Dreaming of a tranquil escape in your own backyard? Look no further than the inspiring story of Corinne's summer house transformation. Using Westminster Stone's National Trust Petworth Flagstones, Corinne crafted a stunning and versatile space perfect for al fresco dining, family gatherings, and peaceful relaxation. Follow Corinne's journey as we explore the design process, construction challenges, and the ultimate satisfaction of creating a personal haven that extends the enjoyment of your garden year-round.

Inspiration

I first came across Westminster Stone while watching Dick and Angel's 'Escape to the Chateau'.  They took delivery of Westminster stone flagstones to create a patio area and we thought they looked fantastic - and they have not disappointed!! I would say that the Petworth flagstones are absolutely stunning and have really given the whole summerhouse the feel that I wanted.  After months of planning, digging, sawing, hammering and painting - it has been worth every minute and we absolutely love it. 

Design & Build

I came up with a rough sketch for my husband and he set about coming up with a proper design and working out how to achieve what I wanted.  He started with upright 4x4 posts and then added tongue and groove panels, topped off with a flat roof (for my rambling rose) and then the log burner.  I really wanted an 'open' space and not a closed in summerhouse.  We enjoy being outdoors and did not want to feel closed in at all.  I have made some simple roll up blinds for a bit of sun protection and to block out any breeze that we may have.

We cleared a large amount of ground at the bottom of our garden and really got started on the project in February 2020.   Lockdown hit and this gave us the time to really get started but then ran into problems with securing materials which meant it took longer than we had hoped.  However, we did work on this continually throughout lockdown but just had to order (and wait for ) materials online.  

My husband built everything from scratch from his own plans, we put the log burner in ourselves and the only thing we brought tradesmen in for; was to lay Westminster Stone's National Trust Petworth flagstones.  My husband then added steps to enter the summerhouse and we have included some of the traditional bricks and two gateposts that we have dug up in our garden over the years. The whole project was fairly straightforward - only lack of materials during COVID lockdown held us up.  

Time to Enjoy

This is a great space for all year round and it has allowed us to meet up with family as COVID restrictions eased and we could meet outdoors - this had to come in stages as we have three sons with partners and could only meet up in limited numbers until very recently. It was never really intended to be used in wintry conditions between November and February but 2020/21 has been a very unusual time!! We love holidays in Spain and have often sat on a lovely terrace wishing we could have something like it at home. 

It is south facing and does actually recreate the feeling of holidays in Spain (we so look forward to going there again) and even in Scotland we are enjoying temperatures of 30 degrees in there.  It is great for all al fresco meals and we have a huge extendable table to accommodate the whole family for meals.  A quick turnaround means we can bring out the ping pong table for after-dinner entertainment or relax in the comfy seats for drinks.

This has more than met expectations and is really used for everything - breakfast, lunch, family dinners, ping pong, a play area for our granddaughter, afternoon drinks and somewhere lovely to enjoy the Sunday papers. 

Who doesn't dream of a beautiful outdoor space to relax and entertain? Corinne's summer house transformation with our National Trust Petworth Flagstones is pure inspiration! Westminster Stone would like to extend a huge thank you to Corinne for her detailed summerhouse journey and photos. We hope it is enjoyed for many years to come.

Are you ready to transform your garden and create lasting memories with loved ones? Explore the National Trust Petworth Flagstone collection at Westminster Stone today! We offer a wide variety of styles and colors to suit any design aesthetic. Browse our website or visit our showroom to find the perfect flagstones to bring your summer house vision to life.

Shop the Look

These smooth Stonecast Yorkstone National Trust Petworth Flagstones have been skilfully moulded from time-worn originals, evoking the timeless grandeur of Petworth House in Sussex. The warm olive and subtle grey tones complement both brick and stone properties, and a range of sizes ensures an authentic paved terrace or pathway. Beautiful as interior flooring, National Trust Petworth Flagstones are suitable for use with underflooring heating.

Buy Petworth Paving

About the Author

Sian McHugh

'Sian has been working with us at Westminster Stone for over 5 years and has developed expertise in garden design and landscaping. Her passion for nature extends to tending her own garden, teaching yoga and hiking during her free time.'