Lean-to Garden Office by Rustic Realities
Published: 29 April 2025
Reading Time: 3 minutes
The owners of this Buckinghamshire garden were looking to replace a tired, outdated building with a smart new workspace that would feel modern, comfortable, and connected to the garden. They wanted something of a similar size to the previous building but better insulated, with more windows to bring in natural light and views of the garden.
Rustic Realities was a great choice for this project. If you look at the archive of articles we have written about their work, you’ll see they tailor each design and the palette of materials around the client’s vision and the setting of the garden. Lee from Rustic Realities produces 3D visualisations to help clients visualise the space that will be created and understand how the materials will work together, making it easier to finalise the design.
The new building is a lean-to style garden office, measuring 1.7m x 3.1m. It has been designed to match the overall height and footprint of the previous structure — important considerations when replacing an existing garden building, particularly if planning restrictions or neighbour concerns come into play. The simple mono-pitch design makes efficient use of the space available and creates a streamlined, understated look that sits comfortably alongside the existing house. The lean-to roof also helps with managing rainwater and keeping the overall height modest — both valuable factors when upgrading a garden structure.
A Simple, Elegant Design
The result is a very simple design that perfectly meets the brief. The exterior is clad in black-painted larch fixed vertically with a crisp shadow gap, giving the building clean lines and a contemporary edge. The black finish was created using Rubio Monocoat Durogrit, a single-coat paint that offers around 10 years of protection before recoating is needed.
The choice of windows has been carefully considered. Two narrow rectangular windows, positioned high on the longer wall, bring in natural light and allow ventilation without taking up valuable wall space. Below them, there is plenty of uninterrupted space for a desk or storage. An opening casement window fills the end wall, positioned at desk height, and frames a lovely view into the heart of the garden — we can easily imagine the desk placed here, offering a peaceful working environment.
A Warm, Functional Interior
Inside, the ceiling is clad in natural matchboard, adding texture and warmth above. The side and end walls are finished in beech-faced plywood, while the fourth wall is the existing red brick of the house. This combination creates a slightly mid-century industrial feel — smart, understated, and very inviting.
Simple, effective electrics have been installed, with spotlights in the ceiling and optimally positioned sockets. Once the Rustic Realities team left site, the office was ready to plug in and start work immediately — just as a good garden office should be.
Designed for Year-Round Comfort
Rustic Realities build their garden rooms using a traditional timber framing system, combined with carefully selected insulation to ensure comfort in all seasons. For this project, Actis Hybris closed cell insulation was used in the floor, and Thermafleece sheepswool in the walls and ceiling. An EPDM rubber roof was fitted to provide a durable, low-maintenance covering.
The building was installed on an existing hardstanding, keeping disruption to a minimum. At 1.7m x 3.1m, it may be a compact structure, but it has been cleverly designed to feel functional, comfortable, and very much part of the garden.
Learn More
To learn more about creating a rustic garden room, contact Rustic Realities on 07712 581 532 or email inforusticrealities@gmail.com. For more information and examples of their work, visit their website: www.rusticrealities.co.uk. Rustic Realities focus their work in Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, and Oxfordshire.
