GOOD HEALTH

Valentina Druzhinina, husband Alastair Bennett, and their two kids, Charlie and Chloe, created a home gym and meditation space in the garden

‘Our wedding was the main inspiration for the project,’ says Valentina. ‘It took us a few years to make our house a home, and the garden looked lonely, forgotten and out of date. Being an interior designer, my creative soul was screaming for harmony that would come from connecting the main house with the garden through colour, material and concept. Our garden wedding was approaching fast, so work started and the garden room played a major role as the focal point from which everything would unfold. It was to become a multifunctional space with a family gym and garden storage.

‘The gym takes two-thirds of the garden room and one third is left for the garden equipment.

The layout is simple but clever, as it hides a peculiar corner. It’s joined to the main house with a stone path, enabling easy, mud-free access.

‘Before installation we organised concrete foundations and ran the electricity supply. Assembly took just six days. The room is insulated, so it can be used all year round. Black is our favourite colour. It’s easy to work with, looks fantastic and brings the best out of the garden. The room has a living roof that’s beautiful to look at from above. It also helps to keep it cool during summer months.

‘Inside, I went for a few layers of white oil to cover and balance all the yellowish and pinkish undertones of plywood panels and solid beams. Floor-to-ceiling windows and mirror panels make the room look airy and part of the garden.

‘We both work from home and having this beautiful zen space makes a great change of scenery and breaks the day up nicely when we use it for working out or meditation. The smart storage makes barbecues and garden maintenance a real pleasure.’

COSTS & CONTACTS

Project cost £35,890 with installation Garden room 3rdspace, 01869 254023, 3rdspace.co.uk