As well as designing some of the most charming traditional garden rooms on the market, Timeless Garden Rooms also design and build self-contained garden annexes.
This large granny annexe is an excellent example. Timeless Garden Rooms customers wanted to create a home for an elderly relative. The lady was still able to look after herself and wanted to maintain her independence while being close to family members.
There was no room in the main house to create the self-contained accommodation, so the family looked to their garden instead.
A quick look at the two-bedroom granny annexe
A collaborative design process
Timeless Garden Rooms like to collaborate closely with their customers on the design. In this case, the Timeless team had several meetings with mother and daughter, honing the brief and the design options. Three options were drawn up for the family to choose from.
The customers decided upon a 12m x 5m main building with a 'pod' at the rear which houses the shower room. This 'shower pod' makes use of space that would otherwise be inaccessible. Maximising space like this is the beauty of working with a bespoke garden room designer.
Planning & Building Control approval
A self-contained living annexe such as this needs to obtain both Planning and Building Control approval before work can start. This can seem daunting, but the Timeless Garden Rooms team handled the applications on their customer's behalf.
The Timeless team tell us that the Local Authority they were dealing with were keen that the annexe was providing a home for an elderly relative. As a result, the application process was smooth.
As well as obtaining Planning approval, the project needed to be signed off by Building Control. This ensures the building has structural integrity, is thermally efficient and complies with current fire regulations.
The building was divided to create four rooms
Partition walls were used to divide the building into four rooms - the main open plan living space, two bedrooms and the shower room.
It is lovely this project having the second bedroom, many of the living annexes we feature are just one-bedroom or studio apartments. Having the second bedroom means the lady can easily have guests stay and doubles up as a sewing room. There is no reason when downsizing that you have to give up your hobbies!
The largest room is an open plan living space. The vaulted ceiling has created a light and airy space. A well-equipped kitchen has been fitted in one corner of this main room.
Underfloor heating has been fitted, so the walls are free of radiators, offering maximum flexibility in the positioning of furniture.
There is a spacious shower room at the rear of the annexe. The Timeless Garden Rooms team handled the connections to the mains supply, for the kitchen and shower room, as part of their overall contract with their customer.
Futureproofing the design
Thought has been given as to how the annexe might be used in the future. Wheelchair accessible doors have been fitted, while not needed today, it is wise to think how an annexe like this might be used in the future. Simple design details like this can really enhance the long term use of a building like this.
A ramp has also been built leading up to the annexe, allowing for easy access into the building now and in the future. The ramp leads into the covered veranda area that runs along the front of the annexe. The French doors lead onto this veranda and will be the perfect place to sit with a drink on a summers day.
