10 Ideas for Glass Extensions
Glass is such a versatile material, it lends itself to both modern and period building work. Take inspiration from these glazed structures
Anna Tobin
26 January 2016
Houzz UK Contributor. I am an experienced lifestyle journalist, interior stylist and editor. I regularly contribute to all the UK glossies and the national press and international press and I run www.dontcrampourstyle.com, the blog for people who live in homes that they've physically outgrown. Follow me on Twitter @theannatobin or contact me via www.annatobin.co.uk
Houzz UK Contributor. I am an experienced lifestyle journalist, interior stylist... More
Not so long ago, glass buildings only came in the form of traditional conservatories or orangeries that looked wonderful, but tended to be too cold in winter and too hot in summer. The latest technological innovations, however, mean that glass can be crafted in vast panes and can also be incredibly energy efficient. Glass can now work with the weather, rather than against it, so glazed buildings can be a deliciously warm place to be in December and a cool retreat in July. These examples should give you ideas for your next project.
Mix old and new
It’s worth having a chat with your local planning authority before submitting details, but planners can sometimes be more sympathetic to glass-box extensions on period-style properties than they would be to a traditional brick extension. The large glazed panels used in this extension to a 17th century vicarage allow you to see the original building beyond.
Tour another glass-box extension on an old property
It’s worth having a chat with your local planning authority before submitting details, but planners can sometimes be more sympathetic to glass-box extensions on period-style properties than they would be to a traditional brick extension. The large glazed panels used in this extension to a 17th century vicarage allow you to see the original building beyond.
Tour another glass-box extension on an old property
Illuminate the side return
The side return may seem like a redundant waste of space, but there was a reason behind its design, and that was to bring light into the middle room of a terraced house. Extending into the side return can make that middle room gloomy, but you can avoid this by using glass as your main building material, as here.
The side return may seem like a redundant waste of space, but there was a reason behind its design, and that was to bring light into the middle room of a terraced house. Extending into the side return can make that middle room gloomy, but you can avoid this by using glass as your main building material, as here.
Glaze the ceiling
If you’re planning on extending, but don’t want to go for an ultra-modern glass-box effect, opt, as the owners of this pale and interesting kitchen have done, for a large glazed ceiling panel instead.
Not only does this make a lovely feature, it also helps to bring a lot more natural light into a room, which should reduce your electricity bill. It makes a flat roof a lot more attractive to look down on from a room above, too.
If you’re planning on extending, but don’t want to go for an ultra-modern glass-box effect, opt, as the owners of this pale and interesting kitchen have done, for a large glazed ceiling panel instead.
Not only does this make a lovely feature, it also helps to bring a lot more natural light into a room, which should reduce your electricity bill. It makes a flat roof a lot more attractive to look down on from a room above, too.
Retract the roof
Taking it a step further, the owners of this London home have used the latest technology to allow their glass roof to completely disappear into another section of the ceiling at the touch of a button. This giant skylight can be retracted to create an open-air courtyard garden on the top floor of the house.
Taking it a step further, the owners of this London home have used the latest technology to allow their glass roof to completely disappear into another section of the ceiling at the touch of a button. This giant skylight can be retracted to create an open-air courtyard garden on the top floor of the house.
Give a basement a window on the world
If you’re doing an above-ground extension and a basement, or simply building over a naturally dark room, consider adding a glazed floor area to the scheme. Here, what would previously have been a gloomy basement below this glass extension is now flooded with natural light.
What to consider when planning a basement conversion
If you’re doing an above-ground extension and a basement, or simply building over a naturally dark room, consider adding a glazed floor area to the scheme. Here, what would previously have been a gloomy basement below this glass extension is now flooded with natural light.
What to consider when planning a basement conversion
Double up
You don’t have to stick to a single storey when working in glass. This huge, double-height glazed wall provides this awe-inspiring bedroom with ever-changing, sky-high, natural wallpaper.
You don’t have to stick to a single storey when working in glass. This huge, double-height glazed wall provides this awe-inspiring bedroom with ever-changing, sky-high, natural wallpaper.
Open wide
For something dramatic, combine a double-height glazed door with a mezzanine floor. A vast door has been created for this house to quite spectacularly open the ground and first floors out onto the garden.
Explore alternatives to bifold doors to open up your extension
For something dramatic, combine a double-height glazed door with a mezzanine floor. A vast door has been created for this house to quite spectacularly open the ground and first floors out onto the garden.
Explore alternatives to bifold doors to open up your extension
Stay in period
If a contemporary glass box is not your style, traditional-style conservatories and orangeries can be beautiful and are often the best fit for a period property. You don’t even need a large country pile to make it work; this traditional little glazed addition looks perfectly lovely and gently links this Victorian terrace to the garden beyond.
TELL US…
Have you created a fantastic glass creation? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments below.
If a contemporary glass box is not your style, traditional-style conservatories and orangeries can be beautiful and are often the best fit for a period property. You don’t even need a large country pile to make it work; this traditional little glazed addition looks perfectly lovely and gently links this Victorian terrace to the garden beyond.
TELL US…
Have you created a fantastic glass creation? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments below.
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I think every single photo looks stunning, but I do agree with the two people about the birds. We have a tiny conservatory which I use as an office. I have blinds which I leave down through most of the winter and at night time, but I dread the thought of birds banging into the windows. In my last house (we recently downsized so that I could retire) which had a whole wall of glass, we regularly had birds banging into the windows. Generally they were stunned rather than killed but it was very unpleasant to see as I do love the birds so much.
We are finding that more customers are requesting a wow factor like glass roofs. We are certainly surveying more. See photo from us at FFSD