Custom Garden Office Cabin Design
Sarah and Paul live in the picturesque rolling countryside of the South Hams in Devon, where their charming converted barn offers a view of neighbouring fields and the distant silhouette of Haytor on Dartmoor.
In search of a dedicated garden office cabin space that could also serve as a creative sanctuary for painting, they envisioned a place where they could bask in the expansive vistas from their garden. Additionally, they sought a garden office cabin that could accommodate overnight guests, particularly their elderly parents, enabling more frequent visits.
Garden Office Cabin Design and Build
After exploring our website and the range of possibilities, Sarah and Paul were excited to pursue a bespoke garden office cabin. They also wanted to incorporate an overhang to create a sheltered outdoor seating area.
After conducting a site visit and reviewing inspiring reference images shared by Sarah and Paul, Jamie and cabin designer Oliver crafted sketches of a garden office cabin that aligned with their requirements. They envisioned an asymmetrical single-level structure featuring a spacious picture window, a custom-made desk, as well as a compact shower room and kitchen area.
Externally, a generous overhang was proposed to offer protection for outdoor seating, allowing them to relish the southerly vistas. Design elements included larch screening for privacy, a rainwater chain, and handcrafted peg rails and a fold-down table within the cabin.
Following approval from the planning authorities, construction commenced in Autumn/Winter 2023. Despite enduring bouts of Devon rain, the team remained energised by endless cups of tea made by Paul and successfully delivered a space that not only fulfils its intended purpose but also boasts well-considered design elements for year-round enjoyment.
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Custom Granny Annexe
In 2022, Life Space Cabins were approached by a local family from Plymouth with a brief to create a special home, a custom granny annexe.
Following the recent loss of her father, Sarah along with her family envisioned a solution that would not only provide her mother Sue with independence but also keep her closely connected to the family, especially as she played a vital role in childcare. The answer? A bespoke cabin nestled within their expansive garden, combining convenience with closeness.
Design and Build
Enchanted by our curved roof design during a visit to our workshop, we decided to elevate the vision, opting for a larger, twin-unit design. Measuring an impressive 5m x 10m, this cabin would become Sue’s new home / custom granny annexe, featuring a kitchen, a bright living area, a cosy bedroom, and a spacious shower room – all thoughtfully designed to embrace small living without sacrificing comfort.
Navigating the potential complexities of planning permission, our team collaborated closely with the family, ensuring compliance while maximising the potential of the design. Through careful consideration and expert advice from a planning consultant, we secured a Certificate of Lawfulness, affirming the legality of the custom granny annexe within the domestic curtilage.
The construction phase was a true testament to teamwork and dedication from our carpenters. With partial assembly conducted in our workshop just 10 miles down the road, the custom granny annexe arrived on-site in two units, ready to be seamlessly integrated into its new surroundings. Our skilled team meticulously ‘stitched’ the units together, finishing the custom granny annexe with custom made furniture and storage solutions.
Home from home
Beyond the project’s technical achievements, what truly made this project special is the positive impact it has already had on the family. Today, as we receive delightful updates on the cabin’s evolution and the flourishing garden that surrounds it, we’re reminded of the transformative power of a home – and the privilege of helping families like this one write their next chapter.
Bespoke cabin design connecting guests to the rural landscape.
As we emerged from Covid 19 the team at Wild By Nature contacted Life Space Cabins with the brief to design a collection of cabins that would be offered to guests at their traditional pub The Bulls Head at the bottom of the Black Mountains on the English / Welsh border.
Design Brief
Family run company Wild By Nature have a strong ambition to create experiences that connect guests with the beautiful place that they are lucky enough to call home.
When they approached Life Space Cabins in 2021 Jake and Amie wanted to create a cabin design they would eventually introduce at their newly acquired pub venture, The Bulls Head in Craswall. It was important that the design was a product of its environment allowing guests to connect to nature not only because of the location but the chosen materials and orientation of the space.
The cabins would become hotel rooms and guest suites allowing visitors to the pub to stay and elevate their experience.
Guests could be weekend getaways or walkers so it was important the cabins presented themselves as high end – no frills spaces where classic timber cabins could meet contemporary luxury.
Chosen materials were inspired with an agricultural nod in the form of corrugated metal and honest architectural details with an exposed porch structure using locally grown timber. The gables are finished in shingles which will silver naturally ensuring the cabin fits effortlessly into the landscapebelow the Black Mountains.
