With over 8 years' experience and hundreds of buildings installed, every project is as individual as our clients' need for space and reflects their personality.
We are keen gardeners too and whilst we are not garden designers, we fully understand the need to consider a building's impact upon the garden landscape and can often recommend planting schemes, hard landscaping and help with understanding the bigger picture of living with a new garden room.
Our blog is intended as a resource for you to share in some of the experiences of each project and read feedback from our clients.
Putting green design studio
Reigate, Surrey | Studios | 2012-01-25
This lovely small home garden studio fits neatly at the bottom of our client's garden and whilst it is intended as a working design studio, with the small astro-turf putting green in front, it could easily double up as a clubhouse!
Eco Artist's Studio
Oxford | Studios | 2011-10-14
A true "green" studio in the "eco" sense of the word ... our recent commission for an artist's studio in Oxford has been completed with our usual "green" specifications (high insulation, sustainable and recycled materials) with some additional eco embelishments.
As a working art studio, our client required a simple solution for washing her brushes, hence we installed Rainwater HOG slimline vertical water butts, as space was restricted, and linked the butts (which were fitted with a rainwater filter) to a free-standing internal sink unit. With the addition of a motor-home pressure-switch and motor, as soon as the sink tap is released, fresh, filtered rainwater is pumped into the sink. A true eco-solution and a cost effective alternative to excavating a trench and laying a mains water supply.
Furthermore, at the back of the Studio, we constructed a simple, elegant lean-to storage area, complete with Cedar-clad ledge & brace gates and an external power socket, ready to use as a garage with charging-point for our client's electric pedal cycle!
Not one to be held back by the extent of projects in the garden (see photo above of newly landscaped garden), our client is now investigating the installation of solar-panels to be installed on the roof of the Studio, for a fully sustainable, self-contained carbon neutral workspace!
In the words of our client Jill ... "everybody that comes here is mighty impressed with the studio ..."
And that includes the local council planning officer too ... a neighbour complained about the installation of the building, a planning officer duly visited and inspected the site and passed the installation as a Class E Permitted Development, compliant with the guidelines for a garden building under 2.5m high.
Devon apartment
Sidmouth | Studios | 2011-09-11
Our client was blessed with a large garden though a small cottage, which has already been extended to the maximum extent possible. With a need for extra living accommodation for his family, we were contracted to construct this (planning exempt) apartment complete with integral kitchen and shower room over-looking the large garden.
Our client contracted his own kitchen fitters for the fit-out of the kitchen and used his own local plumber to complete the shower room - we liaised with his contractors to ensure that the necessary pipes and electrics were integrated in the correct locations and constructed this superb space, which is now regularly used as a self-contained living space for our client's grown-up daughter when she returns home from college.
Interior design flair
Fulham | Studios | 2011-08-18
"We love our studio and have been very impressed by the very professional service and great communication. I also realise that changing the spec caused you some problems along the way and I appreciate that you honoured the agreement graciously and probably at some cost." Mrs B
This lovely small garden office has now been complimented by a beautiful, contemporary garden design to create the perfect setting for this urban retreat.
Whilst we'd love to take all the credit, the design inspiration comes from our client, Julia, who as an interior designer, had the vision for a bespoke, painted tongue & groove timber clad interior, with custom lighting scheme, white gloss floor and fitted storage cupboards.
We will, however, take the credit for the skilled craftsmanship of our carpenters whose diligent approach to the tongue & groove cladding (in searing mid-summer heat too) has resulted in a glorious, New-England inspired finish.
Garden Office
Devon | Offices | 2011-07-14
Our client contracted us to build this large garden office as a home office overlooking adjacent fields in rural Devon. Having recently moved into their newly-built house, the garden office was integral to the family's plans to enjoy the new location but keep the home office separate from the family home.
The project did not require planning approval as the Office was located with a minimum 2m gap away from the garden boundaries and the (rear) eaves height was kept down to 2.49m, by virtue of a shallow 6 degree roof pitch.
Swimming pool room
Near Godalming, Surrey | Lodges | 2011-06-16
This stunning Lodge was designed with dual purpose ...
- To serve as a practical changing room space next to the brand new swimming pool - with large folding & sliding doors opening out on to the pool side for a real "garden room" feel.
- To integrate with the client's barn conversion home - the main house and detached garage are both constructed with steep, plain clay tile roof and weatherboard cladding, hence the Lodge fits seemlessly with the overall design scheme.
The photo above shows the outside double power socket, the 4 sash folding doors and the two wall-mounted up/down lights. There's also an opening roof window on the rear side of the roof for extra light and ventilation.
Nursery and guest room
Leatherhead | Studios | 2011-06-10
Our Studio proved an ideal solution for this growing family.
