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principles and favourite projects to date DREAM BIG Inspiring ways of extending your home with a garden room
from Ggbbbnb
DREAM BIG
CONSIDERING EXTENDING? FROM CLASSIC CONSERVATORIES TO CONTEMPORARY ADDITIONS, THESE PROJECTS WILL INSPIRE
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DESIGN IDEAS
GLASS ACT
A garden room extension can not only transform how your home looks from the outside, but how it functions internally, too. Whether you have a traditional or modern property – like this contemporary house in north London designed by architects Finkernagel Ross, with a vast multi-level extension geared for entertaining – it’s important to focus on the glazing element of the new design. ‘Homeowners are increasingly looking to add light and space to their homes with contemporary glazing structures,’ says Ryan Schofield, managing director at Thames Valley Window Company. ‘The trend for adding large areas of glass continues with the mix of old and new grabbing the attention.’ →
LIZ MORTON, director, Vale Garden Houses
SENSITIVE APPROACH
Period properties all too often feature small windows, resulting in dark rooms. This project by Prime Oak has maximised light with large glazing panels and French doors, while ensuring it sits harmoniously with the existing property by opting for matching roof tiles.
DINE IN
‘Often, the simple geometry of a building can be transformed by adding an architectural feature such as a conservatory,’ says Liz Morton, director at Vale Garden Houses. This structure was designed for a Georgian property and provides a spacious dining room.
JOINED UP
A dynamic connection between your house and garden can be achieved with large bifold doors. Here there is a level change, but where possible look to run the same flooring inside and out for a seamless finish. This garden room is by David Salisbury.
DESIGN IDEAS
RELAXED LIVING
How you wish to use your garden room can depend on the layout of your existing home, as well as where the extension will be added. This Westbury Garden Rooms design acts as a relaxing living space, with comfortable sofas and a beautifully landscaped vista to look out onto. This type of layout is great for those with large families or visiting guests. Similarly, it is a popular choice to turn a garden room into a sociable dining area off the back of a kitchen, so that there’s no disconnect between those cooking with others who are chatting at the table. To achieve this fluid dynamic, you can opt for French doors connecting the house with the new extension, and mirror this again with wide doors opening out onto the terrace. →
DESIGN IDEAS
NATURAL CHOICE
This light-filled oak garden room by Julius Bahn maximises natural light and offers near-panoramic views of the garden. Glazing on three elevations, a glazed gable and bifold doors together create a light and spacious entertaining room that truly brings the outdoors in all year round. But it is the use of sustainably-sourced oak that makes this extension a standout design. Oak is both a natural and sympathetic material and is often the go-to choice when extending period properties. Furthermore, these types of garden rooms can be built as almost stand-alone buildings, with wellinsulated and simple underfloor electrical heating systems keeping the space warm and inviting. →
DESIGN IDEAS
MARK WILD, designer, Malbrook Conservatories
CLEAR WINNER
Garden rooms can benefit city townhouses, too. In this property in southwest London, sliding doors on the lower ground floor extend the relaxed living area into the garden, designed by landscape designer Luciano Giubbilei.
GREEN VISION
In the home of designer Louise Bradley, the new, light extension with floor-to-ceiling windows was built to make the most of surrounding views of greenery. ‘I wanted an indoor-outdoor space that I could enjoy all year round,’ says Louise.
BLEND IN
Set within the picturesque Cotswolds area, this kitchen-diner extension by Malbrook Conservatories measures around five square metres and is sympathetic to the original property. The heritage paint colour blends with the honeyed Cotswold stone. →
BACK TO BASICS
When embarking on a garden room extension, start by designing from the inside-out. How you want the space to function will largely dictate the structural changes needed. Will it be a dining area, a living space or perhaps a home office? Moving elements such as electrics can be a costly process, so will need to be considered early on. Your architect or build team may also need to apply for planning permission if you are making large changes or live in a conservation area, which can take time. At the end of it though, it’s important to allow for the budget of landscaping your garden, too. After all, with the building work and upheaval this type of project entails you’ll want to be able to enjoy your garden once it is complete.
