A well-designed hardwood orangery can provide far more than additional floor space. It can transform the relationship between a house and its garden, introduce natural light into adjoining rooms and create a comfortable living space that can be used throughout the year.
Hardwood is particularly suited to bespoke orangery construction. Its strength, stability and versatility allow the structure to be designed around the architecture of the original property rather than being restricted by standardised components.
A modern orangery normally combines areas of masonry with timber windows, doors and a partially glazed roof. A glazed roof lantern is often positioned within an insulated flat-roof perimeter, bringing light into the centre of the room while retaining the substantial appearance of a traditional extension.
Unlike a standard conservatory, every aspect of a bespoke hardwood orangery can be designed around the property. Its proportions, roof shape, glazing, joinery and decorative detailing can all be adjusted to suit the existing house and the intended use of the new space.
Hardwood combines structural strength with the ability to produce precise mouldings and architectural details. It can be used for substantial structural components as well as finely detailed windows, doors, glazing bars and decorative features.
This versatility makes hardwood appropriate for a wide range of properties. It can reproduce traditional joinery details for a listed or period house, but it is equally capable of creating clean lines and generous areas of glazing for a more contemporary design.
Painted finishes are available in an extensive choice of colours, while stained finishes can be used where the natural appearance of the timber is an important part of the design.
Kingsholme primarily works with durable hardwood, Accoya and Tricoya. Each material is selected according to the purpose and exposure of the component.
Red Grandis hardwood is used for many of the principal elements, including windows, doors and roof components. Its strength and workability make it well suited to bespoke joinery.
Accoya offers exceptional dimensional stability and resistance to weathering. It is particularly useful for exposed details such as cills, astragal bars and decorative mouldings. Tricoya, a related engineered timber panel, can be used for selected fascia and decorative elements.
Selecting the appropriate material for each component helps create an orangery capable of retaining its appearance and performance over many years.
The most successful orangery designs appear to belong to the property rather than having simply been added to it.
This involves more than selecting an appropriate colour. The height and spacing of the windows, the arrangement of the doors, the depth of the fascia and the detailing of the brickwork should all relate to the original building.
Existing architectural features can often be reflected in the new joinery. These might include glazing bars, fanlights, window proportions, decorative mouldings or brick details. Although reproducing these features requires additional design and manufacturing work, it can make a considerable difference to the finished result.
Kingsholme manufactures its hardwood orangeries in its own workshop in Studham, Bedfordshire. The windows, doors, roof lantern and decorative elements are produced as parts of one coordinated design.
Manufacturing these components together gives greater control over their proportions, fit and finish. It also allows unusual roof forms, angled elevations and property-specific details to be incorporated without relying entirely on standardised components.
Three-dimensional design technology allows the proposed orangery to be visualised before manufacture begins. The design can therefore be refined before the timber structure enters production.
Timber is only one part of an orangery’s overall performance. Glazing, insulation, ventilation, heating and solar control must all be considered as part of the complete design.
High-performance glazing can help control heat loss, excessive solar gain and glare. Insulation within the roof, floor and masonry also contributes to year-round comfort.
The position of the orangery is important. A south-facing structure may require different glazing and ventilation choices from one facing north or shaded by surrounding buildings. These decisions should be made for the specific property rather than applied as a standard specification.
Every orangery is individually designed, so there is no meaningful standard price.
Based on recent Kingsholme projects, many complete hardwood orangeries cost between £70,000 and £120,000 including VAT. Smaller or more straightforward projects may cost less, while larger or architecturally complex designs can exceed this range.
Size is only one consideration. Foundations, structural alterations, drainage, access, joinery details, glazing and interior finishes can all influence the final quotation.
Our hardwood orangery cost guide explains these factors in more detail.
Kingsholme can manage a complete orangery project from the initial design through to completion. Depending on the agreed scope, this can include:
Where an architect or main contractor is managing a larger development, Kingsholme can instead manufacture and install the bespoke timber structure as a clearly defined part of the wider project.
Kingsholme designs, manufactures and installs bespoke hardwood orangeries throughout Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire.
To discuss a new orangery project, contact Kingsholme or request our latest brochure. Photographs, approximate dimensions and any existing drawings can help us provide an initial indication of suitability and likely cost.
