All news
Period Living & Traditional Homes, April 2011
March 03, 2011
Barrerne limstone from Lapicida
Period Living essential guide to conservatories and garden retreats
Transform part of your garden into some welcome additional living space and create a light and airy retreat that’s a relaxing visual link between indoors and out...Originating in the Victorian era, conservatories are a beautiful addition to any home. Orangeries, which have a longer history, tend to be more substantial, often with solid ceilings inset with a glass lantern roof and involve more brickwork. In both cases, a glass-filled extension can provide an affordable way to achieve more living space which will allow you to enjoy the great outdoors all year round. Start your project by deciding on the purpose of the new room. Think about its use; if this aspect is ignored, then you can run the risk of the space not being fit for purpose when completed. It’s also now more popular to create a more open-plan extension that breaks down barriers between the kitchen or dining room and the garden. Be aware that removing external walls will mean that planning regulations apply, and the work will need to adhere to the building laws. Whichever path you take, it’s essential that the new room is warm enough in winter and cool enough in summer to be used comfortably. The success of this depends on insulation and ventilation. In both cases it pays to invest in the best you can afford – try to exceed current regulatory standards. Fortunately, modern double glazing is continuously improved, and now offers extremely high thermal efficiency. If you use high performance soft coated, low emissivity glass and argon gas cavities, it is possible to achieve levels of insulation that exceed most non cavity walls in period and listed building. Ideally you will need to create a chimney effect, with low level air vents (or opening windows) bringing cool air in, which then funnels the warm air out through vents or windows at ceiling level. It’s worth investing in electric opening ceiling vents, particularly if the roof has a high pitch. A fan system is recommended. This will ‘trick’ the room into behaving as if it were very tall, and also requires smaller opening apertures, providing better insulation. A new conservatory or orangery can add value to a home. According to Nationwide Building Society, a beautifully designed, quality conservatory can add 5% to the value of your property, making it a job that’s worth doing well......Ideally flooring will be low maintenance and able to withstand muddy footprints (and paw prints) coming in from the garden. A stone or porcelain tile suitable for indoor and outdoor use is preferable, allowing the same flooring to flow out to a patio area. Heating can be hindered by lack of solid wall space; consider underloor heating if possible, or low level radiators....The soft cushioned edge of a tumbled limestone floor gives a classic finish that’s ideal in period homes. Barrerne limestone, £99.95 per sq m, Lapicida
Period Living & Traditional Homes
