Traditional Conservatory Ideas and Designs

Keyes Road

Charles Tashima Architecture

The Amesbury Garden Room

Stephen Graver

Country House

Oliver Steer Interior Design

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Surrey House

Lisette Voute Designs

Elegant Conservatory, Bedfordshire

David Salisbury

This beautiful family home in the Bedfordshire countryside was once a hunting lodge for King Henry VIII. A pre-Tudor building is often quite dark inside so the addition of a conservatory has created a special room to enjoy the sunshine and the landscaped gardens. This fully glazed extension was designed to complement the orangery which we built on another face of the property. These twin extensions complement each other and transform the way the house is used. The angled corners and subtle Tudor style windows work well with the existing features. The new addition is heavily used by the family as it provides a light-filled sitting area. It is a perfect room to watch over the children playing in the garden or to enjoy story time in the sunshine.

An orangery addition and space that creates the feel of continental living

Vale Garden Houses

Our designer chose to work with softer faceted shapes for the garden room to create a contrast with the squares and angles of the existing building. To the left of the garden room, a porch provides a link to the house separated from the living space by internal doors. The window detail reflects that on the house with the exception of two windows to the rear wall of the orangery, which have rounded tops. Two sets of doors open onto two elevations - designed to provide maximum appreciation of the outside.

Surrey Hills Family Home

April Hamilton Interiors LLP

Mandarin

Alexandra Dixon Interiors

Chipstead Extension & Renovation

Raylian Power Design

Life On Longview

Delphinium Design

Sunroom furniture furnishing details including custom woven roman shades and light gray accent chairs.

Traditional Sunroom

15 Nottingham Rd

Element Construction Partners

JS Gibson

Peaceful sunroom

Rose & Lily Interiors

Porch

O’Hara Interiors

Martha O'Hara Interiors, Interior Design & Photo Styling | Corey Gaffer, Photography | Please Note: All “related,” “similar,” and “sponsored” products tagged or listed by Houzz are not actual products pictured. They have not been approved by Martha O’Hara Interiors nor any of the professionals credited. For information about our work, please contact design@oharainteriors.com.

Front Porch on Lake of the Isles

Amber

This porch features stunning views of the lake and running trails. The furniture in the space is a mix of old and new, and designer furniture and custom made furniture. We used navy blue flooring material on the ceiling to add interest, color and texture. A new Waverton Cambria top sits on an antique Weiman lacquer table base. Mark Ehlen Photography.

English Golf Estate

BBA Architects

The clients’ appreciation for English country architecture, with elements of stone, stucco, brick and slate, became the basis of the design. The goal was to achieve an understated elegance with generous warmth. Lots of large windows, and exterior transitions to the terraced patios allow expansive views of the Golf Course. View more of this home through #BBAEnglishGolfEstate on Instagram.

On the Boulevard

Timber Trails Development Company

ASC Bright Beginnings

Amy Storm & Company

Downingwood House

Laura Design Company

Credit: Emily Kennedy Photography

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.

A Single Family Residence in Wyoming, OH

Sally Noble Architect, LLC

Ireland

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