Friday Finery: Garden office and games room

A gently tasteful Friday Finery this week, from Smart Modular Buildings. Delightful on the outside, inside it also features a pool table, kitchen, bathroom, and hot tub.

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Friday posts are sponsored by Warwick Buildings, manufacturers of outstanding quality timber buildings. Click here for more information.

Compass launches new beach hut and beach chalet insurance policy

There's been plenty of media coverage over the last few weeks suggesting that the beach hut bubble has burst, with prices plateauing or dropping, and the likes of Canterbury City Council struggling to sell its new £30,000 huts in Herne Bay.

However, there's still strong interest in buying them and so it's no surprise that Compass, which already specialises in caravan and leisure insurance, has now come up with its own dedicated policy for beach huts and chalets.

Key features include:

• No excess to pay when making a claim

• Automatic 20% of rebuild cost for contents cover

• 10% discount for members of beach hut associations

• Cover for loss of rent and license fees in the event of damage to the hut

The beach hut insurance policy protects against a wide range of risks and incidents typically associated with beachfront properties, including damage incurred as a result of storms, floods, fire, theft, vandalism or malicious damage. There is also public liability for accidental death, bodily injury, illness or disease to any person, as well as cover for any accidental damage to the property.

Karen Stacey, Managing Director at Compass, said: “We’re aware of how demand for beach huts has grown throughout the UK, especially in prime seaside locations such as East Sussex, Yorkshire, Dorset, and Cornwall. Beach huts are not just somewhere to enjoy sunny days with friends and family, they are also a great investment, which means protecting them is paramount.

"We’ve introduced our new policy to ensure that should anyone experience damage to their beach hut, help is at hand to get their property repaired and restored as soon as possible. We currently have 164 resort locations listed across the UK, while we also take note of any Resort Council and Beach Hut Association membership when quoting a policy."

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 studios to fit any size garden. Top quality contemporary or traditional

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Janet Frame: shedworker

New Zealand novelist and short story writer Janet Frame (the subject of Jane Campion's awardwinning 1990 film An Angel at My Table) was a shedworker right at the beginning of her career. 

Frame won the major NZ literary award the Hubert Church Memorial Prize for her 1951 short story collection The Lagoon, and then spent a period in hospital. When she was discharged in 1955, leading NZ writer Frank Sargeson offered her the use of his garden shed (and mentorship) at his property on Esmonde Road on Auckland’s North Shore to write in over the next couple of years. Inside, she produced her strongly autobiographical debut novel, Owls Do Cry in 1957.

The story of this shed period in her life is the focus of the novel and play Gifted by Patrick Evans, published in 2010. The Esmonde Road property can still be visited today. More details here.

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Garden room with two canopy spaces

While you can easily buy a garden office building off the shelf, the best suppliers will also be happy to help you with something bespoke to your exact requirements. Pictured above and in the video below is a garden room designed for Gary and Julie who have recently downsized by Cosy Garden Rooms. 

It's a composite-clad L-shaped structure with two separate, partially-enclosed canopy areas (one large enough for a six person dining table, the other with a kitchen area) and a composite deck. The central main space is 4.2m x 4.2m with a large aluminium bifold door opening onto a walkway connecting the two outside spaces.

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Malvern Garden Buildings offer a premium collection of garden buildings, displayed at 11 UK showsites.

Charles Dickens' writing chalet appears in unpublished correspondence

A new exhibition at The Charles Dickens Museum of unpublished and rarely-seen letters reveal plenty of intriguing details of life within the Dickens family in the years immediately following the death of Dickens in 1870, including a mention of his writing chalet at Gad's Hill.

The letters were all sent by members of the Dickens family to ‘Plorn’ Dickens (1852-1902), the youngest son of Charles and Catherine Dickens, between 1868 and 1902 and was acquired by the Museum at auction on in January this year at auction.

The collection shows the affectionate but sometimes strained relationships between the Dickens siblings, in one case caused by wrangling over the disposal of Charles Dickens’s chalet at Gad’s Hill. On July 12, 1871, the eldest daughter, Mamie Dickens (1838-1896), wrote to Plorn about their brother Francis (1844-1886). “Yes, we looked forward with great pleasure to seeing Franky again, but his visit has been a great disappointment as far as we are concerned, for we have seen hardly anything of him. Ever since the business of the Chalet he has never been near us. I have written to him constantly asking him to come here. We, as well as Kitty, have done everything we possibly could to make him welcome. However, we lead such a quiet life now, that I think he found us dull. He was always a queer fellow."

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Monday posts are sponsored by Cosy Garden Rooms, the UK's No. 1 bespoke garden room designer and builder.

