What the space needs to do
Provide one main workstation, room to spread out drawings and a seat away from the desk. Keep equipment and reference material inside fitted storage so the small floor area can stay open.
DESIGN /Residential
The garden workroom
A small timber workspace that separates the working day from the house, with storage and a sheltered arrival.
A focused desk, adaptable storage & a garden threshold
01 / THE BRIEF
A clear starting point.
A short walk through the garden becomes the transition into a working day. The compact room puts a continuous desk at the rear, a storage bench at the side and clear floor space between the entrance and the chair. Birch plywood gives the fitted elements a consistent character; a darker floor makes their lighter edges legible. Outside, vertical larch cladding and a slim roof edge keep the building modest in scale. The canopy is part of the arrival sequence, offering a place to pause before stepping inside. The study explores a dedicated workspace rather than a separate dwelling.
The conditions that shape it
The garden route, boundary relationship and available services shape the proposal as much as the room itself. Foundations, drainage, overheating, insulation and the applicable permission route would need site-specific review.
IN USE
Everything at the edge.
From the threshold, the long desk, drawer pedestal and cushioned storage bench share the same plywood finish. The central floor remains open between work and pause.
02 / ONE SPACE, TWO APPROACHES
Do you need one long work surface or two different places to work?
Both options keep the 5.4 × 3.6 m enclosure, garden entrance and windows. Each includes one main workstation, reference storage and a seat away from the desk; the canopy remains outside the footprint.
Option A / Shown in the images
A clear floor between desk and garden
Put the desk, drawings and equipment along one wall, with a fitted storage bench at the side.
- 01
The canopy marks arrival without increasing enclosed floor space.
- 02
Bench doors and the desk chair need their own working clearance.
- 03
Dimensions are study assumptions, not survey or construction information.
- What it offers
- The floor stays open and the long surface supports one person moving between tasks.
- The trade-off
- Screen work and larger project material share the same run, so spreading out needs coordination.
- Best suited to
- Mostly solo desk work with equipment and materials arranged along the wall.
Option B / Alternative layout
A desk plus a freestanding project table
Shorten the desk and add a freestanding table for drawings or models, with shallow storage and a loose reading chair.
- 01
The 1.6 × 0.8 m project table gives drawings or models a surface separate from the main desk.
- 02
Arrival passes to the left of the central table; working and chair clearances need testing around each edge.
- 03
A shorter desk and a loose chair replace the long work surface and fitted storage bench, reducing fitted storage in exchange for another way to work.
- What it offers
- A project can remain on its own table while the main desk stays available.
- The trade-off
- The central table takes up open floor area, and replacing the storage bench reduces fitted storage.
- Best suited to
- Hands-on work that benefits from a separate surface for drawings, samples or models.
| Consideration | Option AA long wall workstation | Option BDesk and project table |
|---|---|---|
| Work surfaces | One 4.85 m wall desk. | A 2.35 m wall desk and a 1.6 × 0.8 m project table. |
| Open floor | The middle remains largely free of furniture. | The project table occupies the centre; circulation passes around it. |
| Storage and pause | A fitted bench combines a seat with storage. | Shallow cabinet storage and a separate loose chair. |
What guides the choice
Choose A when a clear floor and a continuous desk matter most. Explore B when leaving a project set out is part of everyday work. A full-size furniture check would test whether the extra table is worth the reduced open floor.
03 / DESIGN AT CLOSE RANGE
A seat with a second purpose.
The close view follows the plywood edge, recessed finger pull and charcoal floor junction. A removable cushion and accessible cupboard fronts keep maintenance part of the design conversation.
A short journey to work
The glazed entrance faces the garden path. A shallow canopy makes the threshold distinct without enlarging the enclosed workroom.
Keep the centre clear
Desk and bench occupy the edges, leaving room to move the chair, open storage and bring a drawing or model to the work surface.
Let joinery do more
The low bench offers a second place to sit while keeping materials below. Repeated plywood edges and recessed pulls make the work surfaces, drawers and seating read as one family.
04 / MATERIAL PALETTE
A palette with a purpose.
The exterior and interior use timber in different ways. Larch gives the garden face texture; birch provides a smooth working surface. Charcoal flooring and bronzed trims form the quieter supporting layer.
01–04 · Samples shown from left to right
- 01
Natural larch
External vertical cladding direction
A narrow board rhythm gives the small enclosure a readable scale.
Sample reviewReview weathering, fixing arrangement, ventilation behind the boards and lower-edge protection.
- 02
Birch plywood
Desk, drawers and storage bench
The pale face and exposed layered edge connect work and seating.
Sample reviewConfirm board grade, edge treatment, finish samples and support beneath the desk span.
- 03
Charcoal rubber flooring
Workroom floor direction
A dark continuous tone grounds the lighter joinery and keeps the room visually simple.
Sample reviewCheck substrate preparation, chair-castor compatibility, joints and cleaning requirements.
- 04
Bronzed metal
Roof edge and glazing trim direction
A restrained dark edge gives the timber enclosure definition.
Sample reviewCoordinate coating, external exposure, drainage paths and interfaces with the glazing supplier.
05 / DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
Taking the idea further.
The next decisions for this study, before specifying products or preparing work for construction.
Check the ground and approach
Review the existing garden levels, boundary distances, ground conditions and delivery route before fixing foundation and access decisions. The drawing does not establish a permitted-development outcome.
Resolve year-round comfort
Coordinate insulation, ventilation, shading and the selected glazing with the expected working pattern. Consider glare at the laptop and how the room will be heated when occupied.
Connect services and detail the edge
Confirm the electrical and data route, roof-water discharge and canopy junctions. Develop the desk support, socket positions and storage openings alongside the internal lining.
KEEP EXPLORING
Other ways to shape a space.
NEXT /A useful next step
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