Welcome to our ‘happy house’ that helps the whole family

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Lockdown update from Coral and Amy, July 2020  -  “It’s been a lifeline,” explains Coral. “Amy has been closer than a neighbour. If I needed anything then she has been on call, and even though she didn’t come in the house, I knew she was still part of our household. It’s the reassurance - which was one of the main reasons we had the cabin built in the first place. This has proven that it works because without Amy right next to me, apart from the carers coming in, I wouldn’t have been seeing anyone. It’s been such an added bonus having her so close. It really has been the ideal solution - me needing the extra support and also from Amy’s point of view, having me around too. Without the lodge I’d have been really isolated.”

As a full-time carer for her husband, Coral was keen to get extra support and company at home, whilst at the same time her niece Amy happened to be looking for a new property. With the added ingredients of a new contemporary log cabin annex and an unused corner in Coral’s Essex garden, everyone’s wishes have now been answered.

“I needed some support looking after my husband,” explains Coral. “I have carers in but it’s nice to have a family member around, especially at the weekends. I started to look at my garden – this area used to be a pond – and I wondered if I could install a cabin. Amy and her little daughter Daisy were looking for a new home and I was looking for company. It just all made sense.”

“I did a bit of research and came up with Norwegian Log. I did look at another company but just kept on coming back to Norwegian Log,” she laughs. Amy and her father visited Norwegian Log’s showroom at Reading and the decision was made. “It took a year from the concept in my head to Amy moving in.”

With help from Norwegian Log, a Certificate of Lawful Use was agreed with the local planning authorities and the build was ready to start. “My gardener actually project managed the groundworks and everything worked perfectly. The Norwegian Log team was great, I couldn’t fault them,” Coral comments.

Amy and Daisy’s new Stavanger-style home has a chic, contemporary vibe. The large open-plan living area is glass-fronted with views onto local fields. An on-trend pale grey fitted kitchen boasts a useful island lit by a stylish chandelier, and an additional utility/boot room means all the functional appliances are tucked away out of sight. Daisy has her own spacious bedroom and Amy has a large double with added dressing room. They share a roomy bath and shower room.

“It’s been amazing,” says Amy. “It feels so homely and the layout is really lovely, it’s such a nice living space. Daisy can wander safely around the whole place and I don’t have to worry. She loves going out onto the decking and playing.”

The cabin has a very private feel but just a few paces away across the lawn is Coral’s house. “This has provided security for both Coral and myself, we both needed help at the same time and it’s meant we’ve been able to help each other which is wonderful,” Amy adds.

And at the entrance to her new home is a smiley face decoration, bought by Coral. “I saw that and thought it would be perfect for Amy. This building has given us all real peace of mind and so it’s our happy house,” she says.