Friday Finery: Ian Archie Beck's dacha

No apologies for retuning to the lovely work of shedworking artist Ian Archie Beck for this week's Friday Finery with this recent watercolour entitled The Tree Outside the Garden Studio. See more of his marvellous work at his website here.

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Friday posts are sponsored by Warwick Buildings, manufacturers of outstanding quality timber buildings. Click here for more information.

 

'The Winchester' wins Pub Shed of the Year competition

In addition to the Shed of the Year competition sponsored by Cuprinol, other shed competitions are available. Among them is Pub Shed of the Year run by pub and bar sign specialists Two Fat Blokes. Pictured above is the interior of this year's winner, The Winchester, inspired by the pub in the film Shaun of the Dead, and built by Kev Marchant from Hampshire (more photos of the winner and runnersup here).

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Wednesday posts are sponsored by Booths Garden Studios, the UK's No.1 supplier of zero maintenance and portable garden studios

Scarborough beach huts restored to their Edwardian glory

A block of Scarborough’s beach chalets, which were demolished after two landslips, have been returned to their former Edwardian glory, according to North Yorkshire Council.

The 11 chalets on the town’s South Cliff form part of a crescent of 22 under the Clock Café. They were seriously damaged by two landslips in 2018, leading to their demolition a year later. In a £580,000 project, we have rebuilt the wooden chalets to match the former Grade II listed buildings, with their multi-coloured doors restoring the landscape above South Bay.

Council leader, Cllr Carl Les, said: “Rebuilding these chalets means we have restored an important part of Scarborough and adds to the £7.2 million restoration scheme at South Cliff Gardens. Together with the chalets we own in Filey and Whitby, they are a big part of our tourism offer, being popular with both local people and visitors.”

For retired businessman, Martin Johnson, his wife Jenny, and their family, it means they can return to their “happy” place once more. They have rented chalets on the Scarborough coastline for almost 50 years and felt “lost” when number 250 succumbed to the weather. “Beach chalets are in our blood – both of us grew up spending hours at chalets in Scarborough rented by our families so it was only natural that we rented one ourselves,” Mr Johnson said.

“Our three daughters also grew up with them, and when they return home it’s one of the first places they want to go to. The newly built chalets are lovely, very true to the originals and it’s great to see them reopened. We love the community that is generated by them – we have a lot of friends we have met there. It is a very relaxing place to come to sit and watch the sea, the children playing on the beach, and meet friends for coffee.”

Beach huts first came to North Bay in Scarborough in 1911 with those at South Bay being built around 1911 to 1912. Bathing machines had been popular on the British coast into the early 1900’s, but the advent of war meant the beaches were closed. When they reopened, people fell in love with beach holidays once more and saw the popularity of the modern beach chalets rise.

The South Cliff Gardens restoration project, which spanned two years, was made possible with grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Big Lottery Fund.

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Malvern Garden Buildings offer a premium collection of garden buildings, displayed at 11 UK showsites.

Friday Finery: Monet's floating painting shed studio in Studios of Their Own

A sneak peak from my next book, Studios of Their Own, which is published next month. Here is Monet's floating painting shed studio which is featured, illustrated by the hugely talented James Oses. You can read a little about it here.

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Friday posts are sponsored by Warwick Buildings, manufacturers of outstanding quality timber buildings. Click here for more information.

Good ventilation key to successful working from home, claims new report

A new survey of homeworkers, admittedly these were Dutch but I think the findings still stand, indicate that they work most efficiently and are less liable to burnout when their air ventilation arrangements are good. 

Writing in the science journal Plos One, researchers Martijn Stroom, Piet Eichholtz, and Nils Kok from Maastricht University surveyed more than 1,000 Dutch homeworkers say: "Higher satisfaction with home office factors is significantly associated with increased productivity and decreased burnout tendency. We continue by showing that more ventilation during working hours is associated with increased productivity, willingness to continue WFH, and burnout resilience... We find that higher home office satisfaction is associated with WFH success and air-quality-improving behavior is associated with higher satisfaction."

They conclude that the results show a holistic approach is the way forward and that investing in a healthy working climate is key to being happy and successful. You can read the whole report free online here.

