“We visited a lot of different companies offering all sorts of garden studios, but it was the quality of the Garden Affairs buildings that really impressed us.” Claire Thomas, Caked Wedding and Celebration Cakes.
Claire Thomas of Caked tells us how a bespoke Garden Affairs garden building helped her find much-needed space for her cake decorating business, without the huge overheads of renting a shop or retail unit.
Claire’s cake-decorating business is all about beauty and detail, and she wanted her cake-making garden studio to reflect this. She went for a traditional look with a canopy/porch area to the front.
Claire had recently relocated her cake decorating business from London to Dorset. She decided it was the perfect time to create a dedicated cake space. As well as needing an area to make and decorate her wedding and celebration cakes, Claire needed somewhere to store all her professional equipment as well as ingredients, and a professional and relaxed space to have client consultations.
Claire came to our display centre, here in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, to view the buildings for herself and to discuss her ideas. She described how she wanted to use the building now and in the future. She told us she wanted a traditional look, with a canopy/porch area to the front, for both shelter and architectural detail.
After listening carefully to Claire’s needs, and considering the space and environment she would need for her business to thrive, we agreed a large log cabin in solid 70mm timber, (which offered great insulation values for both keeping the building cool in summer and warm in winter) would be ideal. We even designed in a small storage room for all her cake making stuff!
“All my cakes came out of my home kitchen before the garden studio. In the beginning, it was fine, but during busy periods it was chaos! As I became busier, there was a definite need to create a separate dedicated workspace.”
We designed the cabin to precisely fit Claire’s requirements for an uncluttered workspace with light, storage and an area to consult with clients. Insulation in the roof & floor, together with double glazing meant the space would be very comfortable for all year-round use.
“My cake business offers bespoke wedding and celebration cakes for all occasions. I was looking for a space to make all my cakes, store my ever-expanding equipment and materials, and also an area to design and host client consultations. I had looked into renting a unit or small shop, but the costs were just too high. When looking at some units someone had created on their spare land, we realised we had the space to create our own and design it exactly how we wanted.”
The large, luxury quality, log cabin offers Claire much-needed extra space and versatility. Opening double casement windows and a skylight create loads of natural light. Her pink feature wall, is bang on trend and adds an imaginative flash of colour.
“We visited a lot of different companies offering all sorts of garden studios, but it was the quality of the Garden Affairs buildings that really impressed us. Some of the other companies we looked at felt like sheds when inside, but these didn’t at all. In addition, the whole team from design through to the build were professional and friendly, and understood exactly what we needed. They guided us through the many options to customise the studio, providing recommendations specific to our needs.”
The quality of the build and internal features, and the professionalism of the Garden Affairs team really impressed Claire. Floor and roof insulation and solid 70mm walls mean the building is comfortable to work in all year round. Full electrics were connected by our electrician.
“Besides the practicalities, we also wanted it to look beautiful. We knew from the start that we wanted a traditional log cabin design, and we’re delighted with how it turned out. We were also conscious of what the studio may be used for in the future beyond the cake studio. It’s such a versatile space and could easily be turned into a little guest house or games room.”
“The studio offers a separate space in which to work and store my vast amount of cake equipment and materials, as well as providing a professional yet beautiful environment to welcome my clients. Everyone who walks in says how lovely it is!”
The grey flooring, comfy sofa and contemporary tongue-and-groove walls make the Garden Affairs office building a welcoming and professional space for client consultations.
“I think the best thing is that it’s created a separate workspace, allowing me to be at work when I’m working, and at home when I’m not. And the commute isn’t too bad either!”
If you want a space to launch your new business idea or work from home, try our easy-to-use 3D design tool to design your very own garden log cabin. Simply choose the size that fits your space, play around with door and window options, and find the colours that will suit your garden. Once you're happy with your design, send it to the team at Garden Affairs to discuss bringing your design to life.
Click here to design your own log cabin.
Contact Claire & view her stunning creations at Caked Patisserie:
If you are looking for a space for your home-based business, be it cake making, an art studio or a pottery den, come along to our display centre, meet our friendly expert team & chat with us about your plans.
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