GARDEN OFFICE’
Hankering for a home office, but run out of room? Try squeezing one into the bottom of your garden, like Joanna did
‘Painting the interior and exterior in the same colour helps create a united look
URBAN JUNGLE
‘We love how well the cabin blends in with the outside space – it feels like it’s always been here’
Having worked out of our boxroom for years, I was really feeling the need to create more of a boundary between work and home,’ says Joanna. ‘I’d longed for a garden cabin to use as a home office for years, but always ruled it out due to cost.
However, after speaking to some friends, we realised we might be able to find an off-the-shelf garden log cabin kit that met our requirements, for a fraction of the cost and without the disruption of hiring builders and going bespoke.
All in the plans
We wanted to make the most of our small footprint, so we chose the largest cabin we could find to fit the spot, while still allowing a sliver of space between its sides and neighbouring fences for maintenance access. To keep within permitted development regulations, we opted for a kit with a maximum height of 2.5m.
After initially hiring builders to create a level concrete base, we set about constructing the cabin ourselves to save on labour costs, swiftly assigning my dad the role of chief construction manager! As a former electrical engineer, he was able to not only put the space together for us (which turned out to be a bit beyond our capabilities), but also install the electrical supply coming into the cabin from the house, which saved us a lot of money.
Practical choices
To ensure the space was useable all year round, we paid for optional upgrades, such as thicker logs for the walls, roof and floor, double glazing and additional lining on the roof, to help retain heat. We also chose pressure-treated timbers, meaning the exterior wood won’t need any maintenance for at least a decade.
Although it meant the wood didn’t require painting, for aesthetic reasons
ROOM WITH A VIEW
‘I designed the layout of the cabin so I’ve got a clear view of the garden directly from my desk’