ONE ROOM RENOVATIONS
A dilapidated shed has been replaced with a brilliantly multifunctional space
Dilly Orme lives with her two daughters, Rosie and Ruby, in a three-bedroom Victorian terrace in Hampton, Greater London
What were you hoping to achieve?
We needed a space that would fulfil lots of roles, from being somewhere for relaxing and entertaining, to serving as a guest room with a sofa bed, bathroom and kitchenette. Its primary purpose, however, was to be a home office, so it needed to be as light as possible, which is why I installed the largest Velux windows I could. I was also keen for the exterior to be in keeping with our Victorian terraced home, so I commissioned the French windows based on ones I’d seen in a local cottage. For planning permission, we needed fireproof cladding, and I eventually sourced some in a smooth white finish with a classic weatherboard effect, from Cedral UK.
How did you get started?
After a lot of research on garden rooms, I found a brilliant online source, thegardenroomguide.co.uk, which answers a lot of questions and showcases brands that offer different styles. I also visited a friend’s bespoke garden room, which had been built by the builder I then chose, Ryszard Gardian at Perfect House 4 You.
Were there any particular challenges?
The process was such a joy. My dad guided me through the project and made the amazing ladder on wheels, and Ryszard was very supportive while building through the pandemic, when materials were in short supply. Managing deliveries in our road was definitely challenging – huge trucks delivering materials brought things to a standstill.
Did you have any non-negotiables?
For me, the most important things were the amount of light in the space and the exterior look – including the French windows, for which the quotes ranged from £3,900 to £12,000. The flooring was another consideration. It made practical se
