Small Traditional Conservatory Ideas and Designs

Wapakoneta Road | Bethesda, MD

Rollingwood Builders

Our Work

Palm Beach Enclosures

Chevy Chase Renovation, Sunroom and Patio Addition

Howard Katz Architects LLC

Sunroom addition leads off the family room which is adjacent to the kitchen as viewed through the french doors. On entering the house one can see all the way back through these doors to the garden beyond. The existing recessed porch was enclosed and walls removed to form the family room space.

A Sunroom Addition in Powell

WarmlyYours Radiant

Dave Fox Design|Build Remodelers

Bishops Green - Marietta, GA 30068

Outback Deck, Inc.

Heather Cooper Photography

Great Falls Sun Room

Interiors by LH

A space that was only used as a pass through now has become a daily destination. Located in pastoral Great Falls, VA, just outside of Washington D.C., this sunroom needed to be a welcoming year round retreat for an active family of four. Inspired by resort lifestyle, the space was reconstructed using the same footprint as before, adding floor to ceiling windows. Air conditioning and underlayment heat under new wood-look porcelain tile were added to ensure the room could be enjoyed no matter what season. Sunbrella fabrics were used on the settee and chairs that will stand up to wet bathing suits and barbeques. Benjamin Moore’s Sapphireberry 2063 60 was painted to bring the blue sky in on even a cloudy day. Designed by Laura Hildebrandt of Interiors by LH, LLC. Photos by Jenn Verrier Photography. Construction by Patio Enclosures.

Maine Cottage Inspired Remodel

Collaborative Interior Design

The inspiration for the homes interior design and sunroom addition were happy memories of time spent in a cottage in Maine with family and friends. This space was originally a screened in porch. The homeowner wanted to enclose the space and make it function as an extension of the house and be usable the whole year. Lots of windows, comfortable furniture and antique pieces like the horse bicycle turned side table make the space feel unique, comfortable and inviting in any season.

Edina Living Room & Sunroom

Kerith Elfstrum Interiors

Kerith Elfstrum

Rustic Residence in Mansfield

Christopher @ Architects LLC

My Houzz: Stately Southern Charm in a Federalist-Style Home

Kayla Stark

Study

Johnston Home Interior Design

This is a small parlor right off the entry. It has room for a small amount of seating plus a small desk for the husband right off the pocket door entry to the room. We chose a medium slate blue for all the walls, molding, trim and fireplace. It has the effect of a dramatic room as you enter, but is an incredibly warm and peaceful room. All of the furniture was from the husband's family and we refinished, recovered as needed. The husband even made the coffee table! photo: David Duncan Livingston

Main Street

RAMSAY GOURD ARCHITECTS

This historic restoration and renovation was the cover story for the September / October 2015 issue of Design New England. Working with skilled craftsmen, we salvaged a derelict house and brought it into the 21st century. We were fortunate to design all aspects of the home, from architecture to interiors to the landscape plan!

Interior of Three Season Porch

MPR Architecture

Cathedral ceiling over main sitting area and flat ceiling over dining area.

Lake Front Living

HAVEN INTERIORS LTD.

Kennett Square Colonial Estate

Showhomes of the Main Line

square three architecture, inc

Sunroom with Bead board Ceiling

Orren Pickell Building Group

Sunroom with bead board ceiling and view to spa.

Private house editorial styling, Sussex

Collectie and Jasmine Orchard Styling

Photo: David Woolley

Small Traditional Conservatory Ideas and Designs

A conservatory, garden room or orangery is a decidedly British and Irish home extension: a room that allows us to enjoy our outdoor space without having to brave the unpredictable weather. Originally a type of glass house or greenhouse where plants could be grown in sheltered conditions, the modern conservatory now offers flexible entertainment space. Your traditional conservatory can serve as an additional living area, a garden room, a spacious dining room or an open-plan kitchen; all flooded with the extra light that a glass extension will give you.

What conservatory style should I choose?

A lean to conservatory is the most straight-forward garden room structure with a slanted roof that appears to lean on the original house wall. If you’re looking for a small conservatory then the simple rectangular design of lean to conservatories makes them ideal for bungalows and properties with small gardens. The Victorian conservatory is the most common style, with an elegant shape which features a rounded end wall. An Edwardian conservatory is built similarly, but with a rectangular shape that is perhaps more space-efficient. L or P-shaped conservatories combine the styles of both Victorian and Edwardian garden rooms, and offer a versatile space that can be split into separate areas. Contemporary garden rooms with large glass walls are fantastic additions to modern homes or extensions and can create stunning exteriors. However, designs like these do use a lot of space and could require special planning permission. If you don’t have space for a large, contemporary garden room and you aren’t a fan of the uPVC conservatory, orangeries or sunrooms may appeal more; the structure is sympathetically designed to appear consistent with the style of the house.

What is an orangery?

They are both glass-walled and -roofed structures, but what is the difference between a conservatory and an orangery? The traditional orangery has a longer history ‐ it became popular in the 17th Century when homeowners wanted a place to grow citrus plants (e.g. orange trees, hence ‘orangery’) and so built structures, either stand alone or incorporated into their homes, with glass walls and roofs, similar to greenhouses. The conservatory is actually believed to have developed from the orangery after the fashion for growing citrus plants died down. However, homeowners still wanted a place to grow other tropical, herb or shrub plants that would allow sun and warmth into the house in summer and allow the plants to survive in winter. Today, the real difference is in the construction. Orangeries are considered traditional extensions with masonry walls and more standard Victorian structures, whereas modern conservatories can be more varied and made of a range of materials, including timber, uPVC or aluminium.

What type of conservatory furniture do I need?

Chances are your conservatory furniture will see a high amount of direct sunlight. Keep this in mind when choosing pieces, since some fabrics and materials can quickly fade or become uncomfortably hot. Outdoor furniture will generally stand up well to the heat and light exposure of sunrooms and orangeries, but don’t be afraid to mix and match with indoor pieces as well. Wicker, seagrass and rattan furniture items are good options, while you might want to steer away from metal and leather pieces which will get hot in the sunlight. Installing conservatory blinds or shades that can be drawn when the room isn't in use is a smart way to prolong the life of your sunroom furniture when the space is not in use.

Ireland

Tailor my experience with cookies

Houzz uses cookies and similar technologies to personalise my experience, serve me relevant content, and improve Houzz products and services. By clicking ‘Accept’ I agree to this, as further described in the Houzz Cookie Policy. I can reject non-essential cookies by clicking ‘Manage Preferences’.