Inside The Workshop: A Luxury Detached Fitness Studio in Your Own Backyard
When we designed The Workshop, the goal wasn’t just to create a “nice home gym.”
We wanted a luxury detached fitness studio—a fully dialed-in training and recovery space that feels like a boutique club, but lives a few steps from the back door. Clean lines, thoughtful storage, premium finishes, and equipment that actually supports how you train and recover.
In this breakdown, we’re walking through all the equipment inside The Workshop and how brands like REP Fitness, ANCORE Pro, and Peak Saunas helped us turn a detached structure into a high-end private fitness studio.
The Centerpiece: Wall-Mounted Athena Rack in White & Black
The visual and functional anchor of The Workshop is the wall-mounted Athena rack from REP Fitness, finished in a crisp white and black colorway.
Why a Wall-Mounted Rack in a Luxury Studio?
Opens up the floor plan
Mounting to the wall frees up the center of the studio, keeping the layout open and breathable instead of crowded.Supports a modern, elevated aesthetic
The white and black color combo ties into the Workshop’s clean, coastal-inspired design. It reads more like built-in millwork than a random piece of gym gear.Full strength training without a bulky footprint
The Athena still delivers everything you’d expect from a serious rack—squats, bench, presses, and pulls—while preserving that boutique, studio-like feel.
Paired with the REP Fitness Colorado Bar
We matched the rack with the Colorado bar from REP Fitness, a versatile barbell that fits perfectly in a multi-use, luxury home gym:
Handles heavy strength work like squats, deadlifts, and presses
Durable enough for daily training
Balanced feel for both traditional strength and more dynamic, athletic patterns
In a detached fitness studio where space and aesthetics matter, the Athena + Colorado combination delivers serious performance in a visually refined package.
Tall Upright Storage: Zero Clutter, Maximum Calm
Luxury isn’t about having more equipment—it’s about everything having a place.
To keep The Workshop organized and visually clean, we installed tall upright storage from REP Fitness. This single system houses:
Bumper plates (in pounds)
Kettlebells (in pounds)
Medicine balls
Smaller accessories and attachments
Why Vertical Storage Matters in a Detached Gym
Keeps the floor clear so the space feels bigger and more intentional
Creates defined “zones” for each type of equipment
Supports the overall studio aesthetic—no piles of gear, no visual chaos
When you walk into The Workshop, you see order, clean lines, and capability—not a cluttered garage. That’s the difference between a basic home gym and a truly elevated backyard fitness studio.
Bumper Plates & Kettlebells in Pounds: Strength Made Simple
For The Workshop, we chose REP bumper plates in pounds and kettlebells in pounds to keep training intuitive and accessible.
REP Bumper Plates
Perfect for deadlifts, Olympic variations, and dynamic lifting
Gentle on flooring and more joint-friendly than old-school iron
Visually cohesive when racked together—no mismatched plates or clunky stacks
Kettlebells for Versatile Training
Kettlebells are a must-have in any luxury home gym that aims to support performance, longevity, and real-world movement:
Swings, cleans, and snatches for power and conditioning
Goblet squats, lunges, and carries for strong legs and core stability
Single-arm work to correct imbalances and support healthy shoulders
Keeping everything measured in pounds makes it easy for anyone who steps into the studio—no conversion chart required.
Heavy Performance, Minimal Footprint: REP Pepin Adjustable Dumbbells
Instead of lining a wall with fixed dumbbells, we opted for REP Pepin adjustable dumbbells that go up to 125 pounds, paired with a sleek rolling storage cart.
Why Adjustable Dumbbells Work So Well in The Workshop
Huge weight range in a tiny footprint
One setup replaces an entire dumbbell rack—from lighter rehab weights to heavy strength work.125-pound max
More than enough for most lifters, while keeping the look clean and uncluttered.Perfect fit for a detached studio
You get full gym capability without the visual noise of a massive dumbbell wall.
The Rolling Cart as a Mobile Training Station
The rolling cart does more than just hold the dumbbells:
Creates a defined home base for the dumbbells
Provides under-cart storage for smaller accessories such as bands, cuffs, straps, and collars
Rolls easily so you can reconfigure the layout for different workouts or future upgrades
Together, the REP Pepin dumbbells and rolling cart align with our core design philosophy: heavy-hitting performance with a minimalist, elevated presentation.
Skipping the Built-In Cable Stack (For Now): The ANCORE Pro Advantage
The Athena rack can be outfitted with a built-in cable stack—but for The Workshop, we chose a different direction.
Instead of immediately adding the cable stack, we leaned into the ANCORE Pro, which quickly became one of the most used pieces in the studio.
Why We Love the ANCORE Pro in a Luxury Studio
Easy to reposition around the rack and space
Stores extra plates cleanly on one of the rack support legs
Unlocks dynamic, rotational, and explosive training that feels more athletic and fluid than a traditional fixed cable stack
With the ANCORE Pro, you can program:
Rotational presses and chops
Anti-rotation holds and core work
Explosive pulls and power-based movements
Diagonal and multi-planar patterns that better mimic real-life movement
In a high-end backyard fitness studio like The Workshop, the ANCORE Pro gives us modern cable-style training without the visual bulk of a full cable tower.
Recovery, Elevated: Peak Saunas Shasta Infrared Sauna with Red Light
To truly feel like a private wellness retreat, The Workshop needed more than strength equipment. That’s where the Shasta single-person infrared sauna from Peak Saunas comes in.
The Shasta Sauna’s Features
Heats to about 170°F, with app-based controls so you can preheat it from your phone
Infrared heat + red light therapy with panels placed to cover the full body
LED lighting with customizable colors to match your mood
Bluetooth connectivity so you can stream music, meditation, or a podcast
Why the Shasta Works So Well in a Detached Fitness Studio
Compact footprint for a garage or detached structure
Adds a true recovery and wellness layer to the space
Turns post-workout downtime into a ritual you actually look forward to
This single addition is what elevates The Workshop from “luxury home gym” to fully integrated personal wellness studio.
How It All Comes Together: A Boutique Club in Your Backyard
The Workshop showcases what happens when you combine smart design, high-end equipment, and a focus on both training and recovery:
REP Fitness: Wall-mounted Athena rack in white and black, Colorado bar, tall upright storage, bumper plates, kettlebells, and Pepin adjustable dumbbells
ANCORE Pro: Modern, mobile, cable-style resistance that supports rotational and athletic movement
Peak Saunas: Shasta infrared sauna with red light therapy for deep recovery in a small footprint
The result is a luxury detached fitness studio that feels cohesive, intentional, and custom-built for the way you live.
Ready to Design Your Own Detached Fitness Studio?
If you’re dreaming about turning a detached garage, ADU, or backyard structure into a high-end home fitness studio, we can help you:
Map out the best layout for your unique space
Curate equipment from brands like REP Fitness, ANCORE Pro, and Peak Saunas
Blend aesthetics, storage, and performance into one cohesive design
Create a studio that feels like your own private boutique gym and wellness retreat
