Victorian Orangeries

Victorian styling can be combined with the standards expected from a modern addition to the home.

Insulated floors, walls and roofing can form the main structure, while modern double glazed windows provide natural light and views of the garden.

Window details can then be selected to reinforce the Victorian influence.

Vertical proportions, glazing bars, sash-style windows and suitable frame colours can all contribute to the finished appearance. Depending on the property, timber windows may provide an appropriate choice, while carefully selected UPVC products can offer another option.

The objective is to create a new room that relates convincingly to the house without unnecessarily copying every historic detail.

This approach can be particularly effective when extending Victorian houses and other period homes where the proportions and materials of the original building provide a clear starting point for the design.

The faceted frontage is one of the features most closely associated with Victorian design.

Angled window sections create a softer transition between the orangery and garden than a completely square elevation. They can also provide a wider field of view from inside the room.

A three-facet design provides a traditional bay appearance while retaining a relatively straightforward internal floor plan. A design with additional facets can create a more rounded appearance where the available space allows.

The bay area can become a useful feature inside the orangery.

It could provide a position for occasional seating, a dining table or furniture arranged to take advantage of the garden views.

The dimensions should still be planned around how the room will be used. South Lakes Windows considers the internal floor area as well as the external appearance when developing the design.

The roof is a major part of a Victorian orangery and provides an opportunity to combine traditional styling with modern construction.

A predominantly solid insulated roof can create a plastered ceiling internally, helping the orangery feel more closely connected with the main house.

Overhead glazing can then be introduced through a central roof lantern.

South Lakes Windows can incorporate an Ultraframe UltraSKY Lantern into suitable orangery projects. The raised glazed structure provides natural light from above and can create a central feature within the room.

The proportions of the lantern can be planned around the orangery below. A dining room might position the lantern over the table, while a larger living space could use it to define a central seating area.

Other roof configurations can also be considered depending on the property, available height and overall design.

Victorian orangeries can provide an attractive setting for a dedicated dining room.

The combination of garden-facing windows and overhead glazing can create a bright space during the day, while the more substantial walls and roof provide the feel of a permanent room within the house.

A dining table can be positioned beneath a roof lantern or within the main central area, with the faceted frontage providing views towards the garden.

French doors can reinforce the traditional appearance while providing direct access to a patio or outdoor dining area.

A larger orangery can also combine dining with a separate seating area, providing a room that can be used for everyday meals as well as entertaining.

Planning the furniture during the design stage helps establish the right dimensions and determines where doors, windows and solid wall sections should be positioned.

An orangery can also be used to extend an existing kitchen.

Additional floor space can provide room for a larger kitchen layout, island or dining table, while roof glazing helps introduce daylight from above.

Solid walls are particularly useful in a kitchen orangery because they provide positions for units, worktops and appliances.

The windows can then be concentrated where they provide the best garden views and natural light.

For larger kitchen and dining projects, the orangery can form part of an open-plan room connected with the existing house through a suitable structural opening.

The design needs to consider the kitchen from the beginning. This allows the walls, windows, doors and roof lantern to be positioned around the intended layout.

Windows have a strong influence on whether a Victorian orangery looks convincing alongside a traditional property.

South Lakes Windows can provide timber and UPVC windows in styles suitable for many traditional projects.

Glazing bars can divide larger panes into smaller sections where this suits the architecture. Sliding sash or traditionally proportioned casement windows can also be considered depending on the design.

Modern double glazing allows these traditional details to be combined with improved thermal performance compared with old single-glazed windows.

The external colour of the frames also deserves attention. Rather than treating the orangery separately, window finishes can be chosen with the existing house, doors and other joinery in mind.

For properties with specific historic requirements, the appropriate design and materials should be established before products are ordered.

French doors are a natural choice for many Victorian orangery designs.

Their paired arrangement works well with the symmetry and proportions associated with traditional architecture. They can be positioned centrally within the main elevation or incorporated into a side wall depending on the garden layout.

French doors are not the only option.

Some homeowners want the traditional appearance of a Victorian orangery while also creating a much wider opening towards the garden. Suitable sliding or bi-folding doors can be considered where they work with the wider design.

The choice depends on whether historical character or the size of the garden opening is the greater priority.

Door position should also reflect how the room will be furnished and how people will move between the house, orangery and garden.

Victorian orangeries can be particularly suitable for older homes, but the individual property needs to guide the design.

Cumbria, Lancashire and Yorkshire contain a wide variety of Victorian houses, stone-built properties, cottages and other traditional homes. Window proportions, roof forms and building materials differ considerably between them.

A design that works with a large Victorian villa may be inappropriate for a smaller rural cottage.

South Lakes Windows considers the scale and character of the original property when developing an orangery.

Brickwork, stone, frame colours, window styles, roof details and glazing can all be selected with the existing building in mind.

The intention is to create useful additional space while respecting the features that make the original property distinctive.

Traditional properties are often found within conservation areas, and some may also be listed.

These designations can affect the changes that can be made to a property. An orangery may require planning permission or other consent depending on the building, location and proposed work.

The materials, dimensions, position, roof design and appearance may all need consideration.

South Lakes Windows has experience working with traditional properties across the region. The company’s founders, Steven and Jacqueline Lancaster, are also legally trained and have experience within the legal system, providing additional knowledge within the business when projects involve planning, conservation or listed building considerations.

Where further approval or specialist professional input is required, this can be identified during the planning and design process.