The kitchen is increasingly being used as the hub of the family home, where people gather not only to cook but also to dine, socialise and relax. It is a natural hive of activity and warmth, and this is why more people are choosing to extend their kitchen with a bespoke orangery. Here’s how to make the most of this versatile extension.
Transforming your space with open plan living
By removing the dividing walls that separate off the kitchen and other living spaces of your home, you can create a versatile space that is modern and stylish. Open plan spaces naturally facilitate interaction and connection, making them ideal family spaces. It can encourage household members to spend more time together.
The blending of traditional boundaries between cooking, dining and socialising spaces also lends itself to entertaining, as you don’t have to spend time away from your guests as you prepare food or drinks.
More fluid zones can be created with dividers such as kitchen islands or breakfast bars to distinguish between cooking and living areas without disrupting the sense of flow between them. Maintain a sense of harmony by using consistent flooring and colour schemes throughout, which will create a pleasing unified feel.
Maximising natural light in your home
One of the most attractive features of an orangery compared to a traditional extension is the amount of natural light that will flow through your living space. Orangeries traditionally have large high windows, glazed doors, and ceiling lanterns that allow light to flood your home.
This can make buildings with smaller dimensions and low ceilings feel much larger, and will enhance any style of property. Exposure to natural light, even through glass, is good for our health and wellbeing. It can help to regulate our mood, sleep patterns, maintain good eyesight, and boost energy and productivity levels.
A light and airy home is a welcoming and inspiring place for everyone, and will allow you to enjoy the views of your garden all year round. It can also provide extra warmth through solar gain. The levels of natural light can be controlled with blinds or curtains for extra shade or insulation when required.
An extended kitchen area
One of the biggest advantages of an orangery extension for many homeowners is the opportunity to extend the kitchen. This is often through incorporating the existing kitchen into the extension, which means that you will already have the necessary access to plumbing, electric points, and so on, and the wall space where cabinetry can be installed.
The outer part of the orangery is the perfect place to position dining furniture or comfortable seating for an informal relaxing and entertaining space, with uninterrupted outdoor views. A bespoke kitchen design with built-in storage solutions will help to keep your orangery looking sleek and clutter free.
Maintaining the indoor-outdoor lifestyle
Orangeries typically extend into rear gardens with purpose built patio or decking areas, and have direct access to the outdoor space with sliding or bifold glazed doors. During warmer weather, the doors can be left open to create a natural transition between the indoor and outdoor space.
This is ideal if you enjoy cooking and dining outdoors, and for larger social gatherings when guests will naturally want to mingle both indoors and outdoors during the summer months. Even during colder months, the extensive glazed walls and doors afford views over the garden, creating a connection with nature all year round.
Practical considerations to get the most out of your orangery extension
A well designed and executed orangery extension can not only significantly increase your level of comfort and enjoyment of your home, but also increase its value. A spacious kitchen and bright and airy living space are highly sought after features, and should you wish to sell your property in the future it should attract more buyers and potentially drive up the value.
Consider practical elements such as how the extension will be heated during the winter. Underfloor heating is an excellent option, because it eliminates the need for bulky radiators or heaters and provides a consistent level of comfort and warmth for several hours, even after the heat source has been turned off.