Our favourite blog posts of 2018

It’s the most wonderful time of year for a bit of reflection, and what a brilliant year we have had here at Westbury Garden Rooms in 2018. We’ve loved working with our clients to design and build beautiful garden rooms and orangery extensions that can be enjoyed by the whole family, and we’ve also celebrated our 30th anniversary. Here’s a roundup of our most favourite blog posts from the past year…

Garden rooms extensions and orangeries:

1. Your autumn garden room maintenance check list

Autumn is the ideal season for giving your garden room a bit of TLC, and our bi-monthly maintenance check list shows exactly how easy it is to care for your garden room extension.

2. What does an orangery cost?

“What does an orangery cost?” It’s a valid and very popular question circulating the web at present, however you may as well ask the question, “how long is a piece of string?”

3. What is an orangery?

An orangery is a stunning addition to any home and whilst their use may have changed over time, their distinguishing features never fail to deliver the wow factor.

Westbury News:

1. Westbury’s women at work

Westbury is a Silver Accredited Investor in People and we recognise our importance as a local employer in the South East of Essex and our role in getting local mothers back into work.

2. 30th anniversary celebrations for Westbury

May 2018 is a special date here at Westbury because it marks our 30th anniversary! This is a pretty special achievement given that over the years we have seen many of our competitors come and go, and yet here we are still standing strong, with our sights firmly set on a path of onward and upward as demand for our brand is currently outstripping supply…

3. Westbury core values – maintaining excellence in an age of mediocrity

With our workforce in excess of 70 and rising, each and every member is pivotal in maintaining our standards of excellence…

4. Q&A: Westbury Managing Director, James Upton

James shares some of his memories from the past twenty years at Westbury, his vision for the company’s future and what continues to inspire him today…

Culture:

1. The royal history of the orangery: a duke and dutchess’ choice

Frogmore Cottage is to become the official residence of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, after it is believed the couple were gifted the property by Her Majesty The Queen. This week we discovered that plans are afoot to transform the time-worn, grade II-listed building into a five-bedroom family home. Details of the planning application are to remain under wraps due to security concerns, however permission has been approved to refurbish the cottage, and install two glazed orangeries.

2. Made in Britain – a reputation that’s made to last

We explore the lure of products ‘made in Britain’ and why there is a current demand for products with British provenance.

3. Wabi-sabi – the Japanese philosophy of beauty in perfection

Wabi-sabi is the latest wellness trend that is shaping design and interiors and is centred around finding beauty in imperfection.

4. A room of their own: 100th women’s rights anniversary

It’s been 100 years since women won the right to vote, and the anniversary has been marked with a range of commemorative events, exhibitions and cultural projects. To celebrate, we explore the importance of this milestone and look at how space and independence can go a long way in helping women to achieve their full creative potentials.

Food:

1. Christmas canapé recipes by Humphrey Munson

‘Tis the season for entertaining, and there’s nothing better than a few tried and tested canapé recipes that are quick, easy and delicious. Louisa Eggleston, the Creative Director at Humphrey Munson shared these Christmas canapé recipes with us that are best served with lots of fizz…

2. Vanilla panna cotta with strawberry sauce

This delicious recipe for panna cotta is the perfect summer treat to enjoy during the Wimbledon season.

3. Skulls, jewels and spellbinding flavours: Diggle Chocolates

A Cordon Bleu-trained chocolatier based in London, Philippa Diggle of Diggle Chocolates creates beautiful artisan truffles. By cleverly combining magical flavours with bewitching designs, Philippa’s chocolates make you feel utterly enchanted the second you open the box…

Interiors:

1. The Antique Emporium of Pimlico – Jamb

Known for his passion for old curiosities, eclectic treasures and Palladian architecture, Jamb’s founder Will Fisher restored and sold his first fireplace when he was just 12 years old. We explore his fascination with antiques, unique ornaments and reproduction lighting…

2. ‘My style is simple and earthy’ – we meet OKA’s Giselle Mannering

We talk with OKA’s talented Head of Interior Design and Trade, Giselle Mannering to discuss home style, key pieces and top tips…  

3. Orangery and garden room interior design ideas

The ultimate installation in space and light allows you to break away from interior norms…

Garden:

1. Garden lighting tips from Andrew Fisher Tomlin

You can still enjoy your garden through the dark winter months with the help of a cleverly designed lighting scheme. We speak to garden designer and RHS Gold Medal winner Andrew Fisher Tomlin, who shares his expert advice on how to lighten things up.

2. Save the bees – it’s time to take action

Through the cross-pollination that occurs as they collect nectar from flower to flower, bees play a pivotal part in the world’s eco-system, taking responsibility for at least one third of the food we eat.

3. 7 things to consider when choosing an outdoor kitchen

We regularly invite design and interiors experts to write for our blog. The latest guest post is from Wwoo Outdoor Kitchens.

Client Testimonials:

1. Client Testimonial: A contemporary garden room and cookery school

In 2012, after 18 years of living and working in London, most recently as a partner for a global management consulting firm, it was time for a change in career and lifestyle. Having completed the diploma course at Leith’s School of Food and Wine when I was younger and with a background in catering, I decided to start a cookery school giving day lessons that are fun, inspiring and help participants improve their cooking skills.

2. Client Testimonial: Mr & Mrs W’s orangery in Surrey

Our house was built in 1970, so there’s not a lot of history to it. Similarly, the original architecture was very plain – there were no outstanding features at all. To top is off, when we bought it, it was quite dilapidated; it definitely needed some doing up and TLC…

3. Client Testimonial: Beautiful timber orangery with fireplace

A few years ago, I was passing through a nearby village and spotted a house with a beautiful adjoining timber extension – you could tell it was a quality build from a mile off. When I asked the owner about the extension, she told me that it had been designed and built by Westbury. When I arrived home, I started to envisage how a Westbury extension might fit in with my own home and lifestyle: it really felt as though it was meant to be… I just had to convince my husband!

4. Client Testimonial: A light & bright Georgian orangery extension

So pretty on the outside and yet so disappointing on the inside’ was how our valuation surveyor described our 1790s Georgian home. She was right, but we still bought it!…