Made In Sussex: Contemporary Garden Rooms

Harrison James meets the increasing demand for real useable space, providing garden rooms and outdoor office space for the home-working businessperson…

Harrison James are experts when it comes to garden buildings. Between them, founders, Mark Emberson and James Willmott have over 10 years experience in the garden buildings industry. From its beginnings in August 2012 to the current day, SBT learns more about the garden room industry and the Harrison James name.

Is there a larger demand for home – or specifically garden – offices now than ever before?

Yes, definitely. More and more people are now working for themselves and being able to separate working life from home life is a key factor to success when working from home. Many people want to reduce their office rental costs, so owning a garden room makes real sense. Another demographic we regularly see is employees of larger companies who work from home. It makes financial sense for the company as it reduces the need for large office units and can ultimately make employees far more productive.

Is there a particular demand for what you do in Sussex?

Sussex is our home. It is where we are based and where we started our business and as a result is the county we receive the largest amount of enquiries from. There are certainly a lot of people here that have that need for more space, many of whom do not want to move. Whether that is because they are near a good school or close to family and friends, or indeed because they simply love where they live; Sussex certainly is a popular place for garden rooms.

What are the benefits of a Harrison James garden office?

We will create a workspace that is separate from your home allowing each individual to be as productive and professional as possible when working from home. Each building is bespoke so you can be guaranteed to have the best space to suit your individual needs. Our expert team of designers work with each client to ensure every detail is carefully planned. The finished article is a beautiful, practical building that is comfortable year round and will add value to your home.

What makes your business different from others of the same kind?

A Harrison James Garden Room is the best on the market. The bespoke nature of what we do is an extremely valuable aspect as many gardens are irregular shapes that would simply not suit an off the shelf product. Everyone who works for Harrison James has hands on construction experience of our garden rooms which means our knowledge and attention to detail is second to none. We have a large display area at Old Barn Nurseries on the A24 just south of Horsham where people can leisurely walk between seven display buildings of various sizes and finishes which is a perfect way to get an idea of how you would like your building to look and feel.

Do you use environmentally friendly materials?

We source all materials locally and purchase in a way that minimises waste. We buy timber only from sustainable sources and some products are made from recycled materials. We are extremely conscious of our impact on the environment and are constantly looking at ways we can reduce our impact.

Where can we see a commercial space built by you in Sussex? 

We have many commercial buildings in Sussex. Three examples would be Meadows Nursery School in Eastbourne. Cornerways Dental Practice in Angmering and Lagoon Watersports in Hove. Each very different buildings used for different purposes.

www.contemporarygardenrooms.com