Our client was shortly to give birth to a second child and with a growing family, they needed space to accommodate grandparents when they visit for a week or two at a time, to spend time with their new grandchild. We were contracted to build this large, 2.5m high Studio with custom glazing (a last minute addition) and built-in shower room to provide a spare guest room at the end of the garden.
Our team completed the fit-out of the shower room, with fully tiled floor and walls, to finish this lovely, self-contained granny annexe and nursery.
Pembrokeshire Lodge
Cosheston, SW Wales | Lodges | 2011-05-19
“Many thanks for the completion of the Lodge which has been achieved on time. I must reserve a special word of praise for all of your staff who have worked extremely hard right through a long Bank Holiday weekend! They have always been meticulous and courteous. They have been a pleasure to have on site. We are now looking forward to enjoying our new Lodge which has been the envy of everyone who has seen it!” Mr B
This stunning Lodge has been built on a rocky hillside site, overlooking Pembroke Estuary and comprises two separate rooms - an office and a larger living room/office with en-suite shower room. We've also extended the roof to the left side to form an integral, open garden storage area and built a large deck verandah around the Lodge, linking it with our client's house.
The deck is constructed using sustainable EcoDek boards and gorgeous stainless steel wire balustrading to maintain the views across the water
Guest room & office
Harpenden, Herts | Studios | 2011-04-20
"Hard to believe but for the 1st time I emptied and refilled the toilet today, guests are kept to strict rules!!! I have to say thank you so much for your tips and guidance on it, invaluable. It has been a real pleasure to work with you on the fitting and completion of our “Green Studio”, man shed, office, hide away. In a way it’s a shame it’s so rare to get such fantastic service, but it has meant so much to us.
Thanks and look forward to the next build in our next house, I am sure we will have new ideas and you will have new products." Mr P
This gorgeous Studio is nestled into a corner setting, framed by mature planting and trees. We started by excavating into the sloping garden to create a new, level terrace.
The Studio serves a dual-purpose - home office by day, guest room, complete with double bed and cassette toilet by night. (The cassette toilet is a chemical toilet, which you service by virtue of a locking hatch on the outside of the rear wall - which not only saved the disruption of digging trenches under the garden but also saved £2000!)
After completion of the Studio, we then set about building a matching, Cedar clad garden wall with built in lighting - controlled by a remote control light switching system which also switches the inside and outside lights on the Studio.
Highgate Studio
North London | Studios | 2011-02-10
"Early days still - but so far you have a very satisfied customer- the studio is exactly what I hoped - a great place to do creative work." Mr W
Nestled in a beautiful Japanese-inspired garden, on the edge of mature woodland, this Studio installation was completed in torrential rain and muddy site conditions nevertheless and now provides our client with a secluded home office, complete with full climate control system.
Lodge workshop
Bramley, Surrey | Lodges | 2011-02-07
Our client's passion for wood working has lead him to clear out his over-flowing garage and build a new, dedicated workshop in the garden to house his machinery in a secure, comfortable environment.
Due to the scale of the new workshop and it's location in a conservation area, the project required planning approval to proceed. The design allowed for a steep roof pitch with opening Velux roof windows for ventilation and minimal glazing to maximise the available workspace inside.
The finished Lodge was then fitted with resilient, recycled rubber flooring to create a warm and durable finish.
Bespoke Lodge
Battle, East Sussex | Lodges | 2010-11-25
We were recently commissioned to build this long, two room Lodge in a narrow side garden of our client's secluded home, to offer convenient additional living space close to the house and yet not impeding on their views across the surrounding countryside.
Whilst a relatively narrow building, the photo below shows how spacious and light the interior feels by virtue of the simple vaulted ceiling and roof windows.
L-shaped Studio
East Sheen, London | Studios | 2010-10-22
We have recently completed this bespoke Studio design to provide versatile living accommodation at the end of our client's South London garden. The project brief was to provide a Studio with two separate living rooms and an integral shower room, with a private entrance courtyard formed by the distinctive L-shaped design.
In addition, the Studio has now been upgraded with the addition of a gorgeous living Sedum roof and sustainable (95% recycled), low-maintenance, non-slip decking.
Suffolk Pod
Rural Suffolk | Pods | 2010-09-20
"It has been a pleasure doing business with you and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend you. You are very professional and accommodating. The pod is great!!
It is unfortunately more prevalent these days to be disappointed with tradesmen's attitude and mediocre finishing unless you pay through the nose, so it is a very refreshing change to get high quality and an amicable service at an affordable price.
Good luck with the business, I hope you can continue to offer such a great service.
Thanks Again
Martin"
Garden Office Pod
Fenstanton | Pods | 2010-08-20
The remit for this project was simple - to install a home office for our client's business, to free up space in the house and to minimise the impact upon our client's garden, without the need for planning approval.
