What exactly is a summer house?

Iguess we don’t do summer houses so much here in New Zealand as they seem to do overseas. A summer house is referred to as a building or shelter used for relaxation in the warmer weather.

Is it because we build our houses with entertaining areas, are lucky and get a fair amount of sunshine or we think sitting in a summer house is like being down the back of the section in the woodshed?

If I wasn’t lucky enough to live on an acre, and if I lived in town, I would seriously think about a lovely little summer house. Maybe I would call it an artist’s retreat... Mmm... that could be a problem as I am not artist... maybe a reading room?

I watched my sister-in laws’ father build a summer house and it sat alone in a rather large paddock, but it was quaint, and he and his wife did a bit of reading and bird watching from it.

Over the years a medium pond was built, then a little jetty connected the pond to the summer house, then a daughter was married, and the pond was covered in masses of tea lights and the newly married couple were rowed out to the summer house where they spent their wedding night. How romantic is that!

Now, back to the summer house at the back of your section... which is why people often build summer houses... so they can enjoy one’s garden! It could be multi-purpose and could be used as a home office, yoga retreat, or a craft room. A special place to have time out and maybe invite just the cat!

If you are a train fanatic, you could even set your train set up in there... imagine how thrilled the rest of the family would be!

I have not called it a man or woman cave, because I think a summer house is for quiet relaxation and I have seen some of those caves and they can get a bit rowdy!

You will need to place it in a sunny position otherwise you may as well call it an igloo house. It needs to be a place to hang out, read a good magazine, enjoy a cup of herbal rea picked straight from your herb patch or a cool refreshing drink at the end of a hot day.

Fill lots of terracotta pots with colorful flowers or plant lettuces and vegetables in them. Add a small table and chair and you may even find a space for that hammock.

Our lives are busy and sometimes we need to take a few minutes for ourselves, that’s where a little piece of paradise at the bottom of the garden, will let it all happen for you!