Inside the cabin continues its authentic use of materials with unpainted timber combined with a luxurious bathroom and king size bed in a cosy nook. Guests can sit out of their own covered deck and breath in that mountain air and plan what they’ll have for dinner in the pub.
Photo credit: Sam Ingles (https://www.samingles.com/)
To stay in the cabins at The Bulls Head and discover more about Wild in Nature visit their website
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Rusty Sheds
Rusty Sheds is a joint venture between John at Flete Estate (a passion for land and water) and Jamie here at Life Space Cabins (a passion for small spaces and good design) Using their combined experience and knowledge they have created an unforgettable experience for all guests.
The result was two unique spaces perfectly situated above the Erme estuary on the Flete Estate in South Devon.
Outside they have included a built-in deck, complete with wood fired bath and fire pit giving guests a perfect connection with nature.
Cabin Design Brief
- To be used as luxury holiday let units for ‘glamping’ accommodation.
- Year round accommodation.
- Prefabricated and brought to site in one day.
- Can be classed as a ‘Caravan’
- Maximise on the far reaching views of Dartmoor and the Erme estuary through large picture windows
- Comfortable space for up to 4 people in each cabin.
- Include a bothy style bed, mezzanine sleep deck, small shower room, kitchen, bespoke handcrafted joinery using UK sourced ash timber.
- Hotel in the counytryside luxuries inside the cabin
- Guest experience at the forefront of the offering
- Outside we’ve included elements to ensure the rental offers a point of difference. Bath tub and hammocks.
- Consideration between the relationship between the two cabins in the field.
Stay at Rusty Sheds
photo credit: Beth Squire Photography
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In Northamptonshire is 95 acres of WW2 US airfield, slowly returning to its natural state through a process of rewilding.
Findlay Broadbent and his wife, Joanna, jumped at the chance to buy the site in 2017. They were inspired by a passionate desire to preserve its diverse ecology and wildlife as the airfield holds a very special place in Findlay’s heart. His parents’ home is actually located on the site so he spent his childhood playing in the woods and meadows within it. Findlay and his young family live just a mile down the road and run a local fruit farm.
The Wilding Airfield is abundant with different habitats; wildflowers; butterflies; woodland and grassy open spaces. When they bought the site, the Broadbents knew that in order to preserve it as a haven for wildlife, they needed to fund its ongoing management. After a lot of careful consideration, they decided to construct two holiday lets on the airfield – a luxury glamping treehouse and a large holiday let cabin.
Cabin Design Brief
Fin wanted premium cabins that had a minimal impact on the natural environment. He says: “We were certain that we wanted the opposite of churned out, generic glamping pods. The holiday lets had to be low density and exceptional quality. Preservation and appreciation of the airfield was key”
The income from the holiday would fund the maintenance of the site but the couple also wanted to promote an appreciation of rewilding initiatives, British Wildlife and outdoor living. Guests will be wholeheartedly welcomed to the airfield, informed about the project and encouraged to roam freely and explore the site. Sharing the beauty of the space is part of the ethos of The Wilding Airfield and one of the reasons the couple only wanted a small number of cabins.
Why Life Space Cabins?
We first met Fin and Joanna at The Farm Business Innovation Show. They were searching for ideas and inspiration and felt an immediate connection when they met our founder, Jamie Wilson.
They loved his passion for playful small spaces and his innate understanding of their ethos and what they wanted to achieve.
The Broadbents loved our designs, our flexible, creative attitude and likeminded approach to sustainable building practices.
An exciting partnership was quickly established.
Cabin Design
After initially getting planning permission approved for three cabins, Fin and Joanna eventually decided to focus on quality and go for two beautiful, high-spec holiday lets.
They were open minded about design, wanting something low-impact that would feel like part of the landscape and celebrate the natural environment. Above all, they wanted something one-of-a-kind for such a special place.
We brainstormed a lot of ideas together and settled on two very different cabin types, so that guests could choose between two unique and memorable experiences. Both would be exceptionally well-designed small spaces, offering an outdoor experience but with the capacity for year-round use thanks to high levels of insulation. The different seasons are magical to witness at the airfield, offering changing colours, variations in wildlife and amazing views.
A Luxury Glamping Treehouse
The first holiday let that we designed became known as “Two Pines” – a spectacular black-clad, luxury treehouse, nestled in the canopy amongst pine and mature hawthorn trees. Double height, with huge glass windows, guests will be amongst the tress watching birds flit between the barnches and muntjac deer wandering below.
Designed as a romantic getaway for couples, the sleeping area is on the upper level of the treehouse and the floor to roof windows make the sky feel like part of the space – stargazing at night-time is magical.
