‘It soon became clear working from home was here to stay’
Jo and Daniel from Brentwood in Essex are no strangers to home improvements, having completed a kitchen extension several years ago, but a home office wasn’t on their radar until March 2020, when the UK went into lockdown. Thanks to the warm spring weather, Jo was able to spend more time in the garden and clear an area where they’d once kept chickens.
‘There were trees and an old shed hiding a compost heap,’ remembers Jo. ‘It struck me as wasted space and we began to think about what we could do with it. At the same time, it became clear that working from home looked set to stay, and we wondered if we could use that space to create an outside room.’
Daniel, a programmer, remembers: ‘My job involved commuting into London, but lockdown meant I had to work from home. Initially I used our little study, but it wasn’t ideal. We both felt it could be good to have a dedicated workspace.’
Jo continues: ‘We cleared the back of the garden, got the trees cut down and hired a skip. Our three sons, aged 11 to 15, helped wheelbarrow away the debris and we soon saw there was plenty of space to build.’
The couple did some research and decided to go with a company called Hawksbeck, after visiting one of its completed garden offices. ‘We wanted The Cabin to be in keeping with the rest of house – and as something that would last. We chose a design with a vaulted ceiling and exposed beams that echo the style of our kitchen extension. The added roof height makes the interior feel spacious, while the cedar cladding and natural slate roof blend with our garden,’ Daniel explains.
‘While The Cabin is primarily used as Daniel’s office,’ says Jo, ‘we incorporated bifold doors so whoever is in here can enjoy the light and view of the garden. With a bathroom, a kitchen corner with fridge and kettle, plus a sofabed, it can eventually be used for guests. It also has air conditioning and a separate room for gym equipment.’
‘The way we use the space is evolving. Daniel works in The Cabin on weekdays, the boys and I use the cross-trainer and we’ll often escape there to enjoy a film.’ Daniel says:
‘It’s an amazing space and I love working in it. Sometimes Jo comes up with a coffee and sits on the sofa for a chat during the day. We feel so lucky to have it and love sharing it with friends.’