had a brilliant idea. What if they built an office in their back yard? They started with quotes from companies who build backyard offices—to the tune of $30,000. Then, they found Tuff Shed. They got in touch with the folks at their local Home Depot and chose a 10×12 TR-800 ranch for that added height and sense of space. Virginia and Lily selected a clerestory upgrade for lots of extra natural light, and to complement the aesthetics of the homes in their historic neighborhood. They also added their own custom French doors, high-powered AC for Houston’s hot days, and electricity.

The price was right with Tuff Shed. 

Virginia happily reports that she saved about half of what it would have cost for a traditional build by working with Tuff Shed and then hiring additional contractors to add the finishing touches to their office. Their fully outfitted, cooled, and electrified office ended up costing around $15,000—which meant that they could spend the money they saved somewhere else. Virginia and Lily ended up turfing the back yard for their outdoorsy pets and daughter, turning their small space into a functional oasis. She says that it costs more than buying a shed on the side of the road, but she was happy to pay for the customization and peace of mind that Tuff Shed’s best-in-industry build brings to the table.

And it’s so much more than just an office. 

At the end of the day, Virginia and Lily kick back and have a drink together and it feels like they’re in the back yard… but with blessedly cool AC. It has also become the place where they can play guitar and bask in a bubble of quiet, personal space. Even their toddler, Sawyer, loves it—and drops by in the mornings before school to say goodbye to Virginia before she heads to school for the day. Virginia says, “It’s not anything I could have predicted, but it has become one of my favorite things in the morning.” Start designing your custom building today, or check out our Pinterest for more great home office inspiration.