Crafting Two Bespoke Garden Spaces in Hampshire

When Steve and Sara bought their stunning Hampshire home set in a beautiful one-acre plot back in 2020, they knew they had found their forever home.

After an initially challenging experience with a previous builder during a master bedroom renovation, the couple decided to pivot their focus to the outside. They invested in a garden designer to shape the front and rear gardens and commissioned an architect to design two distinct, workshop-style cabin rooms to maximise their outdoor space. However, the architect’s original plans came in significantly over budget—essentially proposing a second house on the land. To manage the investment, Steve and Sarah decided to phase the project, putting the first build out to tender.

Finding the Right Partner: From Apprehension to Solutions

Understandably nervous after their past building experience, the couple invited two builders to tender. That was when they met Mark from Elivate. From day one, the difference was clear. Rather than simply trying to build the overly complex, expensive architect drawings, Mark reviewed the plans and immediately began offering practical, cost-effective alternative solutions to bring the vision to life within a realistic budget. Impressed by this proactive approach, Steve and Sarah instructed Elivate to build phase one: Steve’s front-of-property workshop, which was completed in 2024. The build went so seamlessly that it gave the couple the ultimate confidence to immediately embark on phase two: the large luxury cabin at the rear of the property.

Phase 2: A Multi-Functional Family Cabin

The larger rear cabin was designed to be incredibly versatile. Today, it serves as Steve’s dedicated home office, but it also doubles as a premium guest house for family and friends, complete with an inbuilt shower room and space for two sofa beds. To seamlessly blend the new building into their acre of land, Elivate also carried out extensive hard landscaping around the structure.

Trust, Detail, and Family-First Craftsmanship

A building project is only as good as the team on-site. Steve and Sara both highlighted the exceptional relationships they built with the Elivate team, giving special mentions to Craig and Arron, in whom they developed an enormous amount of trust.

• Involved & Collaborative: Steve, who describes his style as “involved and interested,” loved being part of the process—asking questions and collaborating on ideas with the team daily.
• Attention to Detail: Sara praised the team’s meticulous care and attention to the smallest design details, ensuring the finish was flawless.

Beyond the craftsmanship, it was Elivate’s empathy that truly stood out. Phase two coincided with a major life event: Sara was pregnant, and the couple soon welcomed their firstborn child. “Punctual, accommodating, and considerate,” Sara shared. “The team—mostly family men themselves—were hugely aware of the impact of having a new baby. They worked entirely around our family circumstances, always mindful of our newborn and our family dog.”

Transparent Costs & An “Excellent” Experience

While Elivate’s initial quote was higher than the competitor, Steve and Sara chose them because the pricing was completely transparent, highly detailed, and clear. This transparency allowed the family to confidently choose to invest further, adding new elements to the project along the way, with Elivate adapting quickly and smoothly to every change. They both commented on the team on site, mentioning a special relationship they established with Craig, the Operations Manager, and Arron, one of the site managers. (Craig mentioned what a dream job this was for him and his team, all originally carpenters.) When asked if there was anything Elivate could do to improve, the couple stated there was absolutely nothing—the entire experience was excellent from start to finish.

Looking to the Future

Steve and Sara have already recommended Elivate to their neighbours and friends. In fact, they are already planning future renovations inside their main house, and they’ve made it clear: they will only ever use Elivate.