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Wednesday posts are sponsored by Booths Garden Studios, the UK's No.1 supplier of zero maintenance and portable garden studios

 

Garden office pubs

A marvellous article about those fine folk who build pubs in their back gardens on the Malvern Garden Buildings site features The Dunn Inn, the Studio Apex model pictured above and owned by Andy, and below, an inside shot of The Mole's Arms (a Bloomsbury Garden Retreat model) owned by Bruce. Here's a snippet:

The garden pub has signage to create an authentic feel, including a ‘Moles Arms’ sign hanging outside. Inside, there’s a selection of pub memorabilia, and above the door, a traditional licence plaque with the couple’s name on it. There are optics on the wall and a large television screen above an antique fireplace. The attention to detail is second-to-none, with drinks mats and laser-etched glasses with the Moles Arms logo. In addition, the garden pub boasts an ice machine and has a supply of thick blankets to keep ‘patrons’ warm if the traditional stove is not sufficient.

Well worth a read via the link above.

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Malvern Garden Buildings offer a premium collection of garden buildings, displayed at 11 UK showsites.

A guide to garden room base options

Here's a useful guest post from our friends at Cosy Garden Rooms about the important subject of bases for your building.

The foundation or base of your garden room plays a crucial role in the building’s longevity and stability. Here we explore the different options available and look at what you need and why.

Is the base of the garden room important?
Yes, foundations are crucial for any garden room. They help ensure the stability, durability, and longevity of the structure. Proper foundations can prevent issues such as subsidence, movement, and damp penetration. The type of foundation needed may vary based on factors like the size of the garden room, the intended use, the local soil conditions, and local building regulations.

Types of garden room bases available

Concrete Slab Foundation
A concrete base involves waterproof membranes and then pouring a thick slab of concrete. This type of foundation is highly durable and provides the most stable and level base for garden rooms of all sizes. It is essential for larger structures or those requiring significant insulation and moisture protection. Cosy Garden Rooms fit a concentrate base as standard.

Timber Pegged Frame Base
A pegged timber frame base involves building a wooden frame on which the garden room sits. Timber bases usually consist of a wooden frame with wooden or composite posts buried into the ground and held firm with postcrete. They prevent damp from developing in your garden room as they have space for water to drain off while underneath it lets air circulate freely. A timber base is usually cheaper and easier to compensate for uneven ground without additional levelling. On the down side the building will be more susceptible to movement and there is the chance that you may get vermin underneath the garden room.  

Ground Screw Foundation
Ground screw foundations use large screws drilled into the soil. This method is less invasive than laying a concrete slab, making it a good option for environmentally sensitive areas or gardens with difficult access. Ground screws can be adjusted to level the base on uneven ground, and they provide stability without the need for extensive excavation. Installation is quick and causes minimal disruption to the garden. Ground scans are essential to ensure that the ground screws do not cause damage or get obstructed by buried objects such as pipes or rocky areas this makes it a particularly expensive base.

Pile Foundations
Pile foundations involve driving deep piles (long, sturdy poles) into the ground to support the garden room. This method is ideal for very soft or uneven ground where other types of foundations might not be suitable. Piles can be made of wood, metal, or concrete and are driven deep into the ground to reach a stable layer of soil. This foundation type is highly durable and will provide support for heavier structures, but it requires specialised equipment and expertise to install often making it cost prohibitive plus the machinery is likely to cause damage to the wider garden area.  

Things to consider when choosing a garden room base

Assess your garden: what material does the ground consist of? Is your garden on a slope? What kind of access do you need? Will you need to protect tree roots or not disturb local wildlife? Most reputable garden room builders will consider and advise on this when they conduct a site survey as part of the design process. Here at Cosy Garden rooms; we offer a free survey and design service.

Make sure you measure the area properly and know the measurements of your building: if your base it too small the garden room will not be properly supported, while if it’s too large, surface water could cause problems. Make sure the base can support the weight of the structure, especially if you intend to put heavy items in it; a gym for example.

If pouring concrete, ensure it is completely even and flat by not pouring excessive amounts. Professional installation is recommended.
 
Frequently asked questions

What is the best base for a garden room?
The ideal base for a garden room depends on the structure's size, the ground condition, and specific requirements. A concrete slab is often preferred for its durability and moisture resistance, making it suitable for most garden rooms. However, for smaller structures or where installation speed is important, alternatives like timber frame bases or ground screw foundations are practical choices, offering ease of installation and minimal environmental impact.

How deep should a base be in a garden room?
The depth required for a garden room base varies with the foundation type and soil condition. Typically, a concrete slab should be at least 100mm (4 inches) deep. The depth for ground screw and pile foundations will depend on the structure's needs and the soil's characteristics, potentially extending several feet to ensure stability. Consulting a professional is crucial to determine the appropriate depth for your specific situation.

