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Why would a retired English professor want a she shed? If you think it has something to do with a writer’s place, you’re correct. Many women are finding it’s much easier to relax and enjoy their hobbies when they’re not inside their home. Toni Howell is no exception. She loves having a place that’s uncluttered, and away from all the things that “should” be done in her home. Toni enjoys writing and aspires to build a body of published work. She’s already written a novel that she hopes to publish. While she already spends 1-2 hours most days in her Ulrich writer’s cabin, she hopes to bump that up to 4-5 hours, allowing her to make some serious progress on her writing projects. When Toni and her husband Lee saw this cabin shell at our retail store in Cleburne, TX, they knew right away that this was the one. The interior is roughly 12×12 ft, and the porch adds another 4 ft for a total size of 12×16 ft. It’s our Retreat, with heavy duty framing and a loft area above the porch. The Howell’s added insulation, sheetrock, and lighting to convert it from a shell into a finished studio for Toni’s artistic pursuits. A porch light and potted plants give it that extra pop on the exterior. Inside, Toni has a wicker chair for relaxing with a book, and a writing desk for her laptop. The three windows allow generous natural light, and the air conditioner keeps it pleasant during the summer. Thanks for your business, Toni! We wish you many happy hours of writing and great success with your projects! #ToniHowell #Writerssheshed #RetreatCabinShell

Pavan Mula grew up on a farm in India and prefers country life to the city. He found a property, away from his job and where his family could enjoy nature and he can make sure all the stress is gone. Although he looked online at several cabin companies closer to home, they would not show him the building process. The first time Pavan visited Ulrich Cabin Builders and toured the factory, he fell in love with the Ulrich cabins. He toured a model cabin which had the floor plan he wanted and a loft area which his children love. He says, “It didn’t take me long to make a decision to buy an Ulrich cabin.” The factory tour sealed the deal for him. At Ulrich, Pavan observed, “They have the confidence to show what they’re doing—not just the end product, but the process. That shows the confidence they have about their own work.” Pavan loves the woods on his property and wanted to leave as many of the trees as possible. He was impressed that an Ulrich salesperson made the three-and-a-half-hour drive to look at his property and determine how the 16×52 Homestead Cabin would be delivered and which trees to fell. Once the rain finally stopped, cabin delivery went well. Pavan says, “Those two delivery guys, they are awesome. They know what they are doing.” His daughter Mihika says, “I feel happy and excited to come here!” One weekend the Mulas set up a movie outside for the kids while Pavan was grilling. With friends and family working on projects, making s’mores by the campfire, enjoying a zipline, archery and other sports, he says it is very festive. When he and Sai enjoy hot drinks on the deck in the quiet mornings, he says, “All the stress is gone.” #PavanMula #HomesteadCabin

Barbara Lyons sold her house in New Jersey when she retired. Her son offered her a piece of his property in Leonard, Texas, and took her to Ulrich Cabins to find a safe haven and a cozy home. She chose a 16×38 Bear Lake Cabin with an open living room and kitchen, one bedroom and a bathroom. “I wanted to have a nice little cabin that I could take care of, that I’d be comfortable in, and this fit the bill,” she says. She enlarged the cabin as much as possible. The size is easy to care for, but it’s also big enough for one or two people. They chose a site close enough for the grandchildren to run over, but far enough away for both homes to have privacy. As a retiree, “Instead of actually living with your children, this works out much better,” Barbara says. In the loft, “The grandchildren keep all their toys up there instead of downstairs under my feet,” Barbara smiles. The grandchildren romping through her Ulrich cabin show how solid and well constructed it is. Her days are filled with cross stitch, knitting, playing games with her grandchildren, and practicing piano. Barbara loved that as soon as the cabin was delivered and the utilities were hooked up, she could move right into her Ulrich cabin. The whole process was smooth, with the team at Ulrich taking “care of any problems that did come up.” “I like the all wood look, because wood gives you that warm feeling. The smell of the cedar is very comforting,” Barbara says. “It’s a safe haven for me.” #BearLakeCabin #BarbaraLyons #RetireeCabin

