This conservatory replacement in Bedfordshire transformed a small, uncomfortable room into a spacious orangery approximately four times its size. Designed for a retired couple who wanted to enjoy their garden and the open countryside beyond, the new room extends past the side of the house, with bifold doors, French doors and an open connection to the kitchen.
The house formed part of a development of a few dozen homes in a small Bedfordshire hamlet. Its original uPVC conservatory, installed by the housebuilder, was too small to use comfortably and suffered from excessive summer heat and cold winter temperatures. The clients had even fitted an air-conditioning unit to help manage the summer heat.
We had already replaced a neighbour’s uPVC conservatory with a timber version on a like-for-like basis. These clients wanted a more substantial change: a larger room where they could spend time enjoying their garden and the views across open countryside.
Through several design iterations, we developed an orangery approximately four times the size of the original conservatory. The footprint extended beyond the side of the house, opening up views across the full width of the garden.
Positioned around the corner of the property, the design included bifold doors on one elevation and French doors on the other. An open connection to the kitchen would bring the new room into everyday use as part of the house.
The existing conservatory also linked the kitchen and utility room, so its removal needed to be carefully sequenced during construction.
We kept the old conservatory standing for as long as practical, excavating the new foundations around its perimeter. Most of the excavation was completed by machine, with hand digging used to clear and tidy areas where access was restricted.
This allowed us to complete the excavation and concrete the new foundations before removing the existing structure.
Once the foundations were in place, the old conservatory had to come down so work could progress. We boarded up the opening to the kitchen, while the existing lockable door to the utility room remained in place.
The old conservatory walls and base were then broken out and removed. With the area cleared and levelled, we could set out the new brickwork to the required dimensions.
The new brick walls and suspended concrete floor established the larger footprint of the orangery, with brickwork selected to complement the existing house.
The old lean-to conservatory roof had extended high up the house wall, enclosing an area finished in plaster. Although the orangery would provide greater internal ceiling height, its flatter roof profile would leave part of this area exposed above the new roof.
Working from a scaffold tower, our bricklayers removed the affected plaster and blockwork and reinstated matching facing bricks, creating a neat, consistent finish above the orangery.
With the masonry prepared, we began erecting the orangery structure. Alongside our work, landscapers laid the paving around the extension, allowing the building and its surroundings to take shape together.
As the structure neared completion, the patio was finished and the lawn was levelled and reseeded. The coordinated work helped bring the new room into its garden setting.
Inside, plastering was completed and the remaining floor insulation laid ready for the screed. Electrical work, screeding and decorating followed as the room approached completion.
One of the construction photographs captures a rainy day outside while decorating continued comfortably inside the enclosed orangery. Tiled flooring and the clients’ furnishings then completed the room.
The completed orangery gives the couple a much larger space connected to their kitchen, with views across the garden towards the countryside beyond. Bifold doors and French doors provide access to the newly paved area on two sides.
The final exterior photograph shows the orangery alongside the finished patio and reinstated lawn, while the furnished interior demonstrates how the enlarged footprint has created a welcoming place to sit and enjoy the outlook.
Talk to us about replacing a small or uncomfortable conservatory with a bespoke orangery designed around your home, garden and the way you want to use the space.
Read what our clients say about the care, craftsmanship and personal service behind their completed projects.
In short, we unreservedly recommend Kingsholme Conservatories as a highly competent company, offering excellent service and value for money, with whom it has been a pleasure to deal.
Now that the conservatory is finished Sarah and I would like to express our appreciation of the work that has been done. Back in the summer when we decided we would like to build, we had no idea who to go to and no local friends to make recommendations. We looked on the internet using words such as “bespoke, quality and individual” By chance we came across Kingsholme and then of course met with you.
We said that we did not wish to be involved with any sub contractors but that the entire job should be project managed by you. We also made it clear that we wanted a firm price for the job which would not change unless we altered the brief. You delivered on both counts.
From day one of the ground works until the final finishing touches were made recently all the people representing Kingsholme have been excellent. Skilled tidy workers, always polite and a pleasure to have around. Whilst the job was not always straightforward, i.e. the guttering which had to be specially made, there was no question of you cutting corners or compromising your quality standards.
We are delighted with the final result and especially pleased that we selected your company. Many thanks to all the team and particularly you Mark.
I’m very happy with the quality of work and materials, the finished conservatory is exactly what I wanted. I would be happy to recommend Kingsholme or provide a reference site.
Explore our completed projects, discover the options for replacing your conservatory and see how our full build service takes your project from design through to completion.
