No planning permission needed and a great addition to our home with so many uses

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When Cris Murphy and his partner Mandy moved into their 17^th century farmhouse, they knew at once they wanted to replace the old shed and greenhouse in their large garden for something more useful.

But like most owners of period properties, they had to first focus on refurbishing the interior of their Midlands home, and finally six years later they were ready to tackle the exterior.

“Whatever we were going to buy needed to match the oak beams in our farmhouse and I had this picture in my mind of exactly what I wanted,” explains Cris. “I wanted a garden room where I could open up the front and enjoy the garden even in lousy weather.”

They looked at lots of options online and found Norwegian Log’s website. “The garden rooms featured were so close to what I had pictured that I made contact and took it from there. We got a brochure, figured out what we wanted and then went to visit the showroom at Reading to make sure everything matched perfectly,” he says.

The Norwegian Log team guided the couple through the ordering process and ensured the spacious Vista-style building would be sited at least 2m from the garden boundary and measure less than 30m², so it would not require planning permission or building regulations. Within three months, Cris had an installation date, and once the team was on site, it took just a fortnight to install.

“Norwegian Log were a pleasure to deal with. The installation team were fantastic, very polite and the quality of work was really good. You could see the care taken, and they kept us informed as to how it was all going,” he says.

The solid log building boasts a glazed front of bifold doors, and an extra set for side access. Cris has created a bar and a cinema-style viewing area with comfortable seating. There is even a separate toilet and washroom for the ultimate in convenience.

It has already become an invaluable extension of their home. Birthday parties and entertaining are now easy to host, whatever the weather, but the couple primarly use it for lounging and chilling out. “We go out and put some music on and have a glass of wine. Or my father will go out and watch films in there,” explains Cris.

“The way it’s worked out has been fantastic - the design, colour, build quality, and brilliant comments from friends and relatives. It’s a great addition to our home,” he adds.