The number of homeowners embarking on renovation projects has increased during the pandemic. In a Houzz report summed up on CNBC, it was revealed that there was a 58% annual increase in project leads for home professionals last year. Indeed, it is now apparent that being stuck at home for prolonged periods of time pushed many homeowners to re-evaluate their living spaces and take on improvement projects to improve their lives at home. But aside from making your home more functional or better suited to your lifestyle, home renovation projects can also increase the overall value of your home. That’s the point we want to focus on here, specifically with regard to adding detached structures. How much will a detached structure add to your home’s overall value? There are a lot of different detached structures that you can add to your home. Essentially, a detached structure is just any permanently installed structure that is separated from your home, but not from your property. Garages, gazebos, and sheds, for instance, are common examples. Naturally, value added depends largely on what sort of structure you wind up building, as well as how large, practical, or well made that structure is. To give a general idea though, numbers show that adding a detached garage adds about 65% of its original value to that of the home during resale. You can expect the added value of other detached structures to fall around the same number, in relative terms. Furthermore, you also have the option of researching what features or functions might be most “in demand” for a given structure, and focus on those to enhance ROI marginally. How to maximize your investment? Building a detached structure is also an investment that comes with risks. If you don’t plan thoroughly, you might ultimately be left with a structure that’s more of a liability than an asset. To make the most out of your home renovation project then, and maximize that ROI down the road, start by thinking about how you can fund your detached structure. There are a lot of ways to finance a home renovation project, but the two options that are usually chosen by homeowners are home equity loans and personal loans. An article on Marcus explains the distinction between the two, with home equity loans typically involving lower interest rates and better terms than personal loans. That said, a home equity loan also demands that you list your home itself as collateral –– meaning that failure to make repayments can result in foreclosure. On the other hand, personal loans have no collateral requirement and can be obtained simply and quickly. Choosing between the two is a matter of personal preference based on financial circumstances and tendencies. But it’s important to decide how you want to finance your renovation project early on, one way or another. Aside from funding, there are also some additional considerations to keep in mind with regard to maximizing your investment. How your location will affect the detached structure, for instance, is definitely worth thinking about. Consider as an example that external garages in areas with harsh winters will need more robust heating systems –– adding to initial cost, but also resale appeal. You should also think carefully about the aesthetic of your detached structure. While it might seem tempting to keep up with the latest design trends, it’s best to choose one that can stand the test of time. A post on Architectural Digest lists some foolproof design trends that can help get you thinking along the right lines, with ideas like subway tiles, exposed brick, and wide-plank oak floors all being potentially applicable to a detached structure. Conclusion All in all, a detached structure can be a great addition to your property if you want to increase its value and gain extra living space at once. It’s an involved project, but a manageable one if you give it proper consideration. For more informative and inspirational posts on detached structures, please feel free to continue exploring our blog here on Ulrich Lifestyle. Article specially written for www.ulrichlifestyle.com By Ashley Royce #HowMuchValueDoesaDetachedStructureAddtoYourHome

Michelle Hill has lots of crafting ideas in her head but not enough room in her house in Eustace, Texas. Her crafting business, Shelle’s Custom Creations, had taken over the house, and she had no room in her kitchen to cook. She needed a craft barn! Michelle and Kyle began to look for a portable craft barn to contain her crafts. They weren’t satisfied with the buildings they saw, until they found the Ulrich website. Kyle was impressed with the manufacturing process and the building materials. Intending only to look, they visited Ulrich’s sales lot in Tyler. Kyle was so impressed, he purchased a 12×24 Rancher cabin shell with lots of windows that same day. He noticed the eave and vent system made a big difference in the temperature in the building. They chose the Rancher because the lofts provide more storage. Kyle finished out the crafting barn himself over the next six months. “She’s never in the house now,” he laughs. Michelle has a central work table, a desk for her computer, and lots of shelving. She makes candles, wreaths, and custom tumblers. Michelle loves spending time in her craft barn, relaxing with music while she works. “It makes me feel good when people get excited about things I made for them,” she says. Moving the crafts to the cabin shell freed up their house for daily living and having guests. “It’s been a good change,” Kyle says. “I’m hard to please,” Kyle says, but he likes their Ulrich cabin shell. “I would buy another one in a minute.” #MichelleHill #RancherCabinShell #CraftBarn