PHOTOGRAPH ALICIA TAYLOR/FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM
DESIGN IDEAS
INSIDER INSIGHT
WHAT THE EXPERTS WANT YOU TO KNOW BEFORE EXTENDING
PLANNING PERMISSION ‘The two main
considerations for garden rooms are size and aesthetic, and unless your home is located on “designated land”, such as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, or has had them removed, permitted development rights provide huge opportunities to personalise your garden room,’ explains James Owen Webster, director at Alexander Owen Architecture. ‘In terms of size, up to 50% of the land surrounding the “original” house can be used up and in terms of materiality the world is your oyster. This enables people to personalise their space and tailor how they want it to work, look and feel and so it’s worth taking the time to really consider the detail of what you want and need from the garden room.’
BUILDING WORKS ‘Most of our garden rooms are supplied as a handmade oak frame kit, so we are able to get around many access limitations and do not need a large working area, but drains and cables can be expensive to move so you really need to bear these in mind from an early stage,’ says Merry Albright, creative director at Border Oak. ‘As an oak frame garden room can be entirely self supporting it doesn’t need to be tied into the host dwelling, which can often make the work a lot simpler, particularly on old and listed buildings, but also looks very good from the inside and out. Ideally we would use an existing opening to connect the garden room, but if this is not possible a structural engineer will be able to provide options to create new openings.’
FINISHING TOUCHES ‘Once a site team
has erected your frame and any additional structural elements such as roofing and joinery, we recommend you ensure the necessary trades are waiting in the wings to add the finishes to your extension,’ says George Allen, Outbuildings and GreenRooms design consultant at Oakwrights. ‘Depending on the purpose of your new space, you may need to set money aside for associated costs, such as plastering, flooring, electrics and heating. All that is then left to budget for is any exterior landscaping and interior design, if required.’
ADDING VALUE ‘If designed and planned well, any extension should add value to a property but the additional square footage needs to be functional as well as making an aesthetic enhancement to a home,’ says James Ackerley, partner at Knight Frank Guildford. ‘The most useful garden rooms are typically added to the kitchen/dining room, extending the living space in warmer weather with easy access to a good-sized terrace and the garden beyond. Its value can be directly correlated to the extra square footage added, but the expanse and quality of the doors and windows and other fixtures and fittings and the type of flooring will provide the ‘wow factor’ and give an added premium.’ &
RYAN SCHOFIELD, managing director, Thames Valley Window Company
THE SOURCEBOOK: GARDEN ROOM SPECIALISTS
DAVID SALISBURY
These award-winning orangeries and garden rooms are all made bespoke in the UK. You can even visit the factory in Somerset and see how they manufacture the timber products first hand. davidsalisbury.com
WESTBURY GARDEN ROOMS
For over 30 years the brand has been offering a complete architecturally-led design service, creating kitchen extensions, conservatories, orangeries and pool houses. westburygardenrooms.com
VALE GARDEN HOUSES
Based in Lincolnshire, this family-run business continues to honour the distinguished design of orangeries, which date back to the 17th century, and produce timeless constructions that will last for years to come. valegardenhouses.co.uk
PRIME OAK
Founded in 1999, the brand specialises in the production of oak frame garden rooms and orangeries in the UK, and the team has a wealth of experience working with listed buildings and conservation areas. primeoak.co.uk
REFRESH & RENEW
GIVE YOUR SPACES A SPRINGTIME SPRUCE UP WITH SMART UPDATES ANYONE CAN PUT THEIR HAND TO
FASHION A DISPLAY
If your best china is too good to eat off, or perhaps you have decorative antique plates hidden away in a cupboard, make a gallery wall display with them. Select a few of varying sizes and patterns and measure up the placement of each piece on the wall before you go in with a hammer and nails, to make sure you get the spacing right. Once you’re happy, attach the plates to hanging wires – you can get ones especially designed for plates that will hold them firmly without damage – and hook onto the walls.
