This beautiful bospokeconservatory was designedto create additional space

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NATURAL EVOLUTION Iroperties often need togrow and adapt to matchour changing festy es

Increasingly homeowners areseeking larger open-plan kitchen-diners, home offices and evenhome cinemas but perhaps t is anaddit onal bedroom or two, anensuite or — on a grander scale —

an extra w ng or annexe that couldhelp avod a costy re ocaton.

A well-conceived, sympatheticextenson w add significant valueto a property, but as every road orarea has a ceiling price, take carenot to push the price too high, oryou may not recoup yourinvestment. Two-storey extensionsare better value than single storeyones as they involve the samesingle payment for foundations.

Be prepared to remodel existingrooms to ntegrate an extension;moving or removing wa s, doorsand windows can often help createa practical and harmonious layout.Try to keep the garden inproportion to the house andmaintain the balance betweenupstairs and downstairs space Alarge ground floor extension canmake a property ‘bottom heavy’ ifnot matched by enough bedrooms.

Regulations govern extensionsizes, their proximity to roads orboundaries, and the height andpitch of roofs. If your propertyhasn’t been extended before, youcan add a certain percentage tothe original space — the websitewww.planningportal.gov.uk hasfurther details, while your architector builder can advise you on

Extensons for period homes,especa y those in conservationareas, need to be handled withparticular care. The Royal Instituteof Grit sh Architects (RIBA) cansupply a list of specialist architectsin your area. f you live in a listedbuilding you w need ListedBuilding Consent, without whichyou may be prosecuted and haveto carry out remedial works.

Adrian Dobson, Director ofPractice at RIBA, says, “Engagingan architect with experience oflisted buildings is particularlyimportant because of the strictrules that apply. An architect canadvise upon what can and cannotbe changed when working within ahistorical context, and offercreative and sensitive solutions.”

In some cases, conservationofficers will accept contemporarydesigns for a listed property,preferring a clear differentiationbetween the old and new parts ofthe building. The over-riding aim isto protect the character and fabricof the original building. Sourcingsympathetic building mater a s willensure the new extension ties in asseamlessly as possible and easeplanning permission. Reclaimedmaterials look most authenticalthough can be time consumingto track down. Try www.salvo.co.ukto research salvage local yards.Abbots Bridge Reclamation,Ransfords and RiversideReclamation are worth trying forreclaimed stone. For modern,sympathetic bricks try Lambs, TheYork Handmade Brick Company or

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This timber-framed thatchedcottage has a new double-height extension ~o mirrorthe gable end ofthe.orlginalbuilding. Taller ceiling heightswere created thanks to thesIpping site. Project b a

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CLOCKWISE FROMTOP LEFTThis Grade IIlisted 17th-centurybuilding has a newextension with greenoak frame by specialistTJ Crump Oakwrights

• and natural slate roof.rt~ Project is by Peter

Dickinson Architects.

A 1950s house has- - ~. been extended by

incorporating part of- the original structure

within a conservatory-style addition andlarge rooflight. Project

-. by Maibrook.

• Reclaimed tiles wereused on this 4m x 3mgarden room to matchthe existing house,From around £25,000,Prime Oak.

- This medieval manorhouse’s newwing added

• a kitchen, two bedrooms,

• and an ensuite-‘ “ bathroom, ‘Field stone’

common to vernacularhouses, bespoke oaktrusses visible inside, aroof in Cotswold slate,cast iron guttering andoak windows add toits authenticity. Projectby Symm.

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THE ENGLISH HOME 107

HARMONIOUS DETAILS

The combination of wicker,florals and exposed mellowstonework creates ~ freshand classic look within aconservatory, All furnitureand accessories are fromthe new ConservatoryInteriors collection by ValeGarden Houses.

Choosing fixtures and fittings thatblend sympathetically withadjoining rooms helps anextension feel like a naturalevolution. This means paying closeattention to repetition of windowdesign, interior wood trims andpanelling, doors and finishes onwalls and ceilings. In open-planspaces the visual flow of flooring isparticularly important. If you intendto match wood or stone, it is worthtracking down reclaimed flooring —

the natural patina of age willensure a seamless blend. Thesimpler option is a complementaryrather than matching floor — stoneadjoining wood in existingdownstairs rooms can work well.

