Styles For Conservatories – Part 1
Selecting a conservatory for your home should be all about you. There is a variety of different types and styles of conservatories on the market, and by the time you add in the various construction materials that can be used, the myriad of colours that can be incorporated into the conservatory blinds, fabrics and furniture and all of the other variables involved, the conservatory you end up with on your property can be as individual as you would like it to be.
So what type of conservatory do you think that you would like. What type of home do you live in? – is it a period or period-style property? What is your homes’ topographical aspect? If you want your conservatory to be on the sunny facing side of the residence, then depending on whether that is the front, rear or side of the house, this may dictate a certain style of conservatory to you. Is your home single story or a bungalow type dwelling? – there are conservatories to suit all types and it will often come down to a personal preference. Whether you decide to build a bespoke conservatory or to purchase a sunroom at a knock down price in a conservatories sale these are all questions you will want to answer.
Below we have compiled a list of the most common types of conservatories as a launching pad for you to start considering which type of conservatory may suit you.
The Pleasure Of Eating In Conservatories - image courtesy of www.tanglewoodconseratories.com
Victorian Conservatories
These are probably one of the most popular and most versatile types of conservatories. It normally has three, or maybe, but less common, five facets (sides) at the front, a bit like a curved bay window and it has a steeply pitched roof and ornate ridge details.
One advantage of a Victorian conservatory (see image) is that the front facets give it a rounded, softer appearance and it can work equally well in a large garden or in a smaller garden or patio where space may be an issue. This attribute is what makes it one of the most frequently seen conservatories. It can also work well in a corner position of a residence, again because the rounded front helps diffuse sharp angles.
Edwardian Conservatories
Edwardian conservatories, (a.k.a. Regency and Georgian conservatories), are similar in style and ornate design to Victorian conservatories, except that they are rectangular in shape, which gives them a strong clean shape, as was preferred in the Edwardian era. The rectangular shape gives Edwardian conservatories (see image) an advantage over Victorian conservatories, with regard to better use of floor space. Confusion can arise when one removes the corner of an Edwardian conservatory to give it a Victorian look.
Victorian & Edwardian Double Hipped Conservatories are similar in style and have the same features and advantages as normal Victorian or Edwardian conservatories. The difference is to be found in the roof design of a double hippd conservatory, where in addition to being sloped at the sides, it is also sloped at the rear. This allows it to be incorporated into a building where a standard conservatory would have height restrictions.
Lean-to Conservatories
A Lean-to conservatory is a very uninspiring name and one that for me evokes visions of a cattle shed rather than a conservatory style, but thankfully when your friends do ask, you can describe it as a Mediterranean style or a garden room conservatory instead. Sunroom conservatories and sun lounges also come under the heading lean to conservatory.
The style of the lean to conservatory is timeless and unfussy, rectangular or square in shape and with a single roof pitch. It has been a popular style since conservatories started being used and is very used still to the present day. Decorative detail can be added to give a more substantial appearance. The lean to conservatory, due to its simple nature, is very flexible and has a modern feel. It can be used in most any situation and makes very good use of ground space. One additional feature of this type of conservatory is that it is cost effective to build.
For more conservatory styles and types, have a look at our follow on article, ‘Selecting A Conservatory – Part 2‘.
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