Contemporary 2-Bedroom Garden Annexe
Published: 28 October 2023
Reading Time: 2 minutes 52 seconds
In a market beset by escalating mortgage rates and skyrocketing rents, families are ingeniously navigating the housing needs of their members across generations. Garden annexes, custom-built modern homes situated in underutilised garden areas, are emerging as a pragmatic and cost-effective alternative to the substantial financial burdens associated with acquiring a flat or house of similar size. For families with older relatives, the comparison becomes even more stark, as they weigh the substantial costs and complexities of retirement flats or long-term care against the simplicity and affordability of a garden annexe.
In this article, we explore a 2-bedroom garden annexe, designed and constructed by Annexe Spaces, renowned for their bespoke garden homes. Tailored to the unique needs of the family and the specific characteristics of the garden, this project showcases the immense potential and versatility of garden annexes as contemporary, adaptable living solutions.
Traditionally, these annexes have been a popular choice for housing elderly relatives, earning them the affectionate nickname ‘Granny Annexes’, these structures are increasingly recognised as invaluable solutions for younger people seeking independence while still living at the family home. Collaborating with experts like Annexe Spaces ensures a customised living space, catering to the varied needs of both older relatives looking to downsize and younger adults seeking their own space.
60.86sqm Self-Contained Living Space
This home, sitting on a footprint of 8.95m x 6.80m, is a product of close collaboration between Annexe Spaces and their clients, resulting in a 60.86sqm living space. The accommodation comprises two sizable bedrooms, a shower room, and an expansive living area with an integrated, well-equipped kitchen.
With a maximum external height of 2.85m, the annexe achieves an internal ceiling height of 2.4m, creating a spacious atmosphere throughout. Annexe Spaces expertly navigated the planning approval process, ensuring the structure is recognised as a permanent residence rather than a mobile home, the latter being a common alternative route for such buildings.
The abundant glazing elements in the design, as showcased in the photos, result in a bright, modern home with a seamless connection to the garden. Various window styles, including French doors, fixed pane tall windows, and top-hung and tilt-and-turn windows, enhance this connection, especially in the master bedroom. This room features French doors opening onto a decked veranda, offering a taste of perpetual holiday living.
The choice of RAL7016 Anthracite Grey uPVC doors and windows adds a contemporary touch, with Annexe Spaces also offering aluminium-framed alternatives. Consistency is maintained through matching trims, such as roof kerbs, in the same RAL colour.
Well-Specified Kitchen & Shower Room
Annexe Spaces’ design process is a collaborative effort, ensuring the kitchen and bathroom are tailored to your preferences. In this annexe, the kitchen and shower room are conveniently situated side by side.
The 2.3m x 1.8m shower room features a spacious shower cubicle, toilet, washbasin, and vanity unit, with an opening window for ventilation and accessed via a space-saving pocket door. Adjacent to this, the kitchen occupies a 2.97m wide recess, with units on three sides and a full-height window ensuring natural light. The layout, unit style, and appliance positioning are all customisable to suit your preferences.
Annexe Spaces stands out with its ‘One Stop Shop’ service, handling everything from groundworks to plumbing and electrical connections, simplifying the process and preventing potential unforeseen costs.
Rendered Garden Annexe
Annexe Spaces offers an extensive palette of exterior cladding options. For this project, their clients chose to mix two external finishes. The front elevation features a crisp, white rendered finish, complemented by Anthracite Grey doors, windows, and trims. The durable, water-repellent silicone-based render system Annexe Spaces uses is available in numerous colours.
The other elevations are clad in Anthracite Grey cement particle boards, chosen for their dimensional stability and resistance to rot and fungal attack, ensuring a long, low-maintenance lifespan.
Overcoming Slopes with Ground Screws
The sloping site presented a challenge adeptly met with a ground screw foundation, creating a level base for the floor framework. A composite wood decked veranda, concealing the ground screws, extends along the front elevation, with integrated steps accommodating the site’s gradient.
Learn More
For more information on creating your bespoke garden annexe, contact the Annexe Spaces team on 0845 387 9 387 or at info@annexespaces.co.uk. Visit their website to explore customisation options and view additional examples of their contemporary annexe projects.