Light & airy garden annexe for the whole family
A 30sqm Kent annexe built under Permitted Development but to Building Regulations — herringbone floors, exposed beams, brass fittings and a wall bed, so guests can stay.
Garden annexes are often featured on this site as ideal spaces for older relatives, allowing them to live independently while staying close to the family. However, many families are now building these versatile extensions not just for older relatives but for all family members. They can serve a variety of purposes, including as self-contained guest accommodation.
This project in Kent beautifully demonstrates how a garden annexe can be designed for everyone in the family to enjoy. Occupying a 30 sqm footprint, it includes a spacious main room with a well-equipped kitchen, a shower room, a utility room, and a storage area.
Ark Design Build, based in Tunbridge Wells, primarily serves Kent and the surrounding areas. Their local focus allows them to dedicate full attention to each project. Every garden annexe they create is the result of close collaboration with the client. Rather than selecting from a standard catalogue, Ark Design Build is happy to incorporate client-specific design features, materials, and fittings, resulting in a truly bespoke annexe.
Ark Design Build offers a full turnkey service, managing every aspect of the project to ensure the annexe is move-in ready. This includes making final connections to main utilities and obtaining approval from Building Control.
At a glance
- Size: 30sqm — a main room with a well-equipped kitchen and a wall bed, a shower room, a utility room and storage.
- Planning: designed to Permitted Development rules — at least two metres from the boundary, 2.5m at the eaves and 4m at the ridge — while still meeting Building Regulations so it can be slept in.
- Inside: roof windows in the pitched roof, herringbone flooring, exposed timber beams, plaster decorated to the client’s scheme, LED downlights or pendants.
- Details: tiling and brass fixtures in the shower room, with matching brass up/down lights carried outside.
- Outside: Western Red Cedar with dark grey aluminium doors and window frames; Ark Design Build handled groundworks, connections and Building Control.
Pitched roof design compliant with Permitted Development rules
Ark Design Build designed this garden annexe to comply with Permitted Development regulations, ensuring it is situated at least two metres from the property boundary. It stands no higher than 2.5 metres at the eaves and 4 metres at the ridge.
As seen in the accompanying images, these dimensions create an incredibly light and airy interior. The pitched roof allows the installation of roof windows, which flood the space with natural light.
Ark Design Build’s commitment to high-specification interior finishes is clear. They plaster and decorate the walls and ceiling to the client’s preferences, whether that’s a specific colour scheme or the addition of feature walls.
The herringbone flooring and exposed timber beams add character to the space. Clients can choose from a variety of lighting options, including LED downlights and contemporary pendant fixtures.
Contemporary kitchen & shower room
This family annexe is completed with a modern kitchen and shower room, making it fully self-contained from the main house. This is especially useful when hosting guests, as the family can prepare food and entertain within the annexe.
Ark Design Build collaborates with clients to design kitchen spaces tailored to their needs, without being restricted to standard unit sets or layouts.
Their attention to detail is also evident in the shower room, where the selected tiling and brass fixtures add a touch of luxury.
As part of their comprehensive service, Ark Design Build handled all the groundworks for the kitchen and shower room, including connections to the main services, with approval from the local Building Control department.
Sleeping accommodation compliant annexe specification
Built to meet Building Regulation standards, this family annexe can also be used as sleeping accommodation. The main room includes a studio-style wall bed for flexibility.
Any garden building intended for sleeping must comply with Building Regulations, which most standard garden room ranges do not meet. It’s therefore important to work with a company like Ark Design Build, who can design a structure that complies with these regulations.
Brass fittings continue outside
The exterior of this family annexe is clad in Western Red Cedar, complemented by dark grey aluminium doors and window frames for a contemporary look. The client’s preference for brass fittings was also carried through to the outside, with stylish up/down light fixtures positioned on either side of the doors.
Learn more about Ark Design Build
For more information about creating a garden annexe in Kent, contact Ark Design Build on 07896 196 718 or email them at contact@arkdesignbuild.co.uk. You can also explore their work at www.arkdesignbuild.co.uk.
