Classic Countryside Conservatory

A sensational glazed extension has transformed an underused and empty part of a garden patio in this family home in Essex. The family were keen to extend their property, and it was important to them to choose a family business who could design, plan and manufacture the extension in-house. They wanted a classic glazed extension that would last for years to come, adding value to their property and lifestyle as a result. They certainly got what they desired, as while this structure looks as fresh and refined as a newly built extension, we installed it 20 years ago!

These days, we use Accoya© to construct every Westbury product, which is why our garden rooms and conservatories maintain their superior finish for as long as they do. It is a revolutionary engineered timber made from fast-growing FSC® or PEFC™ certified tree species. This material will not shrink or swell like standard timber tends to do, meaning that joints, doors and windows retain their perfect fit throughout their long lifespan. However, we had not come across this innovative material when we built this conservatory. What we did do however is use state-of-the-art machinery, traditional techniques and the finest materials, just as we always have done. Despite the years of use, it is still in excellent condition and remains an integral part of the family home for entertaining and dinner parties. Now the children are grown up with families of their own, but they all still gather in the conservatory.

With its perfect symmetry and traditional lines, the conservatory perfectly complements the architecture of the house while giving the family more space. Filled with sunlight, this bright and sizable room creates an inviting venue for family gatherings where the French Doors can be opened up onto the garden. With its south facing position and views of the garden, the room is calm, peaceful, and often used as a yoga and meditation room.

To benefit from entirely uninterrupted views of the surrounding garden and neighbouring woodlands, the family opted for a structure with a fully glazed roof and heavily glazed walls, making it an excellent example of a classic conservatory. While these were very common 20 years ago, conservatories can have issues with maintaining comfortable temperatures in warmer or colder conditions. Today, orangeries and garden rooms are more favourable, so we have recently suggested changing the conservatory roof to either a tiled roof or a flat roof with a roof lantern if the family want to.

Read more from Homeowner Mrs M, in our ‘Built to last! Quality glazed extensions, 20 years on…‘ blog post.