Plates, from £45 each, Lucy Ogden. Tall Asker lamp in Poppy Red, £205; Improvisation shade in Green, £85, both Rosi de Ruig. Dallas Multi mobile in Green, £139, Volta at The Conran Shop. Bobbin table, £540, Alfred Newall at The London Workshop. Wall and panelling in Oval Room Blue estate eggshell, £67 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball
DESIGN IDEAS
LIVING ROOM
FRESH COAT
Think about a fresh lick of paint, but in small doses. ‘Most of us have an old chest, chair or table that has seen better days,’ says Helen Shaw, director of Benjamin Moore UK. ‘Painting the inside or the legs in an eye-catching colour can make it feel like you have a brand-new piece at a fraction of the cost of buying new furniture.’ Remember to clean down the surface before you begin, followed by a smooth sanding and a repair of any cracks. ‘We recommend two coats for a flawless finish,’ adds Helen.
GIVE IT AN EDGE
Swapping out your soft furnishings is a quick and easy way to keep rooms feeling refreshed season to season. But how about going one step further and adding a little extra detail to your cushions with new trimmings? If you have a sewing machine, then it’s a relatively simple look to achieve. Pick up your beading, braids, piping and tassels – we love Samuel & Sons – then pick out a colour that matches the fabric for a sophisticated finish or opt for a contrasting tone for a contemporary twist. →
Mia wallpaper in Poudre, £156 a roll, Pierre Frey. Molly dresser, £1,195, Loaf. Orkney Spool chair, £1,450, Nina Campbell. Seat cushion in Penelope in Ocean, £166m, Teyssier. Kimono B floor tiles in Pea Green/Pure White, £139sq m, Marrakech Design. Thando wall lights with cables, £410 each, Ilala. Vintage creamware, from £48-£375 per piece, Nick Jones. Short gourd basket, £365,As’Art at SCP For similar trimmings, try Jane Clayton & Company
HALLWAY
DECORATIVE OVERHAUL
A patterned floor can really lift the look and feel of hallways and opting for a flooring such as luxury vinyl tiling (LVT) works well in high-traffic areas as it is highly durable against water and moisture, as well as being stain and scratch resistant. Take the flooring into under-stair cupboards and cloakrooms. A built-in bench seat to take shoes on and off is also good usage of an alcove. Make it comfy with a padded cushion and reflect light with a landscape mirror.
STEP IT UP A NOTCH
Stencilling or even tiling the side of each step on a staircase will bring an unsuspecting splash of pattern. Look to use similar colours or shapes found elsewhere on your landing or hallway to create cohesion. You may even want to introduce wallpaper for extra impact. ‘Wallpaper is seeing another renaissance, as people seek out colour and pattern that injects joy into an interior,’ explains Ruth Mottershead, creative director at Little Greene and Paint & Paper Library. ‘Green and blue tones are becoming increasingly popular,’ she adds.
For similar flooring, try Amtico For similar wallpaper, try Paint & Paper Library. For similar tiles, try Otto Tiles & Design
NOTCH) A UP IT (STEP POWERS/FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM; RICHARD OVERHAUL) (DECORATIVE
S PHOTOGRAPH
JAN BALDWIN/FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM; (BRING IN THE GREEN) CAROLYN BARBER/FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM
DESIGN IDEAS
BRING IN THE GREEN
‘Spring is a great time to get into indoor plants,’ says Dr Katie Cooper, founder of online indoor plant store Bloombox Club. ‘As the weather gets warmer and daylight hours increase, houseplants enter their active growing phase and come out in full force.’ Previously a practising therapist and psychology lecturer, Katie explains it is important to research your plants to ensure they sit in the best light. ‘It’s nice to bring together plants of varying shapes and sizes, but maintain a theme throughout, whether that’s jungly and rugged or neat and ornamental,’ she adds. →
For a similar table, try Perch & Parrow. For similar indoor plants, try Bloombox Club
DESIGN IDEAS
BOUTIQUE LOOK
A matching upholstered headboard and footboard may sound like a luxurious hotel-chic look, but is actually quite easy to achieve. You’ll need plywood for the board, wadding to pad the piece out, fabric of your choice, as well as trim or edging – plus a staple gun to bring it all together. Small panels with patterned fabric add a subtle amount of detail, such as in this framed bed, but it can be fun to play around with dimensions too. Consider creating an extra wide or tall headboard for dramatic effect, as it’ll bring the focus on the room straight to the bed.
