‘we converted a garage into a garden room’

3 min read

Once an unused outbuilding, this multi-use space is now a boho-style haven for the Cook family

Feature LISA MOSES Photography CAROLINE MARDON

EXTERIOR TRANSFORMATION

OUTDOOR LIVING Opting for durable Crittall doors that won’t need replacing, Karen zoned the outside area of the new garden room to allow for intimate seating and a firepit, perfect for relaxed socialising

WHAT BROUGHT ABOUT THE CHANGE OF USE?

When we bought our house in 2018, there was an ugly garage at the bottom of the garden. It was a red-brick eyesore, and was described by our architect as ‘looking like an electric substation’. As renovating the house was a priority, the garage became a dumping ground, but we always thought it had the potential to be turned into something amazing.

HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT STARTING THE PROJECT?

We got some initial ideas from an architect, which included changing the garage’s roofline and structure, but we felt the costs weren’t worth the end result, so I started looking at plans myself. I thought it could be a fabulous space for summer entertaining and a great hangout for the children, plus Stuart wanted a space where he could exercise, too.

HOW DID THE DESIGN EVOLVE?

I sent a brief with my wish list to builders we’d used before, which included adding a pergola, knocking through to an adjacent shower room that had previously been built for an outdoor pool, and creating a stylish living space outside as well as in. We clad the red-brick exterior with cedar wood and replaced the ugly up-and-over entrance with stylish Crittal doors. The decision to glaze the roof of the pergola means we can use the garden room throughout the year.

DID YOU FACE ANY CHALLENGES?

Work came to a halt when we discovered all the wood under the felt roof was rotten, so we had to replace the whole thing, which added on time, materials and extra costs. We also had to work around the difficulties of the building being at the bottom of the garden. Initially, we enquired about putting more power down here, but the quote was so expensive that we decided to work with what we had, choosing an immersion system that just heats water. To keep the room warm, we added underfloor heating.

WAS IT EASY TO STICK TO YOUR PLANNED BUDGET?

Most of it was blown on the new roof, so I had to be savvy with ideas for the interior. I splashed out on tiles for the new shower, but chose a contemporary, budget-friendly kitchen from Ikea. I then used upcycled and secondhand furniture to create the outside bar area.

ARE YOU PLEASED WITH THE FINAL RESULT?

It was hard work, but I’m really proud of how the conversi