Downsize to a Bespoke Garden Annexe
First Published: 5 August 2023
Refreshed: 27 September 2024
Reading Time: 3 minutes 30 seconds
As we age, downsizing can become an appealing option. Large family homes can feel overwhelming to maintain, making alternatives like smaller houses, retirement flats, residential care, or living with relatives seem more attractive.
But what if there was a way to live with a relative while maintaining your independence and the comfort of your own space? This is where a garden annexe comes into play – a self-contained dwelling in a relative’s garden. It strikes a perfect balance, offering the companionship of family life without sacrificing privacy or independence.
These living annexes, often referred to as 'granny annexes', aren't just for grandmothers. They have also provided a stepping stone for younger relatives seeking to get onto the property ladder.
While many companies offer a range of options to customise annexes, Swift Unlimited takes a different approach. They tailor each annexe to meet the specific needs, tastes, and preferences of their clients. This bespoke service allows them to create a structure that perfectly fits the client’s garden while incorporating all the desired features for comfortable daily living.
Swift Unlimited specialises in designing modern, accessible, and energy-efficient garden homes. With full planning approval and Building Control sign-off, Swift’s annexes are recognised as permanent dwellings, adding significant value to a property when sold.
This 7.75m x 6.3m one-bedroom annexe in Margate is a prime example of Swift Unlimited’s design ethos. The client, who chose to move from a large house to a self-contained garden annexe in her daughter’s garden, now enjoys the benefits of being close to family while maintaining her independence.
Creating Your Ideal Space with Swift Unlimited
Designing a garden living annexe with Swift Unlimited is a collaborative process. Clients are encouraged to sketch their preferred layouts, collect images of features they want, and create a wishlist for their ideal home.
This input helps Swift’s designers develop floorplans, specifications, and 3D visualisations of the future annexe. The design evolves through this process, allowing clients to gain a clear sense of the space and layout.
In this project, the clients wanted a floor plan that included a separate bedroom and space for cherished furniture pieces. They also requested roof lights to ensure a bright, naturally lit home. Swift’s team worked to maximise the annexe’s space without encroaching on the family garden.
Choosing the Right Annexe Company
Swift Unlimited advises potential clients to thoroughly research and compare different annexe companies before making a decision. Companies vary greatly in their approaches to planning regulations, customisation options, included services, and pricing.
Understanding these differences is essential, as not all companies use the same materials or offer the same level of service. Some may only provide the building, leaving you to arrange planning approval, foundation work, plumbing, electrics, and connections to the main services.
For Swift’s clients, it was essential to work with a company that managed the entire process—from planning applications to handing over the keys.
A Light-Filled, Modern Garden Home
As shown in the photos, Swift Unlimited and their client have created a comfortable, modern, light-filled home. The annexe features a well-equipped L-shaped kitchen, tailored to the client’s cooking preferences and style.
A partition wall between the kitchen and sitting room cleverly defines the kitchen, dining, and seating areas while also providing a backdrop for furniture.
Natural light was a key priority for Swift’s clients. Roof windows in the living room and bedroom ensure plenty of daylight, creating a bright and welcoming atmosphere as the light reflects off the plastered and decorated walls.
The annexe also features internal pocket doors that slide into the walls, maximising space. This design eliminates the need for traditional doors that swing open, allowing for easier movement around the annexe and more flexible furniture placement. Pocket doors connect the living room, bedroom, and ensuite shower room, creating a seamless flow between rooms and enhancing the sense of spaciousness.
Every detail, including the shower room and its bespoke storage unit, has been carefully considered to ensure a modern, spacious feel.
Completed in Six Weeks On-Site
This one-bedroom garden annexe by Swift Unlimited was completed in just six weeks on-site, providing the client with a ready-to-move-in home. At 48.825 square metres, the annexe cost £118,500, VAT included (correct at the time of writing in August 2023). Swift Unlimited delivered a full turnkey service, managing everything from the initial design and planning approval to the on-site build and final Building Control sign-off.
Swift Unlimited offers insurance-backed deposit protection for added peace of mind when placing an order, along with an insurance-backed warranty upon completion.
Learn More
To discover more about Swift Unlimited garden annexes, visit their dedicated living annexe website. You can also contact the friendly team on 01625 875 588 or email support@swiftorg.co.uk.
