Every orangery project starts with the existing property.
The architecture, available garden space, orientation and position of existing windows and doors can all influence what will work. Roof heights, drainage, access and the relationship between the proposed orangery and neighbouring properties may also need consideration.
South Lakes Windows does not take a single standard orangery design and apply it to every home.
We look at what is already there and discuss what you want to achieve. A homeowner wanting to create an open-plan kitchen will have very different requirements from somebody looking for a separate garden-facing sitting room.
Understanding the purpose of the new room from the beginning helps us make informed decisions about its dimensions, layout, glazing and access.
Our orangery design service includes helping you decide which style is appropriate for your property.
A modern orangery can use simple lines, large areas of glazing and aluminium windows or doors to create a contemporary addition.
A Victorian orangery can introduce more traditional features, including a faceted or bay-style frontage and decorative window details.
Georgian orangeries generally use more symmetrical proportions and a square or rectangular footprint, making them particularly suited to homes with traditional architectural features.
A lean-to orangery offers a simpler structure and can be useful where garden space or available roof height is restricted. A gable end orangery can provide greater internal height and the opportunity to introduce additional glazing within the upright gable.
These styles provide useful starting points, but the final design can be adapted around the individual house.
The size of an orangery should be determined by how the room will be used, rather than simply filling the maximum amount of available garden space.
A dining orangery needs enough room for a table, chairs and comfortable circulation around them. A kitchen orangery may need space for an island, cabinets, appliances and a dining area. A family room needs suitable wall space for furniture alongside the desired amount of glazing.
Thinking about furniture and room use during the design stage can prevent compromises later.
For kitchen projects, we can consider where units and appliances are likely to be positioned before deciding where windows and doors should go.
We also consider how people will move between the existing house, new orangery and garden. This helps determine where openings and external doors should be positioned.
The roof has a major influence on the appearance, natural light and internal character of an orangery.
South Lakes Windows can design solid roof, glass roof and hybrid roof orangeries, depending on the property and the result you want to achieve.
A solid insulated roof creates a more conventional plastered ceiling and provides space for internal lighting. Selected areas of overhead glass can then be added where natural light is required.
A glass roof provides much more overhead glazing and can suit homeowners who want the orangery to have a stronger visual connection with the outdoors.
Hybrid systems provide another option. South Lakes Windows can incorporate suitable Ultraframe LivinROOF systems, combining solid insulated roof sections with selected glazed areas.
The roof design should also consider the existing house. Available height beneath upstairs windows, existing eaves and the overall proportions of the building can influence the most appropriate solution.
Overhead glazing can have a significant effect on an orangery, particularly where the new structure extends an existing kitchen or living area.
A roof lantern can be positioned within a predominantly solid roof to introduce daylight into the centre of the room. South Lakes Windows can incorporate the Ultraframe UltraSKY Lantern into suitable designs.
A lantern can work particularly well above a kitchen island, dining table or central seating area.
Where a lower roof profile is required, an UltraSKY Flat Skylight provides another way of introducing light from above.
The size and position of roof glazing should relate to the room beneath it. During the design process, we consider where the light is needed and how the roof feature will relate to the internal layout.
Good orangery design requires more thought than simply adding as much glass as possible.
The direction the property faces influences the amount of sunlight the orangery receives. Trees, neighbouring buildings and other parts of the house can also create shade at different times of the day.
We consider how daylight will enter through the windows, doors and roof.
This becomes particularly important where an orangery is being added to an existing room. Extending beyond the original external wall moves the main windows further away from the interior of the house, so roof glazing can be useful for bringing daylight further into the property.
The amount and position of glazing can therefore be planned around the individual site rather than selected purely for appearance.
Windows form an important part of any orangery design.
South Lakes Windows can provide UPVC, timber and aluminium windows, allowing the frame material and style to be selected according to the architecture of the house.
Aluminium windows can provide slimmer sightlines and work particularly well with modern orangery designs.
Timber windows can suit cottages, farmhouses and period properties where traditional materials and detailing are important.
UPVC provides another option across a wide range of property styles.
The design can also incorporate fixed and opening windows, different glazing configurations and suitable glazing bars where a more traditional appearance is required.
How the orangery connects with the garden is another important design decision.
Bi-folding doors can create a wide opening by folding several panels towards the side. They can work particularly well with open-plan kitchens and dining areas leading onto a patio.
Sliding doors provide large glass areas and wide garden views while requiring little additional space to operate. Lift and slide and triple track systems can be considered for larger openings.
French doors provide a more traditional option and can suit Victorian, Georgian and other period-inspired orangery designs.
We consider door position alongside furniture, circulation and garden access so that the opening works properly with the finished room.
Cumbria, Lancashire and Yorkshire contain a wide range of cottages, farmhouses, Victorian houses and other traditional properties.
Adding an orangery to these homes requires careful consideration of the original architecture.
Window proportions, roof pitch, frame colours, glazing bars and external materials can all affect how successfully the new structure relates to the house.
South Lakes Windows has experience working with traditional properties, including homes within conservation areas.
Where a property is listed or subject to additional planning controls, the proposed work may require formal consent. Our team can help identify potential planning and conservation considerations during the design stage so these matters can be addressed before construction begins.
Our service does not stop once the design has been agreed.
South Lakes Windows can take the project through the next stages with our design and build, project management and installation services.
This joined-up approach means the orangery is designed with construction in mind from the beginning. Windows, doors, glazing and roof systems can be specified as part of the same project, rather than being treated as unrelated products.
Our experienced team and skilled tradespeople can then carry out the required building and installation work.
Once the orangery has been completed, our after sales service provides an ongoing point of contact for products and work completed by South Lakes Windows.
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We work with homeowners in towns and villages across the region, including:
Cumbria: Barrow-in-Furness, Dalton in Furness, Ulverston, Broughton-in-Furness, Penrith, Keswick, Grasmere, Ambleside, Windermere, Coniston, Hawkshead, Kendal, Natland, Staveley, Tebay, Sedbergh, Arnside, Allithwaite, Grange-over-Sands, Cartmel, Lindale, Levens, Milnthorpe, Heversham, Holme, Witherslack, Dent, Cark and Flookburgh, Newby Bridge.
Lancashire: Preston, Lancaster, Garstang, Morecambe, Heysham, Clitheroe, Ribchester, Poulton-le-Fylde.
North Yorkshire & Border Areas: Settle, Ingleton, Kirkby Lonsdale, Burton-in-Kendal, Burton in Lonsdale, Bentham.
Whether you already have a clear idea of what you want or need help deciding which type of orangery will work with your home, our team can help you develop the project from the initial idea through to the finished room.
Contact South Lakes Windows Ltd to arrange a home survey and discuss the design of your new orangery