BEDROOM
MAKE A MURAL
You don’t have to put your artistic nature to the test when it comes to picture walls. There are plenty of wallpapers that are designed to do just that with trompe l’oeil illustrations that can quickly add an extra dimension even in small spaces. For a relaxing bedroom scheme, turn to images of escapism, like this tropical pictorial wallpaper that evokes the memory of faraway shores. Complete the look by choosing furniture, bedding and cushions in earthy ochre and a pinch of ginger for a fully immersive design.
DESIGN A DESK
Whether we are working from home or the kids need to do their schoolwork, these days there’s always a need for a dedicated workspace. It needn’t be imposing, so it’s a good idea to make the most of an unused corner or alcove. We love how this floating desk doubles as a dressing table with a sleek round mirror, and the design doesn’t take up any unnecessary floorspace while still providing plenty of room to work. Soften up the space with a lamp, flowers and a suitable chair or stool that fits in with the rest of your room’s existing decor. &
Tana Grisaille wallpaper panel, 220 x 200cm, €260, Ananbo. Harrington headboard, £2,300 plus 4m fabric, 5m piping and 2m border, Kitesgrove at Ensemblier London. Headboard in Alto Straw linen, £110m; Christopher Farr Cloth; edged in Onyx leather piping, £34m; Frida border in Obsidian, £67m, all Samuel & Sons. Padma sconce with rattan shade, £604,Arteriors JWDA table lamp, £280, Jonas Wagell for Menu at The Conran Shop. Georg stool, £275, Skagerak at Skandium. Similar metal framed round mirror, £150,John Lewis & Partners
H&G PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
DESIGNED FOR LIFE
INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS FROM MARIGOLD CAN HELP KEEP STYLISH INTERIORS LOOKING FRESH AND SMART
GREAT design isn’t just about beautifully crafted furniture or finely drawn patterns. It’s also about the little things that make a big difference to how your home looks and functions.
Take, for example, the rubber glove. A
well-made pair will help make daily clean-ups effortless while protecting your hands and nails, too. Marigold’s gloves are the number one selling brand in the UK* for a reason: triple-layered for longevity, they have an anti-slip pattern for gripping delicate glassware and a fitted wrist and soft cotton flock lining for comfort.
For keeping shower screens sparkling,
choose Marigold’s Longer Bathroom Gloves, which are designed to prevent water running inside and protect your sleeves. They also have a unique coating that can withstand harsh domestic cleaning fluids.
Marigold’s range of brilliant products also
includes the Squeaky Clean Microfibre Cloth. This is the next generation of microfibre, with a unique rubber-effect coating that makes light work of cleaning any surface – including glass.
Alternatively, try the extra-thick Let It
Shine! Microfibre Cloths. Perfect for everyday
wipe-overs, they come in a box of four different colours so you can assign one to each task or room. The cloths can be used wet or dry without detergents and they remove over 99% bacteria with just water** . Plus, you can simply wash and reuse them.
Finally, keen cooks will be interested to know that Marigold’s Cleaning Me Softly Non Scratch Scourer is approved by Teflon for use on non-stick coatings***. The pad is foam-backed, with a unique surface that lifts up and breaks away burnt-on food.
Made with innovative materials and considered
design, Marigold’s range of helpers are sure to bring a little joy and sparkle into the everyday.
FIND OUT MORE
Visit marigold.co.uk to discover more about Marigold and its full range of gloves, cloths and scourers.
WORDS VANESSA RICHMOND *SOURCE: IRI, TOTAL UK MARKET VALUE SALES FOR THE HOUSEHOLD GLOVES CATEGORY, FOR THE PERIOD COMPRISING 52 WEEKS ENDING 5 DECEMBER 2020. **REMOVES E. COLI AND S. AUREUS FROM LAMINATE COUNTERTOPS AND CERAMIC TILES AS TESTED AT A THIRD PARTY LAB. ***ALWAYS TEST ON AN INCONSPICUOUS AREA BEFORE USE
