Unlock the Potential of Your Home
Extending your home with an elegant new conservatory design is an exhilarating possibility—envision the added room for family gatherings, a sanctuary suffused with natural light where you can unwind amidst the beauty of your surroundings.
Picture yourself basking in the serenity of your garden views, savouring a glass of wine as the sun dips below the horizon, all from the comfort of your home.
Ensuring that your investment aligns seamlessly with your desires and needs requires thoughtful planning and meticulous design considerations.
Fear not, for the experts at Hallmark Glazed Extensions have curated a comprehensive guide to help you confidently navigate each step.
Consider these key factors to ensure that your conservatory design meets and exceeds your expectations, ensuring a space you'll cherish for years.
Consider the real purpose of the extra living space
When it comes to your conservatory extension, it pays to plan the use of space carefully. You must be clear about your new living space's real-life purpose and functionality.
What are all the ways the family will use your new living space? How do you intend to furnish it? Will it have a sofa, a dining room table, or a kitchen?
How much space do you desire around the furniture? Do you need to consider any specific storage requirements?
Comparing the space with a similar-sized room will help you identify whether there will be adequate space for the furniture you want to include.
Considering the room's layout and contents will help you determine exactly how much space you need from your new conservatory design.
Size and space considerations
Size and space requirements will differ according to the intended purpose of the conservatory extension.
For example, suppose you plan to use the conservatory to extend your existing kitchen. In that case, being aware of the kitchen triangle rule will guide you in designing an efficient new kitchen.
The optimal way to lay out your kitchen is to ensure a convenient triangle shape between the primary kitchen equipment, minimising the distance between these heavy-use items.
The items in question are the cooker, the sink and the fridge. The sum of the triangle's three sides should total no more than 26 feet.
The distance between each element should be between four and nine feet and free of obstacles to navigate between the different aspects.
You may be planning to use the conservatory as an additional dining space. In that case, the size of the table and adequate space for people to access the dining chairs will need to be considered.
The ideal amount of space per person at the table should be 70cm wide to allow space for elbow room and 90cm deep to allow enough space for easy access for each diner.
The golden ratio is grounded in observations of the natural world and the mathematical Fibonacci sequence. It suggests that the perfect ratio of dimensions for aesthetic beauty is 1:1.168. Our designers will ensure that your conservatory is the perfect size for your property.
The impact on your external garden space
It's essential to consider the space the conservatory design will add to your house and the footprint it will take up in your garden.
Physically marking out the space your conservatory will take up in your garden can be helpful.
Measuring out in this way can be a helpful exercise to get a realistic sense of what your new extended space will feel like and ensure that you will find the space and layout practical and pleasing.
Time invested, sitting with a cuppa or glass of wine in your marked-out space will help you visualise the reality of bringing some of your outdoor space indoors and give you time to calibrate your expectations of what the finished project will look like.
It is worth noting that you must add approximately 300mm to your measurements for the thickness of each insulated wall.
An additional 600mm in the width of your space can significantly increase the footprint of a small to medium-sized conservatory.
Planning rules for your conservatory design
Many conservatories, orangeries, and garden rooms are allowed under permitted development rules, not requiring planning permission or building regulations. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule.
You must seek planning permission for any structure that exceeds the following restrictions:
Additionally, planning permission will be required where:
You must conform to building regulations where:
Our expert planning coordinator will handle all planning permissions, building regulation paperwork, and technical calculations on your behalf, so there's no need to deal with additional third-party suppliers.
This comprehensive service frees you up to focus on the more enjoyable aspects of your new space's design and style.
Consideration of design and style
At Hallmark, we have beautiful frames to suit all styles and architectures of property.
We provide Seasoned Oak frames for traditional timeless elegance, Sapele hardwood frames, which we can finish to suit any colour scheme, and contemporary insulated Aluminium frames, which give a sleek, slim-lined design.
These come in standard powder-coated white, black, or grey but can also be finished to suit any colour scheme for a surcharge.
Consideration of materials for your conservatory design
The choice of materials used in your conservatory design significantly affects the style, longevity, practicality, usability and ease of maintenance of your new space.
At Hallmark, we offer a range of quality materials to create the beautiful, relaxing environment of your new orangery or conservatory design.
Whether looking for traditional and timeless beauty or fun and contemporary elegance, there is something for every property type and architecture.
Seasoned Oak Frames
Seasoned Oak frames offer a warm, natural beauty to your conservatory. They provide excellent thermal insulation, strength, and durability.
We use Seasoned Oak rather than Air-Dried or Green Oak, which is more prone to shifting and warping over time. Seasoned oak can be laminated to create robust, beautiful rafters and longer frame sections.
We can treat seasoned oak with various finishes according to personal preference. This material requires annual maintenance but, when cared for appropriately, can be incredibly long-lasting and durable.
Sapele Frames
Sapele is another type of durable hardwood that mimics the look of mahogany. Again, it can be stained or finished in various colours and styles. It is less prone to warping than other wood types and requires re-finishing every 4-7 years to protect its long life span.
Aluminium Frames
Insulated aluminium frames offer a great option for contemporary orangery or modern conservatory styles. They are lightweight yet strong, don't warp or rot, and require minimal maintenance throughout their lifespan.
UPVC Frames
UPVC is a practical, cost-effective option for budget-conscious homeowners. Like the rest of our frames, it provides excellent thermal efficiency and is available in various colour schemes and finishes.
How Hallmark Glazed Extensions Can Help You Design the Perfect Space
Your first contact will be a design consultation. One of our experienced designers will meet with you to learn more about you and what you want for your home.
They will want to understand your motivations, your existing home environment, your goals, your wish list, non-negotiables, and your intended budget.
They will discuss any technical considerations or restrictions with you, such as drainage, boiler flues, nearby trees, etc.
At the start of the project, a comprehensive technical site survey will be carried out to ensure a smooth installation process.
They will be the expert guides you need to feel confident that the financial investment you will be making will work for you and your family both imminently and in the long run.
Protecting Your Investment
Hallmark will skillfully guide you through every stage of your conservatory project. Our commitment to transparent pricing instils confidence in achieving your dream conservatory extension within your budget.
We understand this may be a significant financial investment for you, and we want you to feel confident in our ability to deliver on your needs.
Our professional designers will craft a bespoke design tailored precisely to your requirements and with due consideration of your budget.
The project's planning will include an outline of the schedule and timings, which will help you establish accurate expectations for the completion date of your exciting new home improvements.
Are you Ready to Plan the Perfect Conservatory Design for Your Home?
Getting started with your conservatory design project couldn't be easier.
Contact us now to book your complimentary design consultation and discover how to improve your home.
Create a beautiful space, filled with natural light and connection to the outdoors, that your family can enjoy all year round and for years to come.
