Opinions on orangery design

[Dogbash]

Hi all, we are having an orangery put on the back of the house. It will connect to a piece under the main roof of the house where the kitchen will sit. Overall area will be approx. 9m x 9m with the orangery being 9m x 4.5m of that.

We are in two minds on design though. The rest of the house is being rendered but we will have exposed brick on the orangery to form a bit of contrast. Our PVC windows will be white and not cream as in these two pictures. They are images I nicked online and the main difference between the two is that one of them has a brick section on the sides. Let me know what you all think as I'm currently undecided which way to go...





Thanks,
Andrew

[KTF]

If the rest of the house is being rendered the the second design with more white windows may complement it better.

Whilst I prefer the first design, the red brick may look a bit out of place of there is no longer any red brick on the house.

[Dogbash]

KTF said:

If the rest of the house is being rendered the the second design with more white windows may complement it better.

Whilst I prefer the first design, the red brick may look a bit out of place of there is no longer any red brick on the house.

The brick currently on the house is a dark brick which is pretty hideous and the reason for having it rendered. The brick we will be using on the orangery will be a barn type brick which looks a bit aged. We will be using the same brick to build a porch section at the front of the house.

[Risotto]

I'm not entirely sure what the question is. Are you in two minds about cream vs. white uPVC? Or brick vs. render?

If the question is whether to have brick pillars, I was under the impression that was one of the main distinguishing features between orangeries and conservatories.

Edited by Risotto on Friday 16th December 12:32

[Dogbash]

Risotto said:

I'm not entirely sure what the question is. Are you in two minds about cream vs. white uPVC? Or brick vs. render?

If the question is whether to have brick pillars, I was under the impression that was one of the main distinguishing features between orangeries and conservatories.

Edited by Risotto on Friday 16th December 12:32

I'm asking if people prefer the 1st image or the 2nd.

Andrew

[KTF]

Dogbash said:

I'm asking if people prefer the 1st image or the 2nd.

Andrew

In that case my answer is the first one as I don't like conservatories. The first one should make it less like an oven in the summer and a freezer in the winter.

[B17NNS]

Image one. Looks less of a conservatory, more of a proper room with a lantern roof.

[Dogbash]

KTF said:

In that case my answer is the first one as I don't like conservatories. The first one should make it less like an oven in the summer and a freezer in the winter.

I'm inclined to agree with you. The trouble is my wife likes the other one...

[CharlesdeGaulle]

I prefer the first one too, but surely this is the only thing that metters:

Dogbash said:

The trouble is my wife likes the other one...

[Risotto]

I prefer the design of the first one but the fittings of the second one. The timber frames & doors look better than the uPVC ones with the bulbous door hinges. Having said that, I certainly couldn't be arsed with maintaining timber ones.

[Dogbash]

Part of the reason for her liking the 2nd one is that you can then look out over the whole garden. This section is sitting smack bang in the middle of the rear of the house so you will be able to look out right round the garden. My reason for liking the 1st one is that it will feel more of a room inside. I also think it looks better from the outside.

Andrew

[Lesgrandepotato]

The question is I guess how is it going to function as a room. I'm guessing its additional space so it could be open to the garden. If its an integral part of the living arrangements and there is nowhere else I'd want to be feeling a bit more closed in.

[Crumpet]

Any old builder can knock up the first one, it's pretty much exactly the same as ours and cost half what the orangery companies were wanting for the second design (about £20k instead of £40k plus).

I actually prefer the second design but the first one is cheaper and easier to build.

[mikeiow]

Dogbash said:

Part of the reason for her liking the 2nd one is that you can then look out over the whole garden. This section is sitting smack bang in the middle of the rear of the house so you will be able to look out right round the garden. My reason for liking the 1st one is that it will feel more of a room inside. I also think it looks better from the outside.

Andrew

I think the first will certainly feel more of a room.
We went from a wooden conservatory to a lantern-roof'd sunroom, and LOVE it.
We have 2 x 3.8m bifolds with a small wall between - having that small piece of wall doesn't detract from the 'view' (although our garden is hardly Kew!), and with walls elsewhere makes it much more of a room than just a sunroom. I am pretty sure it helps with the energy needed to heat - we have wet ufh, which works a treat.

BUT - if your wife prefers the second, you'd best just install it. See you in a few years when she is grumbling about how cold it is in winter, and scorching hot in summer

[Kermit power]

I prefer the first one.

I also think cream looks far, far better than white for the windows and doors. I never knew that option existed, or would've specced it for our stuff instead of white.

[Welshbeef]

Upsides of the first one
1. Better insulation over the second.
2. It is more permanent than the second
3. It enables you to put things on the walls/use the side rather than it being all glass windows
4. More privacy? Might be relevant

[KTF]

Kermit power said:

I prefer the first one.

I also think cream looks far, far better than white for the windows and doors. I never knew that option existed, or would've specced it for our stuff instead of white.

Nonsense. A true PHer would spec grey windows. White (or off white) is so yesterday

[J1JPE]

KTF has the best design.

Make sure you get blinds built in to the glass panes.

[SAB888]

I prefer the second one but Georgian style windows will spoil the view. Even better would be a set of sliding/folding aluminium doors along the main elevation with optional pyramid roof glazing if desired.

[TA14]

SAB888 said:

I prefer the second one but Georgian style windows will spoil the view.

I'm with SAB here - if you want an orangery then have one and not a half hearted affair.