I Splashed £40,000 on My Garden Oasis: Meet the Football Pitch with an Outdoor Bath

When Sally Worts, 56, and her husband Chris, 64, bought their Victorian barn conversion near Skipton in North Yorkshire 12 years ago, it was the building’s huge garden and sensational views that sold it to them.

However, with four young and energetic sons When they first moved in, prioritizing the design of an outdoor living area wasn't at the top of their list.

Rather than doing that, they concentrated on revamping the inside of the house and redirecting their resources to dig up the lower part of the garden. This was done to create space for a five-a-side football field and also to shape an area suitable for Sally’s needs. greenhouses – where she cultivates flowers and vegetables.

'It checked off everything we needed at first,' she explains. 'The kids had room to play, while Chris and I appreciated the scenery and tinkered about in the greenhouses. However, I always envisioned adding a veranda along the rear of the house someday to craft an enjoyable spot for outdoor entertainment.'

It was not until 2020 that Sally started crafting plans for a veranda as an extension. extension to the house Her task was to design a welcoming space for relaxing with friends and family, featuring distinct areas: a seating zone complete with a couch, sofas, and armchairs. coffee table; and a dining area with a nine-feet long Edwardian dining table from a local antiques dealer, which can fit lots of people for maximum socialising.

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She drew a simple design, instructing her joiner to cement seven posts into the existing paving and build  a simple wood-beam roof structure with laminate roof panels overhead and  wooden decking underneath. She also spent hours measuring the roof angle to ensure water tightness.

'It is entirely water-resistant, and the house protects it from the wind, allowing us to keep everything outdoors throughout the year.'

To add warmth to the area, Sally secured rattan panels beneath the roof beams with a stapler and intertwined artificial ivy from the ceiling down to the rattan.

'I have trained actual ivy before, but since it takes time to grow, I included an artificial plant instead. It looks so realistic; I find it hard to distinguish between them.'

It's evident that Sally has given equal significance to outdoor decorations as she has to interior design in her home.

Using the same colour palette of  yellows and animal prints as inside the house, she bought accessories she would use indoors, too, such as cushions, throws and rugs – with enormous disco balls hanging above.

'I didn't wish to view my garden during winter and find everything concealed under covers. I desired to utilize the area throughout the entire year,' explains Sally, who has added outdoor heaters for those extremely chilly days. 'Also, do not think you must purchase furniture designed exclusively for outdoor use.'

She transformed an Ikea piece for her veranda, purchased from Facebook Marketplace and then colored it dark blue.

'It's fantastic for keeping my antique plates and glassware safe. True, some drafts come through during the colder season, but since I always clean my dishes before using them, it doesn’t really matter.'

The next item on the list was an outdoor kitchen constructed by her carpenter, matching the design of the veranda. Sally opted for the same laminate panels she knew worked well before, and included a gentle slope on the roof to ensure rainfall would drain away from the cooking area towards the rear instead of pouring over the person preparing food.

She then fitted a tile Splashback made with tin tiles from Rockett St George, which were painted gold to match her current color palette, along with a durable Carrara worktop installation.

The standout piece is the Charlie charcoal yellow cooker. 'As soon as I laid eyes on it, I decided I needed it. We matched the color perfectly so it would complement our current interior design - and it has become one of their top-selling items,' explains Sally, who appreciates the vibrant hue. 'It’s simply a lovely addition.' happy colour , isn’t it?’

Mindful that the wooden exterior,  which Sally painted in an outdoors paint matched to Farrow & Ball Railings, looked quite hard, she planted bamboo in huge plastic planters sourced from her local garden centre, which she spray-painted in gold.

‘You’ve got to be really careful with bamboo if you plant it in the ground because its roots grow rapidly – but  I love how beautiful it looks when it sways and flutters in the wind,’ says Sally, who has recently begun  studying for a degree in horticulture and garden design.

Securing the top honor for the finest garden at the first edition ufurnish.com awards last year provided Sally with the motivation to transform her enthusiasm for garden design into a venture.

'I had been contemplating pursuing studies for some time when I ended up winning the prize.'

"The awards focus on highlighting what ordinary folks do with their houses and gardens, and they provided the encouragement I needed to think, 'You know what, I can tackle this,' " explains Sally, who aims to specialize in well-being and regenerative gardening.

The latest inclusion in her garden is an incredibly vibrant yellow outdoor bathtub sourced from Victoria Plum Bathrooms, which has become quite popular on her Instagram page. @sallydoessassy .

Initially, the family used an oak barrel for cold dipping, but it proved impractical in various weather conditions. So, Sally swapped it out for a cast-iron bathtub instead. Her husband, Chris, then painted the tub a sunny yellow color to complement her cooker and furniture. He added some flair to the legs by painting them a gleaming gold.

'We used inexpensive yellow and white tiles underneath the bathtub and concealed the pipes beneath the gravel, connecting them to an outdoor faucet at the front of the house,' explains Sally.

'It feels incredibly luxurious to take a warm bath in your garden. However, it's delightful to relax in the bathtub after a long day of gardening. I absolutely adore it.'

Sally’s favourite plants

Turf grasses are beautiful, even when grown in pots, as they dance with the breeze.

Anything you can rub your hands on and smell – geraniums are amazing for this

Nasturtiums are fantastic because they bring a burst of color – not to mention, they're also edible.

Herbs are always a safe choice. Nothing compares to the satisfaction of cultivating something you can harvest and enjoy at your dining table.

Sally’s garden cost breakdown

Football field including excavation £30,000

Dining-living veranda £5,000

Outdoor kitchen £2,000

Plumbing and tiling for an outdoor bathtub cost £500.

Outdoor bath £1,000

Show off your skills in the ufurnish.com awards

If you fancy following in Sally’s footsteps and think you may have a chance of impressing the judges in this year’s ufurnish.com awards, entries are now open.

Whether you’ve got stunning before-and-after shots, a glorious garden or you’re a DIY whiz, there’s a category for you, so it’s time to put your talent inthe spotlight.

Romero.my.idis proud to be the media partner of the ufurnish.com Home Awards 2025 and will showcase the homeowners, influencers, innovators, retailers and manufacturers who are transforming living spaces across the UK.

From jaw-dropping before-and-after renovations to effortlessly stylish spaces on a budget, the awards recognise outstanding talent across categories covering interiors, gardens, furniture innovation, colour and home accessories.

If you believe you have what it takes to come out on top, then ufurnish.com wants to hear from you at their awards ceremony. However, you should hurry as the submission period ends soon—the last day for applications is this upcoming Sunday.

For additional information, check out last year’s winners for motivation and to join, visit homeawards.ufurnish.com

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