Sheet 04 · Garden Rooms
Making glass feel like a room
A garden room succeeds when it has a clear floor plan, a place to sit with your back protected, and a route that does not collide with plant trays or radiator fins. We draw furniture and circulation first, then choose textiles and finishes that survive strong light.
In Brighton terraces the garden room often replaces a dark rear scullery. That shift needs a deliberate threshold so the kitchen and the glazed volume read as one sequence rather than two climates fighting at the doorway.
Floor finishes for damp winters
Coastal moisture and wet shoes from the garden argue against thirsty timber left untreated. We specify stone, porcelain, or sealed boards with mats at the garden door, and we keep deep rugs away from drip lines under opening vents.
Underfloor heating pairs well with hard floors in Hove extensions; where that is absent, we place a slim radiator or stove clear of the main walkway and away from soft seating.
Ceiling height and lantern light
Lantern roofs and pitched polycarbonate can make a modest footprint feel generous, yet they also dump heat in July. We plan seating under the cooler edges and leave the centre free for a table that can move with the season.
Where headroom is low along a lean-to, we avoid tall cabinets and use low storage benches that double as extra seats when guests arrive from the seafront.
Linking to the garden path
Alignment with an existing path or patio matters. A door that opens onto a muddy corner will keep the room unused. We check levels, step heights, and where umbrellas and boots can live without blocking the glass.
Typical garden-room package
A mid-band styling package around £1,800-£2,600 usually covers measured layout, furniture schedule, textile and blind recommendations, and a planting outline for containers. Larger rooms with bespoke joinery push toward the upper £4,200 band.