A very Cwtch Creative Studio
Deciding to build your own design studio completely from scratch might seem a little daunting but using a pre-fabricated modular design that is delivered flat-packed, to your doorstep, can potentially save you thousands – just so long as you are pretty handy with a drill.
Looking for extra space to house their growing art and design business in Wales, Annie and Richard Golledge of Hygge & Cwtch Design did just that by ordering a log cabin online from Tuin Ltd. With the help of Richard’s father, they proceeded to build their new studio themselves from the ground up, customising and insulating as they went. At the end, the whole family joined in with the painting and decorating, so it became a truly collaborative project. There are many people who will relate to Annie’s heartfelt endorsement of having a room of your own in the garden, “the benefits have been huge, especially in lockdown”, it has become a “quiet place” that helps to separate work from home at a time when that has been more important than ever.
Internally the simple, Scandi-inspired look & feel of the studio reflects Annie’s minimalistic personal style. With a strong focus on clean lines, it achieves an uncluttered and inviting “simple, balanced, warm, calm and considered” Danish design ethic. Exemplified by using blond-wood furniture. natural textures, a well-thought out lighting scheme and a warm neutral colour on the walls and ceiling – and of course, plenty of green planting to bring the outside in. This sense of welcoming calm extends to a fire-pit for entertaining outdoors (very on-trend).
Note the clever “easy-access” storage solutions including a ceiling rack for storing canvases and flat artwork and a peg board for flexible shelving. Heat comes from a wall-mounted Dimplex electric heater (they are fairly economical to use, efficiently heat the space and come with a digital timer, to be recommended).
Annie and family painted the external cladding and framing during last April’s lockdown in ‘Satin Black’ by Bedec (see their Barn Paint range which resists cracking and blistering – crucial with outbuildings as the product needs to be flexible and move when the timber inevitably does). This deeply rich, matt colour helps the building to recede into the landscape, acting as a perfect foil for the ever changing colours of the Acer tree outside. Internally, the bare timber lining boards and window frames were painted in a warm, light neutral that had a hint of grey, colour-matched to Little Greene’s classic ‘Slaked Lime Mid’ No.149 on the walls and ceiling (using Zinsser’s All-coat Matt interior paint which is a primer, sealer, stain blocker and finish all in one). If you’re after a cooler version of Slaked Lime, try No.105. The timber floorboards were left au natural.
HAVE A CLEAR VISION
Annie put together 3-D visuals of the garden space and the building before they started, thinking carefully about the direction of light and how the studio would look from the house as part of the new garden scheme plus just as importantly, the view from the studio of the garden and the house beyond to ensure an inspiring view while working.
At the planning stage it’s also crucial to put together a basic electrical plan so wherever possible you can run & hide any electrical or wi-fi cabling inside the ceiling, floor or wall cavities. [Always double the number of electrical sockets you think you will need – I’ve often heard from clients that they never seem to have quite enough.] In Annie’s studio, as the elevations are single-skinned, albeit in 44mm thick timber, cabling was ‘face fixed’ to the walls in electrical conduit (protective, durable tubing) and you’d have to look twice to really notice it.
The couple were aiming to create “a more grown-up garden space now that the boys are older”, one that would appeal to the whole family. The studio had to work within existing structural elements and planting that they already had in place. The garden overall now incorporates “play zones” and “socialising zones” in a patio area to the front of the art studio, neatly separated by a diagonal brick path that aims to trick the eye into making the garden seem wider than it is.
A garden room can give you the unique opportunity to explore a look & feel that is completely different to the main house. The number one request for garden rooms today though is that they should be “multi-purpose”. However, especially with smaller rooms, when space planning your interior layout bear in mind the primary purpose and be prepared to compromise if the room is not quite as large as you would like it to be. Both a creative workspace and a traditional office layout will benefit from a “soft” area with a comfortable chair or sofa for a relaxation break or brainstorming session. If that’s simply not possible, then aim to incorporate a seating area outside but close to the building, possibly under a pergola or extended roof that offers some protection from the elements.
