In southern towns such as Invercargill, where I grew up, a conservatory can be the icing on the cake when it comes to home style.
Warm and sunny all-year round and an ideal spot to keep plants over winter, a conservatory can be as formal or relaxed as you like, providing an ideal venue for relaxed afternoon teas or even dinner parties.
It’s possible to have a purpose-built conservatory added onto an existing home, but this is an expensive option and requires builders, materials and planning consents. It will almost certainly add value to your property – especially if it’s enough to constitute an extra room.
oajor considerations when planning a conservatory include addressing the tricky balance between heating and cooling. While you want the conservatory warm in winter, you won’t be wanting to cook inside it during summer.
Some ways around this include skylights, opening windows, sunblock blinds and ceiling fans.
If you don’t have the funds – or the inclination – for such a large-scale project, existing areas such as porches and sunrooms and even patios can be utilised cleverly to add a whole new dimension to your family’s lifestyle.
Warm & toasty
An outside patio area can be used in all seasons with the addition of a brazier or even an elaborate outdoor fireplace. There’s something rather nice about rugging up well and sipping mulled wine or coffee in front of a roaring blaze.
outside in
A garage or shed can be converted to make a garden room which is warm in winter, but open enough to be cool in summer too.
In countries such as Sweden, this is a popular use of space and can easily be made to look refined and elegant – or folksy and cute!
Little touches
Sunrooms are often neglected when it comes to decorating, yet they can be utterly charming and very practical. Thinking outside the square and adding touches such as this hammock (below) results in an attractive and usable space.
Brighten up
Even a simple veranda or balcony can become a special place with the addition of a nice comfy chair and some plants or flowers.
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