CREATE A HOBBY
ROOM OR
TEEN HANGOUT
For a garden room you can use all year,
go for a purpose-built design that can be
turned into a handy home office, a gym,
a craft space or even somewhere for the
teens to hang out. Invest in under-floor
heating, a power supply and Wi-Fi and the
room becomes more flexible to be used in
all weathers and for all activities. Specialist
companies will do the groundwork as well as
full installation for you so it’s definitely worth
considering as an investment and is cheaper
than moving house if you just need a bit of
extra space. Again, planning is not usually
required, but always check first.2
TAKE ON A
RENOVATION PROJECT
It may be worth looking at property
auctions to see if something cheap and
cheerful comes up that you could transform
into a luxury retreat. Use for family holidays
and weekends away or advertise it as a
holiday let for guests. Make sure you can
afford it – it’s easy to get carried away – and
stick to a budget for both the purchase and
renovation costs. With a lot of hard work and
care, it could even turn into a money-spinner.
Look out for unusual buildings that offer
something different to the norm that will
appeal to holidaymakers. Unique Home Stays
is a great place to look online for inspiration,
with everything from coastal retreats and
secret garden escapes to boho hideaways
and creative breaks.3
SPlASHOUTON
A SHEPHERD’S HUT
You can find second-hand huts on sites
such as eBay or http://www.preloved.co.uk and give
them a whole new look by painting the outside
and giving the interior an update with comfy
seating, insulated flooring and maybe even a bed
and wood burner. Keep it in the garden for a fun
outdoor experience during the summer months
and let the kids use it as a playroom. You can
also buy new or reconditioned models on sites
such as http://www.blackdownshepherdhuts.co.uk
where prices start from £21,540, or
http://www.englishshepherdshut.co.uk, which cost
from £16,800. If you want to rent it out as
a holiday let, you’ll need to inform your local
authority by applying for a ‘change of use’ for
the land that your hut will be placed on and
apply for the relevant permissions.4
TURNOVER fORMOREADVICEExclusive to John Lewis & Partners,
the Crane 3m x 3.6m The Hub Outdoor
left-hand corner studio is FSC certified
and costs £12,499sImage http://www.janeashton.comThe traditional Mickleton 8ft
x 9ft summerhouse by Alton
Summerhouses costs £5,494,
http://www.greenhousepeople.co.ukLook for an old shepherd’s hut on eBay or similar
and jazz it up with a fresh coat of paint. Hut and
door painted in Mizzle No 266 Exterior Eggshell,
£27 per 750ml, http://www.farrow-ball.comInterior designer Jane Ashton has used Sian Zeng’s Tropical
Bloom wallpaper to transform this vehicle into a Glamavan