The Pod design was chosen for it's simple, minimal appeal with maximum internal wall space. The Pod was installed on a newly-constructed, sunken terrace so that the contemporary portrait windows finish above the level of the new lawn and patio (shown above here before the lawn was laid). As such, the overall height impact of the Pod is minimised and it's scale within the garden ensures it sits well with the existing detached garage and play area.
The side entrance door is accessed from a new path along the side of the garage and with the addition of made-to-measure window blinds, the Pod is afforded excellent security by virtue of it's discrete location in the garden.
Small Garden Office
Stanmore, Middlesex | Offices | 2010-08-06
This beautiful small home office fits neatly into a corner of our client's garden and has been constructed to a 2.5m height, thereby negating the need for planning approval.
The office provides an ideal workspace for one person, with a small armchair for a secluded workspace.
The project also featured a simple, small Cedar deck to the front, to provide a smart yet practical threshold between the lawn and office.
Small Studio 2
Kentish Town, London | Studios | 2010-08-04
We have recently installed this delightful Studio 2 in a lovely cottage garden setting of our client's period home in North London.
The Studio now forms a stunning focal point to a small garden and yet it's scale doesn't detract from the space.
The Studio was installed on a terrace, slightly lower than the main garden and it's height restricted to 2.49m, thereby also mitigating against the need to apply for planning approval. It will now form a home office and leisure space for years to come!
Business HQ
Leicester | Studios | 2010-07-05
Our client required new premises for his successful business owing to it's expansion. Previously, he ran his business from a converted garage and as he is shortly to have his home extensively renovated, we have now constructed this stunning large studio, complete with toilet, separate partitioned office and additional decking.
Large 4m wide sliding doors shown - 2 central door sashes slide to either side for a large, yet cost effective, 2m wide opening.
Additional Cedar decking feature
Our client was so pleased with the end result that he compiled this great video (click here), and signed it off "Satisfied Customer!"
Music practice room and office
Forest Hill, London | Studios | 2010-06-30
We have recently completed this stunning Studio for a small urban garden in South London ... with living space at a premium, this beautiful Studio has added significant living space to our client's two bedroom home. We added a custom colour detail in Reed Green to the front of the building to create a subtle, individual detail.
The Studio has been upgraded with additional acoustic insulation and the space partitioned into two rooms - one for leisure (music practice) and the other as a private, day-to-day office space.
The Studio integrates seamlessly with the existing garden decking and mature planting to create a new outdoor room at the end of the garden.
For more detail on the build process, check out this video for a stage-by-stage overview of how our Studios are built!
Games Room
Sidcup | Lodges | 2010-06-19
"The studio is a teriffic space. All our family and friends love it. It finally came together in the last few days and we are really pleased." Mrs S, Sidcup
Our clients required a new living space to form the main focal point at the end of their urban garden, to provide their teenage children with their own leisure space, leaving mum and dad with peace and tranquility in the house.
The finished room is a light and airy space, by virtue of the Lodge's open vaulted ceiling and integral roof windows.
The large Lodge provides the optimum space to accommodate a full size American pool table, corner sofa suite, LCD TV, playstation 3 and the all-important drinks-fridge!
Nestled across the back of the garden, the Lodge completes the garden and, with the children's trampoline in the foreground, means the garden belongs to the kids!
Devon Studio
Woodbury, Devon | Studios | 2010-05-26
To quote our client, "We also wanted to say how pleased we are with the quality and aesthetics of your product, and the quality, customer- orientation and attention to detail of your assembly team ... Should you want to use photos of our studio for any of your promotion materials, website etc... it would be a pleasure to send you some (either now, or later when the surroundings of the studio look more finished and pleasant to look at). But please don't hesitate to ask, it will be a pleasure."
We were contacted by our clients early on in the build of their new home in rural Devon as they had a clear vision for an artist's studio, nestled in the hillside of their large garden. From the outset, our clients had distinct environmental criteria for the studio which we were able to comply with, both in terms of sustainability (timber and use of recycled materials) and a healthy environment (use of organic, solvent-free paints).
With the garden landscaping now complete, with cantilevered deck extending over the garden pond, the setting is as stunning as the Studio!
Hillside Lodge
Brighton | Lodges | 2010-05-20
Having recently moved to a stunning hillside home with gorgeous rural views across the nearby valley, our client wanted to install a new office space for his growing business, that could double up as a garden room to enjoy his breath-taking views.
Having excavated a new level terrace in the hillside, with substantial retaining walls, we installed his new Lodge with upgraded 4.8m wide folding and sliding doors to the front. As the image below shows, we have recently completed the project with the addition of a sumptuous new hardwood deck.
Above: the view from inside, with the large folding doors open wide to create a lovely, open-plan, versatile garden living space.
