Where birds are your office mates: Backyard studio

In response to the pandemic, Susan Chang set out to design a home workspace away from the distractions of her husband and grown sons. Her backyard provided the perfect opportunity.

“My design mandate was to mimic, as closely as possible, the feeling of our Muskoka cottage with its rustic, relaxed environment, all day long sunlight streaming into the living spaces and views to nature; this was achieved through the use of board and batten on the exterior,  shiplap on the interior surfaces, and the full height windows edged in crisp white trim and French doors painted in vivid coral,” says Chang, who leads HOK’s consulting team in Canada.

Lined with natural birch floors and hand-crafted Sid Dickens tiles, the 107 square feet of useable space is outfit with hidden storage; energy efficient split system heating and cooling; a built-in hot and cold water system, and adorned with an upholstered bench seat with plush baby lama cushions, dimmable wall sconce and LED lighting, a womb chair upholstered in a bright red textile with a footrest, and even a 40-in. TV. Floating shelves adorn the walls with framed hand sketches from previous design projects and personal artwork.