Unique Circular Garden Rooms, modular school buildings and lodges - Handcrafted in the UK
Above & Beyond: Eco Furnishings
Today we were tasked with a slightly unusual request; – To source a high quality, ethically made, circular rug to feature in the centre of a client’s 4.5m Rotunda, “Roundel”. We enthusiastically obliged, excited at the opportunity to further our research into Eco furnishings to suit our Eco garden buildings.
It’s not uncommon for us to receive enquiries for bespoke furnishings for Rotundas, and it is one of the most exciting aspects of offering such an innovative garden room as it opens up so many opportunities to source creative alternatives to the bog standard fixture and fittings. What is even more fantastic is that because the Rotunda is such a beautiful and ethical piece of craftsmanship, it inspires our clients to rethink their usual furniture options and instead seek out pieces that reflect the quality of their garden building, often opting for natural and Eco alternatives.
After a bit of research into environmentally friendly rugs we came across ‘rag rugs’ which are usually made from cloth scraps, old sheets, and up-cycled t-shirts. Due to the nature of the materials, the finished result is colourful and intricate, and looks both beautifully simple and yet strangely complex; not unlike a Rotunda. It was immediately clear that this fantastic example of Eco furnishings was the perfect addition to a circular Eco-building.
Once we had confirmed that the ‘rag rug’ concept was one to be pursued it wasn’t long before we not only found a wonderful craftswoman who makes beautiful, large rugs from organic cotton, but also the perfect design to suit Roundel’s spirit. The circular Eco rug, is crafted from a long braid of fabric that spirals outwards to create a mesmerising pattern of colour and texture. The particular creation which caught our eye transitioned from warm yellow to light teal creating an image of a golden sun radiating out into a clear sky which we thought mirrored the ideal view through the central dome of the Rotunda’s cathedral roof beautifully.
As a modular buildings manufacturer we could easily refuse to offer any kind of soft furnishing advice and many companies in our industry believe firmly that their obligations extend no further than providing the base building; even a paint finish is considered an optional extra. We believe that Rotunda is more than just an Eco building and that we are actually creating a full space that enriches the lives of those who use it; if this calls for us to go above and beyond then we are happy to accept that challenge.
If you are interested in developing your own Rotunda space with us then please don’t hesitate to get in contact and begin your journey to creating your own creative solutions in the round.
Ten Reasons to Invest in a Garden Room this Spring
Ten Reasons to Invest in a Garden Room this Spring
- Separating your work space from your home environment is crucial to maintaining a positive work life balance. The majority of us who’ve all experienced working from the kitchen table have all struggled to remain focused on the task in hand and spent an inordinately long time nibbling on something easily accessible from the fridge/putting the laundry on or just being interrupted by the friendly neighbour who thought it’d be a good time to pop round for an impromptu cup of tea. A garden office or garden studio is separate from the house, from the distractions and from the ever-alluring fridge It’s absolutely wonderful to be able to lock your garden office door on a Friday afternoon (preferably leaving your mobile behind!) and head into the weekend without asking your family to share their Sunday meal at the dining table with your office equipment.
- Reclaim the VAT back as a business expense. A Garden Room is a temporary building and if you are a fully VAT registered business you may be able to claim the full 20% VAT back.
- Reduce your energy Bills working in a high-energy saving garden building and working away from the main house does mean that you no longer have to heat the whole building, but just one room. The benefits of low wattage LED lighting, natural daylight flooding through the roof-light dome, outstanding thermal dynamics and high levels of natural insulation means that it will cost you next to nothing to heat and light your garden room, garden office or studio!
- Reduce your Commute to the office! A garden room is saving you money by reducing the need for train travel/office lunches and parking fees.
- More time in bed or you can make the most of that time you would have been commuting to the office by making an extra special breakfast with your family, starting work earlier (!) or just having an extra 30 minutes in bed!
- Flexibility to work around other commitments. Working in a dedicated space at your home will also ensure that you can fit other scheduled appointments such as doctors visits and school runs around your working day and you can work to your own schedule whilst maximising the time you have in the day to ensure your priorities are achieved.
- Clean Air and a healthy environment is immensely beneficial to your working day. Being surrounded by your garden and working in a timber framed, naturally insulated and breathable garden room, office or studio is a much healthier environment for you and your employees/colleagues. Eliminating the chances of Sick building syndrome (which usually occurs in those employed in buildings containing many people who are working closely together, especially in new buildings with sealed windows.) http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Sick-Building-Syndrome.htm
- Increase the value of your home whilst giving you an additional room with infinite possibilities. A garden room is a house extension and a lifestyle statement and as such could add value to your home in the instance that you would be looking to sell it in the future.
- Save money on a house extension of traditional construction. A traditionally constructed house extension or conservatory may cost more and require significantly more planning and site preparation than a prefabricated garden studio.
- Leasing options if you’re self-employed or have a small business, the cost of purchasing a garden building might be higher than renting space so leasing a Rotunda through your business may also mean that you can lease your Garden studio to obtain all of the benefits of a garden-office but enable you to purchase or return it at the end of your term.
Blogpost written by Gemma Roe.
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