Orangerie kitchen? Yes or no

[Bubblebuttress]

We want an extension than has lots of light. We have a snug room but are thinking of a kitchen orangerie. Are they tacky? Even in brick? They look lovely and light and with underfloor heating might be ok in winter?
AIBU - they are tacky and I would not want one
YANBU - they look lovely, wish we could do it

I'd go for a proper roof with skylights, you get the light and airy feel but I expect they'd be easier to maintain a proper temperature

We have family members who lived in a house with a (pre-existing) glass conservatory kitchen.

The first time I went to visit I absolutely loved it and was so envious. Unfortunately, it turned out it was a complete nightmare - freezing (and prohibitively expensive to heat) in winter and boiling hot in the summer. I felt really sad for them, because they’d imagined themselves living in it a lot of the time when they first moved in.

It was already there when they arrived - and I suspect it may have been done on the cheap. Sadly, they didn’t have the money to throw at heating and cooling it to make it useable.

As someone who absolutely loves light and the outdoors - I can totally see the attraction of a conservatory kitchen. I think I would just be taking a lot of advice up front, making sure I had enough budget to do it properly AND also to heat and cool it so we could get loads of use out of it.

Will it be too hot in summer? Or too cold in winter?

Are you overlooked? How far are surrounding neighbour houses/windows

My kitchen is on a conservatory and I designed it that way. It’s east facing and beautiful light all year round. It’s quite modern but actually fits my old house (early Georgian 4 floor town house) quite well. It’s metal framed and just lots of double-glazed glass. I love it.

But mine is a big house and we kept it in proportion to the size. It extends the back of the house rather than changing the shape of the house IYSWIM. And it wasn’t cheap.

Thank you for the replies. Very helpful. I think it will be Westbury for the customer service…and as PP have pointed out. If done well, it will be warmer/long-lasting

It would be classed as a large extension/space, but L shaped as the kitchen will be open to the area. 4-6 m out and width of back of house.

We are very lucky to be a large Edwardian property, not overlooked.

It won't be an orangerie with underfloor heating - too hot for citrus trees. They just need an unheated greenhouse.

Firstly it’s not true that you can only add them to big houses what on odd idea, equally odd is the idea that an orangery is “posher” than a conservatory.

Make sure to ask about bespoke features for period properties. You might like an Edwardian looking roof lantern or door/window features that pick up the designs through the rest of the house.

A guide to small conservatories and orangeries:

https://www.valegardenhouses.co.uk/articles/small-conservatories-and-orangeries/

I read on here once if you have to ask if it's tacky it probably is.

Lovely on the right house.

True that.

I have a conservatory-esque kitchen. It was there when I bought my flat. We don't eat in there- there isn't the room, but I do second what everyone else has commented. It can be very hot in summer and the floor can be freezing first thing in the autumn and winter months. Be mindful of ventilation as well!

I like it, if we moved I'd really miss it but I'd be very exacting if I was considering one from scratch based on my current experience. Some places absolutely aren't meant for them. Previous student accommodation had one as a dining room. It was absolutely too cold to use 95% of the time we lived there. It got no sun. My aunt had one on her last house- a glorious little sun trap and toasty warm, although she was quite easily able to cool it in high summer.