Outside is a luxury copper bath on a wooden deck, and a firepit for outdoor cooking. Guests might hear nightingales and turtle doves singing as they roast your marshmallows.
Inside is a real treat. With log burner, cosy seating area, internal luxury shower room with shower and full kitchen facilities. It may be a glamping treehouse but it’s a high-end guest experience with top spec fixtures and fittings.
A bespoke design we built Two Pines in our Devon workshop and delivered it to The Wilding Airfield in two pieces which were bolted together on site and installed on the steel framework among the trees.
A large holiday let cabin
The second cabin is “Birch View” – our classic dual pitch design, providing a completely different experience for guests. With a larger, more sociable vibe, this spacious cabin with a vaulted roof can accommodate up to four people- suiting a group of four or a family.
Clad in larch timber that will naturally silver, Birch View is located in an open, grassy area overlooking birch trees, with a luxurious hot tub outside. It has a vaulted ceiling and corrugated roof.
Climb the ladder for a sleeping area on the mezzanine level and a second sectioned off sleeping area ‘bothy bed’ underneath,
as well as a sofa bed. It has an internal luxury bathroom with shower and full kitchen facilities.
We delivered Birch View in one piece and quickly installed it on The Wilding Airfield with our enthusiastic Cabin Creator team. We used ground screws for the foundations for minimal disruption to the earth on the site.
Stay at The Wilding Airfield
“Two Pines” treehouse and “Birch View” cabin are 150m apart from each other, not overlooked and feel totally private.
During your stay, you’ll find plenty to discover in the rolling hills of East Northamptonshire. The area is a charming hidden gem, easily accessible from London and Birmingham. In easy reach of The Wilding Airfield are beautiful ancient market towns; country walks; paddle boarding on the River Nene; National Trust properties; Saturday morning markets and Burghley House stately home.
The Wilding Airfield cabins are currently running at 98% occupancy during the first two seasons.
Photos by @beasquire
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An A Frame Cabin Design Project
Creating a new rural retreat offering for North Yorkshire.
Designed by Life Space Cabins and handcrafted on site by the clients own construction team in Yorkshire, this A-Frame cabin design was a design brief that required a simple pared back aesthetic that would allow expansive glass to frame the uninterrupted views of the North Yorkshire countryside.
The result was two unique spaces perfectly situated in their own wildflower meadow.
Outside they have included a built-in deck, complete with sunken bath and fire pit giving guests an unrivalled feeling of being in nature.
Cabin Design Brief
- Create one design suitable for 4 units for ‘glamping’ accommodation.
- Maximise on the far reaching views.
- Comfortable space for two people to share.
- Include space for one king size bed.
- Consider the relationship between the cabin and the existing buildings and future wedding/ event hire.
- The cabins should be based on the A frame design, with ideally a bed on a mezzanine, a small kitchen with breakfast bar, open plan living area with log burner and a shower room.
- Black exterior cladding – ref timber cladding.
Stay at West Cawthorne https://www.northyorkshirehideaways.com/
Photos by Yorkshire Property Photography David Critchley
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A rural escape with all the luxuries of a hotel room.
Nestled in the Blackdown Hills in East Devon you’ll find a couple making a huge success from what was a run down farmhouse and old milking shed.
Katie and Mark Hollyer run a successful catering business Milkshed Catering and in 2014 converted an old milk shed into self contained accommodation and thus Milkshed Holidays was formed.
In 2022 with the staycation market having a boom they decided they wanted to expand their holiday rental offering and commissioned us to build them one of our curved roof cabins; aptly named the Hideaway.
Cabin Brief
Working with the couple and their keen eye for detail, Life Space Cabins designed and built them a unique cabin that would suit a couple looking for a rural escape with all the luxuries of a hotel room.
Cabin Specification
- Sleep 2.
- Curved roof for a light and bright space.
- Cabin delivered to site in one day.
- Open plan living and kitchen space painted T&G timber walls in subtle calming colours.
- Bathroom finished using Mandarin Stone porcelain tiles and black fittings.
- Hand built kitchen cupboard doors and zinc worktop.
- Large bifold doors.
- Bothy style bed.
- Large picture window by the bothy bed so guests could enjoy the natural pond, meadows and views beyond.
Slow and Steady Delivery
Invariably our cabins will be located in beautiful locations. This calls for careful planning to ensure we deliver the cabin to its final location.
Slow and Steady was the motto of the day one late April day when we delivered the Hideaway. The haulage team carefully drove the cabin through narrow Devon lanes (anyone ever seen how high a Devon hedgerow can be?!) and lifted it into place onto its groundscrew foundation.
