A Garden Annexe to Create a Sanctuary of Independence

Creating a safe, appropriate living space for a family member who may require additional support while maintaining their independence can be challenging and expensive.

Make Room Outside has recently been pleased to help a customer seeking accommodation for his daughter, who needed to move back home to be closer to family after a difficult health diagnosis.   

The Challenge

Respecting his daughter’s needs and boundaries, the ultimate goal was to create a space that would provide her with the comfort and security of being near loved ones whilst allowing her to retain her independence.

The garden annexe building needed to be a true home away from home, complete with essential amenities and comforts, as well as the facilities required by all young people.

The Solution: A Bespoke Garden Annexe from Make Room Outside

After visiting the Make Room Outside show village in Yorkshire, the customer selected a bespoke annexe design, chosen to meet the family’s individual requirements. 

Managing Director Ryan Crossley worked closely with the company’s design team and the family, consulting at each stage to ensure every individual detail was perfect, from the layout to the final aesthetic finishes. The result was a beautifully crafted living space that provided the essential functionality and home comforts of a small, elegant apartment.

The annexe has a footprint of 8 metres by 4 metres, with a canopy over the entrance door measuring 3.5 metres by 2.5 metres, creating an attractive covered exterior space.

The Process

Planning permission was required for this development. Make Room Outside worked closely with the customer to provide all necessary drawings and rendered visuals to accompany the application, and discussed each stage with building regulations personnel to ensure compliance.

Ensuring the location and site are suitable for the build is a vital part of the specification and can require significant groundwork and preparation. On first inspection, the area where the annexe was to be constructed was just a boggy patch of existing garden space. This presented the first challenge: to create a durable, high-quality building, a solid foundation was required.

Make Room Outside installed a solid concrete raft to house the garden annexe, measuring over 450mm in thickness to ensure performance, support and longevity.

In addition, the mains drain was sited uphill from the annexe location. A pump was installed to convey waste over 40 linear metres, ensuring safe disposal in compliance with regulations.

A Focus On Features & Benefits

The annexe was designed with a dedicated and fully equipped kitchenette, a spacious bedroom, and a bathroom, providing all the facilities required for independent living. The exterior was clad in a spiced oak slatted composite, chosen for its aesthetic appeal, longevity and minimal maintenance requirements.

A simple wipe-down with soapy water and a bristle brush is all that is needed to keep it looking pristine.

The specification for this annexe featured anthracite French doors with sidelights, providing easy access to the outdoors and ample natural light. The decking area, also in anthracite, was installed to match the doors and exterior lighting, giving the annexe a modern aesthetic.

A sophisticated lighting plan was implemented to ensure that the space was both functional and inviting, including seven external spotlights in anthracite under the overhang and eight internal spotlights with a white bezel.

The interior was fitted with eight white double sockets and two 2kW premium panel heaters, ensuring the annexe remains a warm and comfortable retreat year-round. Insulation was also a vital consideration to ensure total comfort for every season. The walls and floor feature insulation values of 0.18w/m2 and the roof 0.15w/m2.

A Four-Week Transformation:

The complete annexe installation was managed by a specialist installation team from Make Room Outside, led by dedicated installation manager Richard. From the first on-site attendance to construct the concrete raft through to final completion, including internals, the build was completed efficiently and with care, taking just four weeks from start to finish.

The Make Room Outside team is proud to have been a part of this important project, delivering a high-quality, long-lasting solution that will provide comfort, security and independence for a vulnerable individual.

This build clearly demonstrates how a Garden Room can be a life-changing addition, offering not just extra space but new beginnings.

“The building will give our daughter some normality in life that the rest of us all take for granted, and a little bit of vital independence in a space created to match her individual needs, close to her family, so we can provide vital support as required.”

Could a home garden annexe be the answer for you?

Contact Make Room Outside to discuss your requirements, or visit our show village to see what you could achieve.