Do you have to have a big garden to build a granny annexe? The answer is no; they can be successfully installed in an average-sized family garden as this recent project by Annexe Spaces proves.
Working closely with their clients, the Annexe Spaces team have successfully designed a self-contained one-bedroom home in the garden of an averaged sized home. The annexe sits comfortably at the bottom of the plot, maintaining a good-sized area of lawn and garden for the occupants of the house and annexe to enjoy.
A level composite path between house & annexe
A pathway of dark grey composite decking connects the annexe to the main house. Composite decking is a good choice for this path as it has created a level journey up to the annexe, that won't become slippery like timber deckings are prone to do. This is an important choice if people are unsteady on their feet and it futureproofs the annexe should a wheelchair be needed.
The Annexe Spaces design team ensure their buildings have low threshold door systems. This design choice allows them to create a step-free movement between indoor and outdoor spaces. The internal floor finish and the external deck are carefully calculated to ensure they are the same height.
Comfortable one-bedroom home in the garden
The external footprint of the granny annexe is 4.37m x 7.5m; this has created an internal living space of 27.3m2. The annexe is 2.8m high, which has created a room with a more airy feel than their 2.5m high counterparts.
The accommodation is arranged as an open plan living room with L-shaped kitchen in one corner. A utility cupboard leads off this main room.
With the large floor to ceiling windows, this room has a lovely connection with the garden. When privacy is required, the Venetian blinds can be easily dropped.
In addition to the wall of glazing, the living room features a large skylight. This lovely detail not only looks good but ensures the back of the room is naturally light.
A wide half-glazed door leads into a double bedroom which has an ensuite shower room. A space-saving pocket door has been fitted between the shower room and bedroom. This is a very clever design choice.
Annexe Spaces offer well-equipped shower rooms. In this case, an extra-large, 1200mm x 900mm shower cubical has been fitted.
Comfortable one-bedroom home in the garden
When investing in a granny annexe, you don't want to be adding maintenance tasks to your todo list. Annexe Spaces have your back here. They have chosen a palette of low maintenance exterior options to ensure their buildings stand the test of time, with little input from you.
Alongside their EPDM roof covering, and powder-coated aluminium doors and windows, Annexe Spaces offer a range of low maintenance cladding options to choose from. In this case, the customer chose the Cedral Click cladding option.
Cedral Click is a cement fibreboard cladding that is pigmented during production and does not require painting to maintain its colour. Annexes clad with Cedral maintain their new appearance for years, unlike timber clad buildings which look aged as the timbers weather to a silvery color.
Cedral comes in a broad palette of colours; this customer chose Cedral Click colour C06 Grey Green. Mixed with the dark grey window frames and roof kerbs, a contemporary yet homely building has been created.
Annexe Spaces have utilized the smooth version of Cedral Click, which offers a more contemporary finish than the more commonly seen wood grain version offered by other companies.
Comfortable one-bedroom home in the garden
Annexe Spaces offer a project managed service to their clients. They handle everything for you from the initial design right through to the final connections to the mains services. Importantly, this service includes the Planning Application and Building Control sign-off. They also undertake all the necessary groundworks for the project. Not all companies offering granny annexes handle these components, leaving you to engage other firms and leaving you with hidden costs.
