Conservatories For All

It is said that one of the most attractive features of an Edwardian conservatory to the homeowner is that it is one of the conservatory styles that is most like an existing room space.  This may seem like an unusual accolade to receive, but when you consider its merits you can appreciate what is being said.

Edwardian conservatories are unpretentious in style, and because of this they are able to make more use of space than other conservatories fashioned differently, that perhaps put more store in looks over substance.

A typical conservatory of the Edwardian period is square and flat in their plan shape and they have a flat frontage also.  This seeming lack of artistic vision in the design of the structure overlooks the fact that the best way to optimise your floor space is to have a regular and uncluttered space, without any fancy corners removed that may look well, but cost the homeowner dearly when it comes to furniture placement.

Because of their excellent use of floor space, the use if one of these conservatories is an excellent idea if you do not have a very large garden and wish to minimise the amount of floor space or garden / patio space you take over with your new extension.

Edwardian conservatory prices are all of the more competitive also due to the fact that there are few frills involved in a conservatory of Edwardian design.  If you want a conservatory with trim and heavy décor then you would be better off to consider purchasing a Victorian style structure, as it was during this architectural period that ornate design was in fashion.

Due to its straightforward floor plan and design an Edwardian style conservatory is very adaptable and can be used for almost any home function ranging from a dining room, to living room to a playroom or office.

To advance the description of Edwardian conservatories somewhat we should mention here the existence of what are called Edwardian double-hipped conservatories.  These are of the same structure and layout as  regular Edwardian sunrooms or conservatories, with the only difference being in the conservatory roofs.  If you have a situation where a residence has windows at a height, which would be compromised by the presence of a conservatory, then you can build a structure with a double-hipped roof.  This means that while a regular Edwardian conservatory roof slopes upwards to the residence, in this case the roof is sloping downwards again at the rear and in this way it lowers the point where the conservatory is connected to the residence.

An Edwardian conservatory is accepted as being stylish and yet unpretentious and is a very practical addition to any home.  Timber conservatories were the most common types of conservatories in the past, but now you can build a aluminium, timber or uPVC conservatory in the Edwardian style, depending on your preference.  If understated elegance is your thing, then you could do a lot worse then choose this style of conservatory for your extension needs.

The lean-to conservatories ares recognised under several different names, with sun lounges, Mediterranean style, garden room and sunroom conservatories all coming under the banner of the ever popular lean to conservatory.  There are various reasons why they are so in demand in the market place.  When it comes to conservatory prices, these structures can be very competitive, but practicality and versatility also come into play when homeowners favour the erection of lean to conservatories on their property.

Lean To Conservatory

In these present, economically challenging times, properties are not selling readily on the market for the prices that homeowners are expecting.  More and more of these owners have decided to take their house off the market and to renovate and refurbish it instead.  One of the main cost effective ways of extending a home is to consider erecting a conservatory, as per square foot they offer much better value than traditional bricks and mortar construction.

Lean to conservatories comprise no-nonsense constructions that have a regular rectangular shape and an appearance that is utilitarian and not fussy.  If you want a structure that is heavy with ornate trimmings, then you might be better to consider a Victorian conservatory.  That is not to say that you cannot add some decorative touches to a standard lean-to type of sunroom, in order to give it a more completed look.

Its rectangular floor is similar to that of an Edwardian conservatory and allows excellent use of floor space in these lean to structures and the fact that they are constructed with a single pitch conservatory roof means that they are not complicated to assemble and erect.  The simplicity in roof design means that a lean to sunroom can go in places that height restrictions would prohibit the erection of other types of conservatories.

A lean to conservatory is highly adaptable and can be used for many different functions within the home – including as an extra living area, a dining room, office, study or play area for children.  If you are considering constructing a DIY conservatory in order to save money, than a lean to type sunroom is one of the easiest structures to tackle.

Spacious Lean To Conservatories

Conservatories were once structures that were only used when the weather conditions were temperate and favourable, but improvements in production technology in recent years has meant much better temperature control is available in these buildings now with both extremes of hot and cold weather being able to be counteracted by the use of such products as uPVC and double glazing.  Quality uPVC conservatories and timber conservatories are used on a continuous year-round basis and as more mainstream accommodation for the home.

Lean to sunrooms were always one of the most popular conservatories and given recent sale trends of this particular style of extension, that popularity is showing little sign of changing.  Many keen gardeners construct a lean to greenhouse as an economical way to build a home for their plants.  If you want to look up lean to conservatories with regard to the country you are living in , you can narrow your search by searching under ‘lean to conservatories uk’, if you are living in the United Kingdom for example.

Edwardian Conservatories. Image courtesy of www.suffolkconservatories.co.uk

Old Victorian Conservatories. Image courtesy of www.oakconservatories.co.uk

Victorian Style Conservatories - Interior. Image courtesy of www.pshomeimprovements.co.uk

Edwardian Conservatories. Image courtesy of www.conservatorydesign.co.uk

There are many different types of conservatories on the market today.  For a description of Victorian conservatories , Edwardian conservatories and other popular styles of conservatories, have a look at ‘Selecting A Conservatory Style‘.

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‘.