What are the options for a summer house base?
For summer houses, options range from concrete slabs, which provide a solid and durable foundation, to timber frame bases that are cost-effective and quick to install. Ground screws offer a flexible solution for uneven terrains without extensive groundworks. Alternatively, pavers or gravel can suffice for smaller, lightweight structures, though they may not offer the same stability as more robust foundations.

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Monday posts are sponsored by Cosy Garden Rooms, the UK's No. 1 bespoke garden room designer and builder.

Friday Finery: Garden office green roof

Green roofs on garden offices went through a huge period of growth a decade ago and while it's still a commonly offered extra feature, they seem to have gone a bit quiet in recent years. Here's a fine example of the genre for this week's Friday Finery slot from Garden2Office.

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Friday posts are sponsored by Warwick Buildings, manufacturers of outstanding quality timber buildings. Click here for more information.

Ex-display garden offices for sale

Some bargains to be had at Malvern Garden Buildings who have plenty of ex-display models for sale at outlets around the country. There are nine specifically garden offices - the one pictured top left has £5,000 off and the one top right is £9,000 cheaper - though plenty of other builds which would also serve nicely as shedworking spaces. Well worth a browse if you're currently considering a purchase - you can see the full range of what's on offer here.

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 Thursday posts are sponsored by Cabin Master: garden offices and   

 studios to fit any size garden. Top quality contemporary or traditional

 buildings.

Designing a garden for a garden office

You obviously want your garden office to look nice, but you also want your garden itself to work nicely with it. Here's a smashing example from The Garden Co. for a family who had already built a garden office on their property in Abott's Langley, Hertfordshire, just up the road from Shedworking HQ. Here's what they say about the project:

Our overall design intention was to seamlessly blend the house, garden studio, front and rear gardens into one unified living space.  For the rear garden, it was vitally important to create a cohesive and flowing scheme which was in keeping with the modern house and style aspirations of the clients.  Soft landscaping was an essential component of the design.  We built in a ratio of 1/3 of planting to 2/3 of hard landscaping, providing a good balance between greenery and hard surfaces – and contributing to the overall feeling of calm and relaxation.

Photo courtesy James Scott and lots more at The Garden Co. site here

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Wednesday posts are sponsored by Booths Garden Studios, the UK's No.1 supplier of zero maintenance and portable garden studios

 

A guide to attaching a garden room to your house

Although we have historically taken a firm stand about the definition of a garden office/shed, times they are a-changing and we realise that many of you are contemplating semi-detached shedlife (example pictured above). With that in mind, we asked Cosy Garden Rooms to put together a guide for us about how to go about snuggling your new space right up to your home.

We frequently get asked if a garden room can be attached to a house like a conservatory/extension. The answer is a simple yes, they can. A garden room attached to your home may seem a more cost-effective solution to a full extension or conservatory, but in reality, it will still be counted as an extension to your property – which means you will need all the relevant planning permission and building regulations, as you would for adding any room in your house.It will also take longer to build and install; a garden room that is attached to your home is a more complex and costly job.

Planning Permission
Before starting your project, check with your local planning authority. Depending on local regulations, you might need planning permission to attach a garden room to your house.

Design Integration
A well-integrated design is key to making your garden room look like a natural extension of your home. Ensure that the new structure complements the existing architecture, including matching materials, colours, and styles. When selecting a garden room company, it's important to review their cladding options to ensure they fit with your property’s style.

Structural Considerations
Ensuring the garden room is structurally sound and properly attached to the main building is crucial. You may need the services of a structural engineer to check that the construction will be safe and secure.

Utilities and Services
For the space to function effectively consider integrating utilities such as electricity, heating, and plumbing. Proper planning of these services will enhance the usability and comfort of the space. Depending on the layout of your property this maybe straight forward to achieve, however if services are the other side of your house, it may be more difficult, cause more disruption, take more time which will inevitable be costly.  

Access and Flow
Think about how the garden room will be accessed from the main house. The transition between the existing space and the new room should be practical and convenient. Well-thought-out access points ensure that the new room feels like a natural part of your home.  

Legal and Safety Regulations
Adhering to planning and building regulations is a must for this type of project. 

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Malvern Garden Buildings offer a premium collection of garden buildings, displayed at 11 UK showsites.

 

Building oak garages with living space above (video)

An interesting short video from the Classic Barn Company follows the recent full build process of erecting an oak framed garage building with guest accommodation in the room above (plus a tour of the finished interior). The video highlights the technical skills and craftsmanship involved in the project, from building a foundation, through installation of the oak frame, finishing with insulation, roofing, and cladding. Lovely shots of the surrounding countryside too.

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Monday posts are sponsored by Cosy Garden Rooms, the UK's No. 1 bespoke garden room designer and builder.