Mike Lackey’s garage in Blum, Texas was too full. With all their tools and mowers in one stall of the garage, one car was left outside in the weather. The Lackeys chose to invest in a storage shed to protect the car as well as make a good space to organize their tools and mowers. Mike shopped online for a shed, looking at cost and proximity. Having seen videos from Ulrich Barns, they visited the Cleburne location to see inside the storage sheds. Mike was impressed by Ulrich’s 2×6 construction, sturdy floors, and heavy-duty door hardware. The Lackeys chose a 14×28 Premier Gable Cabin Shell, customizing it with taller walls and shed doors on the side. To maximize storage space, they chose to have only two gable windows. They chose metal instead of shingles for a seamless roof. The ceiling is high enough to hang up bikes. They enjoyed visiting the factory when their shed was partly completed. Delivery went very smoothly. For now, Mike is using the storage shed to store lawn tools and supplies, not for a shop. With the doors open, they have room to use the shed as a sitting area where they enjoy iced tea or hot coffee. The vents in the roof keep the temperature regulated even in a Texas summer. They’ve added skirting and encircled the shed with a gravel bed and planted Texas sage and nandina bushes. “We got our money’s worth with Ulrich,” Mike says. “This is what we wanted. This is the way I wanted it built. We’re still enjoying it, three years after we bought it.” #MikeLackey #lawnandtoolstorageshed #UlrichRancher

Pat and Linda Tucker bought a property at Old Bowie Lake so they could spend time with their children enjoying the water. Since the existing cabin was in bad shape, they tore it down. Visiting Ulrich Cabins, Pat and Linda fell in love with the log cabin style and wanted it for their lake house. Pulled between several cabin designs, they needed a cabin to fit between their property lines. They wanted a loft for play space as well as extra sleeping space when their children’s friends visited. The Tuckers morphed several Ulrich cabin styles into one till they got what they were looking for. Nearing completion, the building foreman suggested a full length covered front porch. The porch has added a lot to their living space. The loft and porch are Linda’s favorite parts of the cabin, “the icing on the cake,” Pat says. A 16×42 cabin is the perfect size for the Tucker family, giving them a bigger bedroom. Ulrich cabin designer Chris Fenn offered helpful suggestions for various finishes and the location of the stairs. Pat says designing the cabin was an easy process, and “we got exactly what we wanted.” The Tucker children have grown up at the lake, where the family reads, goes paddle boating, and grills out. Linda laughs, “Everything tastes better here!” Now they’re looking forward to sharing the cabin with their grandson. Spending their weekends at their Ulrich lake house cabin gives them time to rest and connect as a family. Pat says,  “We come up here and get our batteries recharged.” #16x42cabin #PatandLindaTucker #LakeHouse #Bigporchcabin

Jon Rollins, an architect, works with wood to create furniture, cabinets, and sculpture. He needed a new shop to keep his tools and sawdust out of his home. Ulrich Barn Builders had built a storage shed onsite for a friend from work. The beauty and quality of the building convinced Jon to work with Ulrich to build a shop for him. As an architect, Rollins wanted a storage shed that matched his home and looked like it belonged on his property. He had a good idea of the size and style he wanted before he contacted Ulrich Barn Builders. Jon chose a 12×16 Elite Craftsmen shed. He wanted the clerestory windows for more natural light on his projects. He had Ulrich customize the storage shed by removing the loft in the middle for added headroom and leaving it in the ends for storage. They added a single door to the corner so he could build a small storage room across one end for bikes and yard equipment. The crew from Ulrich Barn Builders built the storage shed onsite in less than a week. They worked efficiently, keeping their work area tidy. After the shop was built, Jon added electricity, lights, cabinets, and storage for his tools and supplies. Now he loves to work alone in his shop, enjoying the details of each project. He says his projects are his therapy. His woodworking takes him completely out of his everyday life and gives him time and space to contemplate. He is very satisfied with his new storage shed that matches his home. As an architect, he recognizes quality in a building when he sees it, and Jon says, “I would certainly recommend Ulrich.” #JonRollins #WoodworkingShop

