Conservatories

Create a stunning wine collection with Spiral Cellars

According to an article by the Independent, homeowners are defying the recession aftermath and embracing stylish household gadgets.

The must have accessories this year reflect domestic comfort and glamour. So if you’re thinking about starting a new project in your home, here’s are few ideas to consider, as well as some (slightly more) budget friendly alternatives.

Wine Cellar/Fridge

Us Brits love our wine. According to Vinexpo figures we consumed 1.7 billion bottles last year and spent more on wine than the French! These statistics could help to explain how a “must have” trend for wine cellars has developed in the UK.

Spend – Combining style and technology, a stainless steel wine cellar can in some cases hold almost 2,000 bottles. Top of the range cellars feature LED lighting, glass panels and temperature controls.

A Cylindircal wine cellar from Spiral Cellars can store 1,870 bottles, from £14,500. Visit www.spiralcellars.com for more details.

Save – Wine fridges are becoming increasingly popular with new fitted kitchen installations. John Lewis stock a varied range with prices starting from around £199.

Orangery/Conservatory

A conservatory is an easy way to add value to your home or simply create some more living space. But if you’re looking for something a touch more modern then an orangery may be for you.

Spend -  An orangery can cost around £40,000. Taking a step beyond conventional conservatories these rooms feature more brick than glass but can also boast energy saving technology thanks to insulating membranes. To view some beautiful examples, visit www.theenglishglasshouse.co.uk.

Save – A conservatory can be just as stylish as an orangery (in our opinion) but without the high price.  A basic 3m x 3m style can be from £10,000.

Coffee Machine

The coffee machine is today an essential gadget in the kitchen with appliances coming in stand alone or built in options.

Spend – The latest award winning coffee machine from Dualit, the Espressivo, costs approximately £175. The advantage of this product is that it enables you to use both ground beans and capsules, making it much more versatile. Take a look at www.dualit.com.

Save – If you just can’t get enough of your coffee but want it at a friendlier price tag, check out the Dolce Gusto. This product retails at £99 and can be purchased at www.dulce-gusto.co.uk.

A garden conservatory is typically a small, glass structure which is usually attached to the side of a house and serves as an extension. It is normally used as a separate living space or lounge area but can have many uses such as a play area, a place of work, a studio for dancing or aerobics, a spare bedroom or as a storage space. A good garden conservatory can add great value to your house.

Conservatories can be made of many different materials. The most common materials however are glass and plastic or glass and brick. This gives the illusion of being outdoors and is a great way to enjoy the beauty of your garden in all types of weather. As many of them are made of glass they also double up as a different type of greenhouse and as a result heat up very quickly. (This makes them the perfect space to grow flowers and even dry clothes!) It is important to make sure that they are very well ventilated in the summer. You can achieve this by opening a window or purchasing a fan. They can also be very cold at night time during the winter months so a good heater is also well worth purchasing.

A garden conservatory needs a lot of care and attention as they can easily get damaged or flooded during bad weather such as hail stones or heavy rain. Another problem with having a glass conservatory is leaves settling on the roof which of course ruins the beautiful view. This can easily be amended by using a broom or rake to push the leaves off the top

A conservatory – whether it be of traditional Victorian design or simpler contemporary construction – can add a bright airy space to almost any home. You may for example wish to choose an ornate gable fronted conservatory with a steeply pitched roof as an additional living, or dining space, or if contemporary straight lines are more your style a modern, lean-to conservatory – a.k.a. a “Mediterranean” conservatory – to house your home office, for example.

In either case when it comes to soft furnishings in a conservatory mixing striped and floral fabrics from the same palette in blinds, curtains, etc. helps to create a feeling of freshness in the space. Combined with botanically themed wall covering this can also help to create a link between the interior and exterior of your home. When it comes to lighting and heating a conservatory you may find that a screen provides protection against bright sunlight, as well as creating a more intimate atmosphere at night, whilst recessed spotlights, floor lamps, and, of course, underfloor heating – warm water or electric – are other possibilities.

Whatever purpose you wish to use your conservatory for on a regular basis, storage is likely to be an issue whether it’s needed for tableware, cutlery, paperwork or whatever else. A sideboard can provide unobtrusive storage as can a dresser and if you choose a large table, rather than a desk per se, you can create a space in which to relax, as well as work. The addition of an armchair, or a compact sofa, can provide you with somewhere to read a book, or listen to music, when your work or entertaining is done.

The good news for anyone considering a conservatory, nowadays is that – provided that the construction does not extend above the height of your existing roof or cover more than 50% of your garden – it is likely to be considered permitted development for which no planning permission is required.