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A guide to designing a granny annexe

Donna Connolly • September 9, 2019

 

 

Why create a granny annex in your your home or garden?

How and who we live with is starting to change.  It appears the number of multi-generational households are increasing and the reason is most likely linked to the UK economy.  Whether it be ‘Brexit’, a credit crunch or double dip recession, over the last few years house prices continue to rise (especially in the South East and Metropolitan Areas).  The cost of purchasing a home appears to go hand-in-hand with with statistics  demonstrating an influx in the number of parents living with their adult children.  So perhaps, all Mother-in-law jokes aside, this could be both a personal and financially savvy decision. 

Multi-generational households are on the rise. The Government estimates that the number of people aged over 85 will increase by 184% over the next 30 years. The risk of property being sold to pay for the high costs of care homes and knock on effect of loss of inheritance*make moving elderly parents in a more appealing option for end of years care.

Of course,  there are those active Octogenarians, without whom many working parents couldn’t cope; relying on as both grandparent and child care provider.  The multi-generational household solves a lot of problems.

If you make the decision to move a parent or both parents into the family home, how do you go about it and most importantly of all, where do you put them?

Privacy

A division of space is important, and where possible, can make life easier for everyone.  Allowing the parent to maintain independence and escape when family quarrels flare up.

Where to build the annexe

We have worked with a number of customer’s developing ‘Granny Annexes’ and they have taken various forms. Garages, attics, outbuildings being converted; essentially the ideal solutions is to create a self -contained studio or apartment within the actual house or grounds of the family home.

Planning for your Granny Annexe

It is always advisable to liaise with the planning department of your local authority before finalising designs. Conversions and extensions may be liable for a separate council tax fee, capital gains tax or conversely financial support could well be available for those who will be living with relatives requiring care for a disability.**

Plan ahead.  Your now active parent might find some tasks a little trickier as the years tick by and arthritis takes hold.  Consider the design of your kitchen. Under-counter appliances can be difficult to access. Control switches and knobs should be in easily reachable locations. Arthritic hands find lever handles easier to manoeuvre than knobs, which require twisting; an induction hob is a popular solution.

10 Design Tips for Designing a Granny Annex

  1. Plan for the future
  2. No steps and level/gently sloping access
  3. Large rooms to allow for easy manoeuvring with walking frames / wheelchair should you ever have the need
  4.  Tall windows and good artificial lighting – natural light helps promote good mood and creates a feeling of space
  5. Lavatory near bedroom
  6. Raised flowerbeds
  7. Solid/reinforced walls for grab handle
  8.  Non-slip floor surfaces, ideally carpets which also provide a soft landing if falls occur
  9. Lever handles on sinks and doors
  10.  Sockets positioned at accessible levels

Find granny annexe kitchen ideas in our case study here:  https://johnstrand-mk.co.uk/projects/kitchen-for-a-conversion/

If you would like no obligation advice or assistance in the planning of a kitchen for your Granny Annexe send us an e-mail to enquiry@john-strand-mk.co.uk or call 020 8930 6006.

*Tax implications are made a little clearer on the HMRC website, see this link: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/inheritancetax/pass-money-property/pass-home-to-children.htm

 

Kitchens Hidden From View

By John Strand • January 20, 2025
We have been making and selling kitchens for small spaces for a long, long time, so long in fact that we feel comfortable to call ourselves ‘expert’ in the field. An early design development was from the ‘mini kitchen’, which is solely a base unit, to the hideaway kitchen. ‘ Hideaway kitchen’ is the name they have always been given but then it dawned on us, do our customers (and potential customers) understand what a hideaway kitchen is? Simply put, a hideaway kitchen has a top unit with doors which can be shut to conceal the workings of the kitchen so thus hiding it away ! Other names for these kitchens include ‘kitchen in a cupboard’ and ‘concealed kitchen’ or the ‘hidden kitchen.’ We refer them to as hidden kitchens these days to avoid confusion. All pretty straight forward stuff. Simple but great, especially if you need a kitchen in a studio apartment or meeting room. Focusing on the design, the questions we most commonly get asked relate to safety. Can the hob be this close to the sink and is it safe to have doors? Safety is, as it should be, at the top of the list. Sinks must always be positioned with 300mm space between the hob and or any sockets, and the doors can be fitt ed with power supply cut-out and / or the hob is fitted with a safety timer so will cut out after a set time. Hidden kitchens are increasing in popularity every year and when you consider the combination of style, function and suitability for small or multi-use areas it just makes sense.  For more information please visit our website…johnstrand-mk.co.uk