Suffolk Office
Rural Suffolk | Offices | 2010-04-30
Having recently installed a beautiful formal pond, our client's new garden room forms a stunning back-drop to her newly landscaped gardens.
Tucked away behind a mature hedge, it's design and location balances discretion and simplicity - designed for the best views from within the garden room and to provide scale to the background view across the pond. (See the pictures below for an overview - note how the anthracite grey windows and doors work really well with the slate surround to the pond).
In the words of our client ... "Studio a huge success and much admired."
Balham Studio
Balham, London | Studios | 2010-04-25
This project has enabled our client to maximise the living space in the garden of his ground floor flat in SW London. The addition of the new garden office space has been designed to allow sufficient space for a day-to-day desk space, alongside an occasional guest bed.
As the images on this page show, the proportions of the Studio were designed in proportion with the garden, so that the Studio does not detract from the remaining space. The addition of extra decking, complete with remote control LED lighting system, links the Studio to the house for easy access in all weather.
To quote our client ... "I think you've done an excellent job from the point of first enquiry to the point of delivery."
Greenwich Lodge
Greenwich | Lodges | 2010-03-11
A made-to-measure Lodge for a small urban garden in East London - designed to offer the maximum accommodation in a narrow garden, our Lodge 33 has proven an invaluable addition to our client's living space.
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To quote Mr P, "we are very happy with the Lodge!"
Photographer's Studio
Ickenham, Middlesex | Lodges | 2010-03-02
Our client required a versatile space to separate his office from his house ... previously, he had taken over the family dining room and the new garden lodge has finally, after many years, allowed the family to reclaim their living space.
The standard Lodge design includes 2 opening Velux roof windows, however our client wanted to maximise the availability of natural light, hence we added 2 further roof windows, to make a total of 4. The Lodge has been carefully designed to minimise it's impact upon the existing garden environment hence it is neatly nestled behind our client's existing pergola and much cherished climbing wisteria, as shown above.
Extra 2 roof windows shown above, with client's own blinds fitted to front wall windows and doors
Design Studio
Carshalton, Surrey | Studios | 2010-02-17
The plan shown on this page below was designed for a recent client in Surrey who wished to use her Studio for her flourishing design business. The large, open plan Studio allows plenty of space for storage units around the outside and a central design desk for her design team.
To quote Mrs B on completion ... "I am really, really delighted with my studio. Working from home is now a real pleasure. It's a gorgeous space and I'm enjoying noticing Spring burst into life from my panoramic view. (Incidentally, as you promised, the walls are incredibly strong and shelves went up very easily.) Thanks to you and compliments to your installers for doing a terrific job."
Barnet Lodge
Barnet | Lodges | 2009-12-11
Our client required a Lodge which would eventually be used as a leisure space by day, a work space by night!
At present, the Lodge is used for valuable storage space while our client and his family have moved out of their home during extensive renovation work. When they finally manage to move back into their home, the Lodge will become a flexible living space, for leisure use during the day with the large additional deck to make the most of their lovely outlook over neighbouring fields, though at night, it will become a quiet workspace away from the house for on-call work, without disturbing their young children.
Windsor Studio
Windsor | Studios | 2009-12-04
This stunning Studio forms an ideal focal point to our client's long garden, making best use of a previously under-utilised area of their garden.
As our clients already enjoy the outdoor life with their large hot tub, the studio means they can make even better use of the tub, with an easy adjacent place to change and dry off, complete with a new hardwood deck (with integral lighting) and sail-shade canopy for privacy and a contemporary design statement.
The interior has been stylishly furnished and finished with a feature wall and practical Karndean flooring (looks like solid wood but a practical material for wet use).
With internal dimensions of 6.2m x 3.3m, it's big enough for versatile use as a hot-tub changing room, day-time office space and evening chill-out space.
And to finish off the project, our clients were so keen on the top-of-the-line doors and windows, that we also fitted a matching set of folding and sliding doors to the back of their house!
Cheltenham Office
Cheltenham | Offices | 2009-11-06
Our client required a high specification, home office at the end of his garden, which would also revolutionise the use of a previously unloved part of the garden and form a stunning back-drop to his newly landscaped garden.
Whilst we delivered the most competitive price for his project, Mr P was also particularly impressed with the use of sustainable materials, high level of insulation and quality windows and doors.
Bedfordshire Studio
Luton | Studios | 2008-12-23
This Studio 4 installation (see gallery images 1 and 2) was completed for a client who required a new day-time garden office space, which could take on a more relaxed guise in the evening as a space to indulge his hobbies (sampling single malt whiskies whilst listening to music).
The Studio has also been installed in a sunken terrace, reducing the overall external height to less than 2.5m and thereby mitigating the need to apply for planning approval.