Michelle Mukuna from Arlington, Texas, always wanted a she shed. For her fiftieth birthday, she decided to buy one for herself. She drove past sales lots with cute she sheds, but when she went to Ulrich Lifestyle’s plant, she fell in love with one of our most elegant sheds. Working with Everett Ulrich at Ulrich Lifestyle, Michelle started with a Retreat style cabin shell to get the look she wanted, but more affordably. She designed the 12×18 shed around an ornate chandelier. White trim and carriage lights on the outside add to its charm. Michelle found Everett Ulrich at Ulrich Lifestyle to be professional and friendly from the design stage to the building process in her backyard, even changing window placement at the last minute. Nestling her relaxing she shed in a corner of her yard, Michelle planted a rose garden nearby and added a front deck with rocking chairs. She decorated the interior with feminine, floral pieces, including bird accents and the dollhouse from her childhood. Michelle jokingly compares herself to Cheryl in the famous State Farm commercial, and feels confident that her she shed is chichier than Cheryl’s. “I had been collecting all these beautiful things that I knew I wanted to go in my shed,” Michelle says. “What I wanted was a place I can relax, read, enjoy fellowship with my friends, my family. All my girlfriends, we can sit around and talk.” “It’s a fellowship shed,” Michelle says. “It’s like having a getaway right in your backyard.”

Russell and Robyn Lamb from Whitesboro, Texas built a house which burned when it was struck by lightning. Stuck in a rental house in town, they wanted to get back out to their country property. They considered living in an RV, but when Russell saw an ad for Ulrich Lifestyle, he contacted Ulrich Designer Greg Stubbs about a tiny home. As Russell saw the details of the sturdy construction of Ulrich Lifestyle buildings, he was impressed. “From the time I contacted them, they were helpful,” Russell says. He was worried about needing to take out fences and cut down mature trees to get a building onto his property. He was relieved to find that we had an affordable onsite build option. In three days the Ulrich crew had built the shed between the trees, leaving behind a painted, trimmed building, complete with window boxes. While they wanted a tiny home, the Lambs still needed space for a master suite, open living room and kitchen, and laundry room. A 16×44 Retreat was just the right size for their needs. They added transom windows over the french doors for more natural light. The Lambs added shiplap to the walls, a stained wood ceiling, wood floors, and a full-sized kitchen. Robyn decorated their tiny home beautifully with warm farmhouse décor. A deck in front adds to their living space. Though they may eventually build a bigger house and their Ulrich Lifestyle tiny home will become the guest house, for the time being, “It’s perfectly comfortable to come home to,” Russell says. “It feels like home.” #Tinyhome #RussellandRobynLamb #Retreat #Farmhousedecor

Kirk and Amy Zambetti were looking for a vacation home in the Hill Country near Art, Texas. “The big idea was to find a piece of Texas countryside that we could enjoy as a family,” Amy says, “a happy place to create memories.” They wanted to get away from the city, enjoy campfires, and for Kirk to hunt with his sons. They wanted a house they could move right into, but a custom-built home could take two years. Kirk and Amy enjoyed working with lifestyle structure adviser Brian Winkle at Ulrich Cabins to customize a 32×56 vacation home cabin exactly to their wishes. Though the process had seemed overwhelming for Amy, with Brian’s design experience, “it came together seamlessly.” “Ulrich Cabins is very responsive to the customer,” Amy says. They chose a white board and batten exterior. They planned a large open kitchen and living area for gatherings of family and friends, with an extra big kitchen island. They changed a walk-in closet to a home office for Kirk. Extra windows open to the Hill Country views. The Zambettis were thrilled when their vacation home was completed and ready to move in only eight weeks, three weeks early.  The Ulrich Cabins delivery team set the house down precisely, ensuring the windows perfectly framed the views, adding porches front and back. “It’s built like a tank,” Kirk says, satisfied their cabin will withstand the elements for years to come, providing a beautiful, comfortable space for their family to make memories together. #vacationhome #KirkandAmyZambetti #UlrichCabin