“It was exciting to watch (though nerve wracking!) and a positive experience” Katie Hollyer
The result is beautiful. Stay at the Hideaway
Client Feedback
“The cabin is proving very popular and getting wonderful feedback. We are delighted with how it looks and feels and very proud of it” Katie Hollyer
Completed cabin photos by Commotion Media
Installation photos by Kel Edge
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This cabin was built in our workshop in South Devon and delivered to site in one day
Thames based clients Angela and Neil came across Life Space Cabins after seeing our feature in The Times Bricks & Mortar article and decided that our dual pitch cabin design would fit their brief to provide a bright, well built summer house garden cabin that could be used year round.
They had one important request… It had to be completed and installed in time for Angela’s important birthday celebrations.
The timeless dual pitch cabin with its high ceilings and painted timber clad interior it lends itself perfectly as an outside dining space as these clients were to use it for. They could throw open the doors on a balmy evening or retreat inside during the cooler months.
Cabin Brief
A cabin to be placed in the top corner of our garden which has open views onto farmland and the sunset each day which we would like to be able to enjoy particularly in the Summer. They envisaged opening the doors from the cabin onto decking where they would be able to sit with an evening sundowner drink. Inside the cabin they wanted a multi functional space to use for creative pursuits, dining and maybe some potting of plants.
Painted in Farrow and Ball Wimborne White inside with an engineered oak floor the cabin meant it was a welcoming space from day one. The clients wanted exterior cladding to be painted in an elegant french grey colour to complement their surroundings.
Delivered to site in one day.
Our cabins can be manufactured off site in our workshop in South Devon and assuming the site can be accessed by a low bed HIAB truck we can install these cabins in just a day minimising onsite disruption and additional labour costs.
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An architecturally designed contemporary cabin
From the outset, Life Space Cabins decided we didn’t want to do boring.
We wanted to work on fun projects with people who have project ideas that call for dynamic and playful thinking.
This contemporary cabin is a striking example of this ambition. Our clients were open to ideas and with their own appreciation of good design and architecture we knew we would create something special.
The result was a low-profile modern pavilion with plenty of glass, a veranda and cantilevered flat sedum roof supported on a steel frame.
Cabin Brief
When we first met the clients their brief was to design and build a cabin summer house which offered not only extra space for the busy times when wider family and friends members descended to this beautiful spot for the summer but allowed for views down to the Cornish creek, garden and the countryside beyond, all year round.
The space would become an asset to the primary dwelling and give pleasure and comfort for many years. The cabin would not require mains services, gas, water, sewerage but require electricity which would be fed from the house or the outbuilding adjacent to the house. The cabin would need to have the ability to be fully closed up with shutters when the owners would be away from the house for any period of time.
At the centre of the design brief Life Space cabins were asked to create;
- A well considered architecturally designed cabin using natural materials.
- A simple, bright white washed timber interior maximising the available light.
- A building where the whole corner can be opened to allow uninterrupted views across the landscape.
- A wide, generous veranda and deep overhanging green roof.
Structure
This cantilevered steel frame structure allows the front of the building to be column free. Hence there is a series of folding doors that can open the corner completely to one side and a glass to glass corner with a window seat to the other corner.
Orientation
The cabin was orientated to capture the countryside views, located on the same spot as the current summer house.
Materials
There were sustainability aspirations for the materials, whereby the cabin was designed and constructed using appropriately specific materials and technologies.
Allowing for the cabin to nestle into its surroundings we carefully chose considered natural materials with an architectural edge.
Pre-weathered, square section douglas fir vertical battens fixed between a steel frame which was the basis for the main structure. Similarly the steel frame timber shutters that close off the cabin to any prevailing weather would be top hung and manually operated.
The two end external elevations included random coursed natural slate cladding from Decarock to mirror the vernacular material of slate that Cornwall is so well known for. The sedum roof was fitted by a green roof specialist and included concealed rainwater pipes detailing. Internally the Decarock slate was included on the wide chimney breasts which housed a Contura 810L log burner with slate hearth.
American white ash was chosen for the flooring (fitted in random lengths) and as well as the window seat and for the bespoke hand crafted fitted cupboard all of which complemented the slate and gave an overall sense of a light and airy space.
Planning
The existing small summer house building being a single storey, single skin, timber clad structure was simply not fit for purpose. The owners wanted to replace it with something with architectural quality and that would be more keeping with the nature of the site.
