Outdoor family room with storage
A 7.2m × 3.6m family room with a corner of floor-to-ceiling glass, a hidden store and a deck built around a tree.
This spacious outdoor room has been designed as a family retreat, away from the distractions of the main house. It also incorporates valuable storage space, adding a practical touch to the design.
Ark Design Build created this bespoke design and delivered the project on a turnkey basis. The Ark team managed the entire process, from laying the foundations to connecting the electrics, allowing the clients to relax and watch their building take shape.
At 7.2 metres wide by 3.6 metres deep, this is a large family room. Its standout feature is the corner of floor-to-ceiling glazing, which includes sliding doors and fixed glass panels. This extensive glazing floods the room with natural light and creates a beautiful connection with the garden.
The roof extends beyond the glazed corner, forming a small porch. Exterior-grade LED downlights have been recessed into the roof canopy, casting a soft light across the front of the glazing.
At a glance
- Size: 7.2m × 3.6m, with a 2m × 2.1m store.
- Built for: A family retreat away from the house.
- Construction: Designed round an established tree.
- Finishes: Cedar, a glazed corner with sliding doors and a light grey composite deck.
- Company: Ark Design Build, turnkey from foundations to electrics.
Discreet storage room
It’s becoming increasingly popular to incorporate discreet storage into outdoor rooms. In this case, a compact 2m x 2.1m storage area has been built into one corner of the family room. Accessed by a ‘secret’ door on the front elevation, the door blends seamlessly with the Cedar cladding, making the storage space nearly invisible.
Composite deck shaped around a tree
The building has been designed around an established tree, with a composite deck shaped to fit around it. This isn’t unusual for garden rooms, but it requires careful planning. A site visit is essential to assess the tree and determine the best foundation, one that won’t compromise the tree roots or the building’s structural integrity.
The light grey composite decking creates a welcoming step in front of the doors. As it wraps around the corner, there’s room for a couple of chairs, perfect for enjoying the garden.
The deck has been precisely shaped to accommodate the tree trunk. When doing this, it’s important to leave gaps around the base of the tree to allow it to breathe and continue growing.
Learn more about Ark Design Build
Ark Design Build operates in Kent, East Sussex, and parts of Essex. To learn more about creating a garden room with storage, contact the Ark Design Build team on 07896 196 718 or email them at contact@arkdesignbuild.co.uk. Visit www.arkdesignbuild.co.uk to explore more of their work.