Getting a shed, workshop, or any other type of backyard structure can be a daunting task for some, especially if they have never done it before. While researching, you will find many different kinds of sheds at various price points. They also serve many other purposes. Whether it is a kit, a fully finished structure complete with insulation and climate control, or something in between, there are endless possibilities in getting your structure done. To some, on paper at least, going with the cheaper or less expensive option might sound like the right choice, especially if you are willing to put in some work yourself. Let us explore some of the actual costs associated with a purchase like this and why the “cheap” route might end up costing you more in the long run. Going a cheap route plus finishing it out yourself If you want something like a backyard office, mancave, she shed or other lifestyle structure, you’ll want it finished out more than likely. To get something finished out, you have a few options, buying something already done and not having to lift a finger, or buying a shed as a shell and doing the work yourself. If you opt to try and do it yourself, it may seem like a cost-effective way to get the structure you want. While this is true in most cases in the short run over the long run, it could cost a lot more in terms of time and money spent. Buying a shed unfinished and then finishing it out does come with a few challenges. Doors – let’s say you want a different door than the one your shed came with. To accomplish this, you buy the one you want and attempt to fit that door in the same spot the old door was framed out for. This is difficult because it is complicated to get a proper seal since initially, it was not framed out for that door and dimensions. Adding windows – If the storage shed you bought didn’t come with windows, and you opted to put them in yourself, you would be presented with several factors to consider. While the window off the shelf is less of an investment upfront, when you consider the other materials you would have to buy, like siding for the trim and caulking, it ends up being more. Insulation – While it is possible to insulate the walls of a shell after you purchase it, it’s not an option in most cases on the floor, which is the most critical if your concern is keeping your shed at a suitable temperature and moisture out. Materials and waste – planning to finish out your shed will come with a list of materials needed, which again might seem like a good option cost-wise, but it is tough to plan exactly how much you will need. This can lead to buying more than initially planned and possibly waste. Warranties – If buying a shed then finishing it out yourself, that in almost all cases will void any warranty you got when you purchased the building. This means whether it’s a few weeks or a few years down the road, you will be responsible for the cost and labor of fixing anything that might go wrong with your outdoor shed or office. Opting for a smaller size building to save a few bucks There is no need to pretend that the costs of a structure will seem like the most important thing to someone when first looking for a backyard shed or structure. One of the leading factors that drive price is the size of the building. It might seem like a good idea if budget becomes a problem to get the smallest footprint building that you think will accomplish what you need. While this certainly can be achieved in some cases, you can run out of room quickly if you are using the shed for storage. The same goes for converting it to an art studio or workshop. The more tools/materials you acquire, the more space you may find you need. Adding on to an existing shed or workshop is very difficult, costly, and doesn’t always come out how someone might of envisioned. That is why it is critical and can be a better return on investment in the long run if you listen to an expert and go with the size that will accommodate everything you’re looking to accomplish. Quality, Craftsmanship, and Warranties When thinking about which route you want to take when getting a storage shed, backyard studio, workshop, or other structure, you really should think about it as an investment, not a purchase. What that means is no matter what your upfront costs end up being, over the next 20 years, that structure should provide you with more value than you initially paid for. When you’re talking about what you got in return for what you bought, several factors can be looked at. Quality – Using quality materials like investing in high-grade lumber, shingles, and any other materials involved in constructing the shed is critical in providing a quality, long-term lifestyle structure. Craftsmanship – While it is crucial to have top-quality materials, having the passion and skill to provide a consistent quality is just as important. The company you choose to partner with for your structure should have the same passion for your project as you do and the ability to make your vision come to life with expert craftsmanship. Warranty – If a company can pair high-quality materials with expert craftsmanship, their warranty should show that. You will typically see shed warranties in the 3-10 year range with all sorts of qualifiers to get the warranty honored. Ulrich believes in our product, which is evident with warranties starting at 10 years and going to 20 years. And being in business for over 30 years, we will be around to honor that warranty for many years to come. Slowing down and getting it right. The most essential factor in getting long-term value is getting it right the first time. Ulrich does not believe in a cookie-cutter approach to getting you the solution you want and deserve. Whether it is a storage shed, workshop, or any other lifestyle structure, we want to take the time, get your needs, dreams, and wants and make it fit in a budget that makes sense. We believe in discovering your actual needs and bringing your lifestyle home. Our goal is honestly not just to make you happy the day you make your purchase but to continue that happiness for many, many years after. While it may seem like a good idea to save a few dollars upfront opting for something that is not the perfect solution will cause pain and more of an investment in both time and money in the long run. Contact us if you’re ready to start the process today.