The location is in an area of AONB and therefore had special considerations with regards to build timings and the context the new cabin would be sited.
The overall result is an contrasting cabin that elegantly sits between modern architecture and nature.
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A bespoke, luxury cabin on wheels
CARRavan is the first moveable cabin that Life Space Cabins has designed and built. It has been a unique and incredibly exciting project to work on, inspired by nature.
Cabin Brief
Our client’s enthusiasm was infectious and we got caught up quickly in her vision of creating a cabin that could be moved between various locations on her large Sussex farm.
She wanted to be able to tow the cabin up into the beautiful Downland valley and feel like she was part of the incredible landscape. Glass needed to be an integral part of the design, in order to bring the outside in.
A cabin on wheels would allow her to appreciate every aspect of the surroundings where she lives. Like many people, the pandemic had highlighted the need for a retreat; at home but distinctly separate from the main house. A place to escape, switch off and reset. As well as keep a watchful eye on the farm and sheep. As a writer, this concept of a peaceful sanctuary was particularly important to the client. So much so, that it was decided that CARRavan would be off-grid.
Cabin Design and Build
Together we agreed on a crisp, contemporary design. The client felt inspired by some examples of simple, striking Scandinavian architecture that merge with the landscape. This included the Norwegian restaurant, Under, that appears to have crashed into a lake as well as a unique hotel concept, VIPP Shelter, where the dark toned interior enhances the natural world around it.Our founder, Jamie Wilson shared her excitement for the possibilities of this project and we took the time to explore many creative possibilities, including a bath on the roof! Some elements didn’t work from a practical perspective (roof bath included, due to the weight when full of water…) but others certainly did.
The final design is a steel structure on a hand-built chassis with large double-glazed Aluminium windows and doors. The cabin is clad in angled slatted larch painted in black, reminiscent of the Scandinavian designs she likes so much and giving a clean, modern appearance. A mirror stainless steel on the skirt of the cabin not only hides the chassis but beautifully reflects the surrounding grass.
Why Life Space Cabins?
After a lot of research into different companies, the client was drawn to us after speaking to some of our other customers and seeing the details in our bespoke projects; particularly the drop-down deck on our Woodcutters Refuge cabin.
She loved the creativity and playfulness that we incorporate into our designs and she wanted a superior build quality.
She felt that Life Space Cabins was the ideal company to deliver all of these elements. We completely agree!
The client said: “The design and build process was done during lockdown, which was been quite odd as Jamie had never visited the site and we’ve done it all online and via video calls. However, the communication had been so good that I’ve felt confident and reassured throughout the process. I’ve taken a lot of their advice on board as Life Space Cabins have an excellent sense of design and they certainly go the extra yard for their clients in my experience”
Two drop-down shutters form large decks to sit out on and the shower overlooks a large picture window to take in the ever-changing views. It is furnished with Karup hippo chairs that fold out into beds; it has a bespoke kitchen and bathroom and a top quality Eco Adventurer Log Burning stove for heat and cooking. Two large roof lights provides windows to the sky above and there are solar panels on the roof.
One of our favourite things about CARRavan is the rather chic, vintage grey Fergie tractor that the client uses to tow it around her site! This inspiring moveable cabin is a unique sanctuary in which to relax, take in the views and feel at one with the rolling hills. Anyone inside will feel warm and dry but also like they are truly a part of the landscape. Every considered, bespoke detail of CARRavan adds to its considerable charm and character.
The client summarised her experience by saying: “Jamie and his team spent two days in the valley applying the finishing touches and ensuring that everything works. Their attention to detail is second to none and I cannot thank them enough for both taking on this unique project, and then delivering such a wonderful cabin on wheels which allows us to enjoy the majesty of the downs while keeping an eye on the sheep!”
Specification
- Off Grid Cabin
- Kitchen area, fridge, shower and compost toilet
- Exterior: Black painted timber vertical strips of cladding set at an angle for a contemporary design.
- Interior: Black and orange interior created using painted birch ply, and hand built kitchen unit which used Valchromat.
- We created the fun drop down shutters using a combination of winches and pulleys.
- Windows: Double glazed windows and doors allowing light to flow through the space.
- Details: a mirror skirt was fitted around the entire the cabin to hide the lower chassis and reflect the grass.
Off Grid Cabin Facts
- Compost Toilet
- LPG Gas supply
- Solar Panel Electrics
- Leisure battery storage
- Water storage (inc grey water)
Life Space Cabins Services
- Full Design
- Full Construction Detailing
- Full Build and Installation Service
