Conservatory Ideas and Designs

Sunrooms

CrystaLite, Inc.

Photo of a conservatory in Seattle.

Notnel c.1863, Ipswich Queensland

Jason McNamara Photography

Jason McNamara
Inspiration for a small eclectic conservatory in Brisbane with painted wood flooring and a standard ceiling.

Little Sippewisset Marsh

John Dvorsack Architect

Overlooking Little Sippiwisset marsh, this home combines both shingle style and traditional Victorian elements including a round "turret" in the second floor master bedroom. Upon entering the front door you are immediately greeted by a baby grand piano and the spectacular ever changing tidal marsh beyond. The walkout basement features a traditional wine cellar with seating area and outdoor spa to relax and enjoy the views.

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Shingle style home and poolhouse

Polsky Perlstein Architects

Ken Lai
Beach style conservatory in San Francisco with slate flooring.

Shingle Style Waterfront

MICHAEL WHALEY INTERIORS, INC

Stunning water views surround this chic and comfortable porch with limestone floor, fieldstone fireplace, chocolate brown wicker and custom made upholstery. Photo by Durston Saylor

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Conservatory Craftsmen

This is our Minneapolis Model, open by appointment! The Conservatory is a modified 3-bay with a lantern. Made of a striking clear-coated Mahogany.
Traditional conservatory in Minneapolis.

A Sunroom Addition + Patio Cover in North Richland Hills

Medford Remodeling

Design ideas for a medium sized classic conservatory in Dallas with a standard ceiling and beige floors.

Cow Hollow Eclectic

Form + Field

This is an example of an eclectic conservatory in San Francisco.

Keyes Road

Charles Tashima Architecture

This is an example of a conservatory in London.

Cottagewood Gables

Rehkamp Larson Architects, Inc.

Contractor: Kyle Hunt & Partners Interiors: Alecia Stevens Interiors Landscape: Yardscapes, Inc. Photos: Scott Amundson
Design ideas for a conservatory in Minneapolis with grey floors.

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.

Screened Porch addition

Allison Ramsey Architects

Coastal conservatory in Atlanta with a standard ceiling and grey floors.

Ocala, FL Home With Pecky Cypress and Midnight Heart Cypress

Goodwin Heart Pine Company

This is an example of a large conservatory in Orlando with brick flooring, no fireplace, a standard ceiling and white floors.

Studs Out Remodel - Eastpoint Country Club

Big Bear Developers LLC

Customized to perfection, a remarkable work of art at the Eastpoint Country Club combines superior craftsmanship that reflects the impeccable taste and sophisticated details. An impressive entrance to the open concept living room, dining room, sunroom, and a chef’s dream kitchen boasts top-of-the-line appliances and finishes. The breathtaking LED backlit quartz island and bar are the perfect accents that steal the show.

view from sunroom

Rasmussen / Su Architects

Conservatory in Philadelphia.

Calm Cool and Collected

Timber Trails Development Company

Design ideas for a classic conservatory in Chicago.

39th Street

Sleek by Nina K

This is an example of a conservatory in Indianapolis.

3 Season Room With Fireplace

Crisp Architects

3 Season Room with fireplace and great views
Inspiration for a country conservatory in New York with limestone flooring, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a standard ceiling and grey floors.

Hinsdale, IL All Season Sunroom

Envy Home Services

Hinsdale, IL all season sunroom completed in 2020. These homeowners wanted to add a sunroom of their back porch that they could enjoy all year long. We poured new foundation, and built a wooden frame to make it level with the back door. The framing is made out of vinyl, with custom security doors and windows.

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 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.

Peaceful sunroom

Rose & Lily Interiors

Design ideas for a traditional conservatory in Atlanta.

United Kingdom

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