Summer Houses in the UK: Versatile Garden Retreats?
In the United Kingdom, where most residential properties have gardens, charming summer garden outbuildings have been familiar fixtures for centuries. One-room garden summer houses in the UK are especially popular today.
Typically, UK residents relish their garden houses for a few quiet moments away from daily routines, an hour of undisturbed reading or napping, tea with a neighbor or a romantic dinner with special guests. Meanwhile, many garden summer houses in the UK are intended for singular purposes:
1) Reading/study room. Reading and research become truly enjoyable in the isolated loveliness of nature, even-or perhaps especially-in humid summer UK weather. A wraithlike fog casting its quiet spell or a warm rain soaking the flowers and streaming from the tiny eaves only an arms length from where you sit can be uniquely therapeutic.
2) Secluded office. A professional who works at home full-time or part-time realizes the benefits of a removed office, especially in large families with small children. Some garden offices are fully business-equipped. In others, the ubiquitousness of mobile phones and notebook/netbook computers with Internet connectivity means practically all phases of work can be accomplished without the need for electricity or cabling.
3) Writer or poet’s study. Solitude and freedom from distraction are paramount to creative processes. In a garden summer house, word crafters literally are left alone with their thoughts.
4) Artist’s studio. Likewise, artists and crafters can concept, develop and perfect their work for hours, uninterrupted. Garden settings have inspired great artisans since ancient times.
5) Music studio. Instructors find small garden houses splendid quarters in which to teach. Amateur and professional musicians use them to rehearse, learn new music, explore new instruments and study and enjoy recordings. With adequate computer connections and weatherproofing against moisture, a garden house can make an interesting recording and mixing studio.
6) Bath house. Specially equipped garden summer houses can be used for Jacuzzi and sauna reveries.
7) Personal gymnasium. Health-conscious residents find sturdily built garden houses ideal solutions if their homes have no space for weight and exercise equipment.
Special features may include a narrow verandah or leaded windows. Most garden houses offer ample windowing, taking advantage of the surrounding beauty; some structures comprise full frontal light access. Wooden structures are most popular; PVC buildings may be preferred because they are more weatherproof.
Some owners opt to keep their retreats unpowered. Others run electricity to broaden the usefulness of the house, although such extras may complicate the incentive of simple installation. (Depending on the location, planning permissions are required for garden summer houses that are used for certain purposes, exceed specified dimensions, etc.)
Garden summer houses differ in size. Modern octagonal structures may be as small as two square meters. Some designs measure four square meters or larger, or varying combinations of dimensions. Still more spacious UK garden cottages are maintained as self-contained guest quarters year-round, complete with a small bath, kitchen, sleeping and living room space.
Regardless of their functions, garden summer houses in the UK are essentially private, convenient retreats. One travel blogger, after reviewing a summer house photo gallery, opined that such a wooden cottage in such an idyllic setting must be the perfect place to eliminate every stress.
For an introduction to summer houses including price comparison, deals and information about planning, please visit Summerhousesforsale.com.
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