The dutch-made, Tuin model is based on the ‘Justine’ Log Cabin using slow-grown Spruce cladding with an apex roof, plain-glazed windows. They opted to add an additional window on the right elevation which helps to flood the studio with light and means Annie gets to see the Acer tree while working inside. The cabin is 5m x 2.5m in depth (16’4 ft x 8’2 ft approx.) Well within the 15sq metre footprint limit and just under 2.5 metres in height to the ridge, so they were able to position the building close to a boundary fence (although remember to leave some clear space if you can for air flow and maintenance access.)
The ‘Justine’ has proved so popular that it is currently out of stock but I’m sure Tuin would put you on a waiting list. This model is available directly from their website (not via agents or distributors) and prices start at £3,185 although be aware of the optional extras that can bump up the price, including insulation (Recticel), timber floor and painted finish and of course internal fixtures and fittings if you’re after achieving the same look & feel as Annie. They opted to insulate the roof and floor, saving on costs by neither insulating nor lining the walls. So, while the elevations are “single-skinned” there is always the option to insulate further at a later stage. They used a flexible filler along gaps in the cladding before painting and have been “pleasantly surprised at how warm” it has been inside over the Winter months.
There are installation instructions and you-Tube videos for Tuin buildings if you’re handy with a drill or use a local installation team with proven garden room experience and don’t forget to find a reliable electrician. Most manufacturers and suppliers of garden rooms can deliver their buildings flat-packed although few will provide detailed instructions on how to build them yourself.
I will be posting separately on the basics to consider, the most important of which is to put down a firm and level base for your garden building to sit on, before you begin with the studio build itself. In Annie’s garden there were issues with drainage, so this needed to be addressed as a priority before they even start on the base. Preparation is everything and water damage is potentially one of the biggest threats to the longevity of any timber garden room.
Annie says they’ve been really pleased with their building supplier, although it’s clear they have put a huge amount of additional love and effort into shaping the studio into their ideal design studio/garden room. “It really is my cherished space”.
Much of the success of the project was no doubt in part due to the careful planning and renders created by Annie so the family could visualise the best use of the garden space before the project started. Having a clear vision of the end result and how the space would be used, helped to inform decisions along the way and meant the room was fit-for-purpose as a creative studio with lights, heating and power sockets all in the right place when Annie was ready to style the very ‘Hygge & Cwtch’ interior.
Annie celebrated her new studio and garden design with a photo shoot in collaboration with Aga of @aga_hosking_branding. Images reproduced with kind permission of Annie Golledge @hyggeandcwtchstudio. Additional imagery by Annie. Hygge & Cwtch offer a range of services including architectural design, interior design, garden design and interior styling: www.hyggeandcwtch.com
Nb. Hygge’ cannot be defined in just one phrase but is associated with a feeling of charm, contentment and cosiness that extends to an entire lifestyle; while ‘Cwtch’ is the Welsh word for a cuddle or hug but at the same time, means so much more.
LINKS
Find designer and artist Annie Golledge at www.hyggeandcwtch.com
Find photographer Aga Hosking at @aga_hosking_branding
GARDEN ROOM
Manufacturer: Tuin Ltd at www.tuin.co.uk/Justine-Log-Cabin-5-x-2.5m
Range: The Justine Log Cabin @tuinltd
PAINT
Bedec ‘Satin Black’ barn paint (external): @bedecproducts www.bedec.co.uk
Zinsser ‘All-coat’ Matt colour-matched to ‘Slaked Lime Mid’: @zinsser_uk
LIGHT FITTINGS
Includes the Folgate desk lamp in Sage and the Bermondsey wall light from The Garden Trading Company: @gardentradingcompany
STUDIO WORKTABLE
The Lisabo in Ash Veneer: @ikeauk
HEATER
Dimplex: @dimplex_uk