In a period property replicatingfittings is also important. For finebespoke plasterwork tryStevensons of Norwich. ItsNational Trust range of mouldingsare copies of originals from NTproperties around the country.Specialists such as Linford Masonryoffer stonework design andrestoration. Traditional woodcarving and carpentry such as oakpanelling will add a distinctive lookto your home — find experts at theGuild of Master Craftsmen orcontact specialists RWArmstrongor Symm.

If you are including a fireplace,do ensure its proportions areappropriate to the room — themantelpiece should be less thanhalf the height of the ceiling. Forrooms with low ceilings, a firesurround may not be necessary.Although a fireplace should blend

match is not essential, says PaulChesney, Founder and ManagingDirector of Chesney’s. “There is astrong trend for architecturaldesigns and clean lines inchimneypieces. While homeowners are continuing to selectperod designs, the accent isdefinitely on simpler pieces withthe more flamboyant historicaldesigns enjoying less popularity.”

In a conservatory, leaving mellowold brick or stone walls unpiasteredmay offer a comfortable settingthat blends well with the originalhouse. For plastered walls andwoodwork, find paints in suitableshades at Farrow & Ball or try theEnglish Heritage approved rangeat The Little Greene PaintCompany. Stone flags or brickflooring will also add to the effect.Wood looks beautiful, but in aconservatory may suffer the effectsof changes in temperature — optingfor engineered wood rather thansolid boards is advisable.

Heating must also be consideredat an early stage. Check whetheryour boiler can cope with the extraradiators needed for an extension,or consider underiloor heating.This can consist of pipes connectedto the central heating system thatcarry hot water beneath the floor,or a mesh of electrically heatedwires, more suted to small roomssuch as bathrooms but lessdsruptive to fit. Radiators can beset behind decorative panels or ina grille-covered channel in thefloor. For restored and refurbished

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CONSERVATORIES & ORANGERIESOne of the most stra ght forwardaddit ons to a property, aconservatory has undeniablecharms. These elegant glassstructures, now with the latestsolar-control glass and ventilationtechniques, can often be used allyear round, and are quicker tobuild and less disruptive than anextension. No longer just sunrooms, they can provide an extrasitting room, dining room, studioor kitchen, Todays low-emissivityglass in sealed units will hold heatin winter and reflect it in summer,while underfloor heating is anunobtrusive addition.

Most traditional conservator esare in wood, usually painted orstained, though aluminium,

onsidered maintenance-free, isa so an option.

The alternative is an orangery,built from masonry and thereforemore solid, but still with largeexpanses of glass. Originally,orangeries had a distinctly classicallook, with stone columns, a solidback wall and large sash windows.Now the boundary betweenorangeries and glazed extensionshas become blurred; either willimprove the layout and ambienceof your home.

Though some conservatories canbe built without planning consentalways check as you would with anyother extension as size is not theonly constraint (find advice onlineat www.planningportal.gov.uk).

Bu ding regu at ons must alwaysbe adhered to, while conservationofficers must also be consu ted forlisted and historic buildings andthose in conservation areas. SamOgilvie, Design Director atBartholomew, says there are twoways to approach planning aconservatory for a period building.“The first and more traditionalmethod would be to study thedetailing and proportions of theexisting building and ensure thatthey continue throughout the newstructure. The second would be toconsider a more contemporaryaddition. A conservatory can offera significant amount oftransparency, thereby notobscuring the view of the

CLOCKWISE FROMTOP LEFT A modernstructure provides a linkbetween parts of thisold barn, whichoriginated in Franceand was reconstructedin Hampshire. From£4O,~, David Salisbury.A stunning partly-domed timberconservatorycomplements thisvictorian house perfectly.Project by HeighwayField Associates andWilliam Garvey Ltd.In this orangery for aGeorgian house,traditional materialshave been used tocreate arched bricklintels and casementwindows typical ofthe period. From£150,XO, Kay PilsburyThomas Architects.

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THE ENGLISH HOME 111