Unlock the full potential of your living space

By John Strand MK • January 8, 2024
John Strand Sofa Wall beds 1. Maximizing Living Areas: The most apparent advantage of a sofa wall bed is its ability to maximize living areas. During the day, the sofa serves as a relaxing seating arrangement, allowing you to make the most of your space. When night falls, seamlessly transform it into a comfortable bed, eliminating the need for separate pieces of furniture and optimizing your floor space. 2. Dual-Functionality in Compact Spaces: For those renting or living in smaller apartments or studio flats, the sofa wall bed is a revelation. It effortlessly combines two essential pieces of furniture into one, providing a seating area for daytime activities and a sleeping space at nighttime. This dual-functionality is a game-changer in compact living situations. 3. Effortless Transition: The mechanism behind sofa wall beds is designed for ease of use. Transitioning from a sofa to a bed, and vice versa, is a smooth and hassle-free process. This user-friendly feature ensures that you can transform your living space with minimal effort, making it an ideal solution for all age groups. 4. A Stylish Addition to Any Room: Sofa wall beds are not just about functionality; they also add a touch of style to your living space. Available in various designs, colors, and materials, these pieces can complement any decor style. The seamless integration of a sofa wall bed enhances the overall aesthetics of your room.

Concealed Kitchens: The Sleek Solution for Modern Living

By John Strand • September 18, 2023
The benefits of a concealed and hidden kitchen.

Small Kitchen Design Layouts

By Donna Connolly • February 27, 2020
    Small Kitchen Design Layouts How to make kitchens work in a small space? Kitchen design, like many forms of design, relies on what have become traditional formulas and concepts.  These ‘design rules’ have been tried, tested and work a treat; such as the classic triangle of fridge, sink and hob within a 7 … Continued The post Small Kitchen Design Layouts appeared first on John Strand MK.

Making space in Studio apartments – A guide to open-plan, multi-functional apartment living

By Donna Connolly • December 19, 2019
    The diminishing size of homes, is a topic you often hear discussed but what truth is there in it?  Is it just a cliché and common misconception batted around, along with the lines of; “It wasn’t like that in my day”.  So are humans getting bigger (we are but that’s another story) or … Continued The post Making space in Studio apartments – A guide to open-plan, multi-functional apartment living appeared first on John Strand MK.

Wall beds for studio apartments

By Alt Admin • December 5, 2019
The objective was to create light filled, desirable apartments aimed at young professionals in a town centre location but the challenge was in the size. John Strand worked with property developers for a project of contemporary flats in Watford Hertfordshire.  The objective was to create light filled, desirable apartments aimed at young professionals in a … Continued The post Wall beds for studio apartments appeared first on John Strand MK.

Luxury Cabins by the Sea

By Alt Admin • November 14, 2019
Oh we do like to be beside the seaside!The aim of Cabü by the Sea is to provide beautiful buildings for everyone.  An ambition successfully achieved with the Scandinavian inspired cabins offering a relaxing space within the wild and windswept surroundings of St. Mary’s Bay. CABU approached John Strand Kitchens for a development of architecturally … Continued The post Luxury Cabins by the Sea appeared first on John Strand MK.

Office to residential converstion in Harrow

By Alt Admin • November 5, 2019
Change of use from office space to stylish contemporary studio apartments with John Strand Contract kitchens.Harrow sits on the North West of London’s Metropolitan line. A short tube-ride into central London and a stone’s throw from the rolling countryside of the surrounding home counties. It’s a popular destination with first time buyers and therefore an … Continued The post Office to residential converstion in Harrow appeared first on John Strand MK.

Kitchens in a Grand Location

By Alt Admin • October 24, 2019
Bespoke kitchens for a beautiful and grand refurbishmentThe majority of John Strand clients call looking for expert help, they need a kitchen but don’t have space for one!  On the opposite end of that scale is Barrington Hall, lack of space was definitely not a concern for this project. A magnificent Grade II listed Georgian … Continued The post Kitchens in a Grand Location appeared first on John Strand MK.

A Brief History of the John Strand Mini Kitchen

By Donna Connolly • October 8, 2019
    It’s small and mighty.  John Strand has been supplying compact kitchens for over 30 years and here is the history of how it all began, and why, three decades on, the one-metre-wide kitchen units are still sold across the country. Constructed of steel with a powder coated white finish; it houses a sink, … Continued The post A Brief History of the John Strand Mini Kitchen appeared first on John Strand MK.
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