Like many in the UK, the team from Folding Doors 2U decided that homeworking offered them a great work/life balance during the pandemic. However, after using their snug for close to two years, they decided it was time to claim back the room within their home in Maldon, Essex, and create a more permanent home working solution.
Having worked with many Ultraframe products over the years, when they spotted that a Garden Room had been added to the product portfolio, the Folding Doors 2U team were assured of the quality, as Director Kate Farr explained: “We loved the benefits that homeworking offered us during the pandemic and decided to make this a permanent way of life. However, we knew that to do this long term, we needed a proper home office solution, rather than using the room that had previously been our snug. Being Ultraframe customers already, when we saw that they had launched a Garden Room solution that we could buy through our supplier, Abcell, we knew the quality would be excellent and it was simple to purchase, all being from one supplier. We immediately started to plan our new home office and chose the perfect spot for it behind our garage.”
Using an existing base in the garden, a modular size Garden Room of 4.2m x 3.6m was the perfect fit. Available in a max size of 6m x 3.6m, the Studio style Garden Room with a roof height under 2.5m meant that in this case – and as in the majority of situations – Planning Permission was not required. The contemporary design was also perfectly in keeping with their modern property and personal style. On the interior, panelled walls give a luxury feel to the new office space, which is fully air conditioned and heated, while on the exterior, the Garden Room is finished in anthracite grey weatherboard cladding which perfectly complements the modern clean lines of the Garden Room structure.
Continuing, Kate said: “Access to the back of our house is via a single width path and so the fact that the Ultraframe Garden Room comes as a kit was ideal. We also liked the idea of working with a product in a simple kit form, and rather than a timber garden room, we knew that the materials would be more long lasting. We really liked the flexibility to choose from glazed/solid sides and glazing options. We went for 2 large rooflights and they make a huge difference, inviting in large amounts of natural daylight. During the build we found the Ultraframe video installation guide to be excellent, as was the technical support, and our electrician was impressed with the channels, allowing for ease of cabling. Customer service was great, as was the delivery. In fact, the quick order turnaround was the final thing that made an Ultraframe Garden Room perfect for us.”
Ultraframe Garden Rooms are available in a choice of two styles (Studio or Pavilion) and as alluded to by Kate, can be personalised with fixed rooflights and a range of options for the side walls including additional columns and full-length glazed panels. As with all Ultraframe products, energy efficiency has been a key aspect of the design process, and Ultraframe Garden Rooms offer twice the thermal performance of other premium garden rooms, as well as featuring components that exceed Building Regulation requirements.
It’s clear that Kate and the Folding Doors 2U team are delighted with their new Garden Room home office and the benefits it has brought to their life and home.
Concluding, Kate said: “We are thrilled with the finished office which has given us back an additional room and it looks great in our garden, sitting perfectly against our patio and pergola. We use it every day, and often in the evening the children use it too. It is always a comfortable temperature due to it being well insulated and the rooflights make a huge difference. It is great to have a space away from our home for work, but without a commute. We would definitely recommend the product and are currently busy fielding enquiries from our neighbours about ordering theirs!”
To find out more about Ultraframe Garden Rooms, visit www.ultraframegardenrooms.co.uk
