xxxxxxxx MAKEOVER
STEP ONE High on the list
of must-haves was the installation of
running water so that Michelle wouldn’t
have to keep dashing back into the
house whenever she wanted to make a
cup of tea. ‘It was important to all of us
to have a self-contained garden room
that would provide not only a living area
(with a sofa bed for overnight stays), but
also a bathroom and small kitchenette,’ she
says. Providing an area for guests to sleep
was vital – Michelle and Neill often have
family from overseas to stay, and their
sons love to escape with their friends at
the weekend. ‘I wanted the boys to have
their own space at the end of the garden
to chill out in,’ adds Michelle, ‘that way I
know they’re safe at home, instead of out
roaming the streets.’
http://www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk August 2019 35
Once the structure of the room
was designed, Michelle started to
consider the colour scheme. She began
by taking inspiration from the garden
with a vivid green to paint the walls.
‘I wanted something bright and
cheerful that felt like an extension
of the garden,’ she explains. The
next job to tackle was the flooring.
Wanting something practical, Michelle
looked at solid wood to help insulate
and keep the building feeling warm
and cosy. ‘I chose oak to make it
feel homely,’ she adds, ‘plus, it’s so
hardwearing.’ Next, Michelle looked at
incorporating a compact kitchen area.
‘I contacted G&C Kitchens and Bedrooms,’
she says, ‘who suggested a small run of
units in a light-reflecting white gloss to
hide away all the essentials.’Michelle and her family make
the most of their retreat and
enjoy the view all year roundMichelle dots extra
seating around the
room when
she’s entertaining