My shop is our full basement. SWMBO once asked if I'd like to build a shop building in the yard and I told her no. The convenience of padding down there in sweats and slippers on a cold NH winter night to throw on a quick coat of shellac along with not having to heat or cool a separate building or pay taxes on it out weighs the advantages of a separate building for me. Since I'm in a split entry gambrel I have south facing natural light through 2 good sized windows in both my bench room and my machine room. The bench room about 16' x 22" has my main 24" x 84" bench, a 24" x 48" sharpening bench, and a 32" x 74" assembly and finishing bench with clamp storage underneath. I lose a 4' x 4' area along the long outer wall for a platform with a wood stove on it for additional warmth. My main bench is accessible from all 4 sides, a feature I find absolutely critical to be able to work efficiently. The assembly bench is accessible from one end and both long sides. While more room is always welcome in any shop I'm pretty well satisfied with what I have.
Dave Anderson
Chester, NH