Knaresborough building trio launch garden room business to fill man cave and ‘she shed’ niche

A Knaresborough builder has launched a business that targets the growing market of man caves and more recently “she sheds”.

Gary Robinson, along with his wife Ellen and fellow builder Simon Slee has developed and launched Horto – Everyday Spaces, supplying a range of wooden-clad buildings for the garden after seeing an increasing need for extra space at home.

According to a recent study by Houzz, a popular choice for garden rooms has been ‘man caves’ which include features, such as bars, pool tables and dart boards. But women are also looking for their chance to relax, unwind and escape and the popularity of “she sheds” is growing on social sites such as Pinterest.

A Horto garden room aims to offer all the luxuries of the home in the garden with double glazed doors and windows, electricity and laminate floors.

Along with garden offices and workspaces, a Horto garden room can also be used as a summer house, home gym, home cinema, or playroom.

Robinson said: “As a builder I know the cost of an extension is considerable and time draining for a homeowner but for many the extra space can be generated by using some of their garden space. We find a lot of people don’t think about this option or see how much potential their garden has for it.

“We have discovered that people are amazed at what they can get with the amount of space they have – whether it be a small garden or a small space in a big garden, there is always something that can be done.”