Greenhouse or 'orangery'

[GrendelsMum]

Just chucking around a few ideas here. Our wedding present from DH's grandad was the money for a fairly posh greenhouse. We've been waiting to put it up until more of the other buildin works are done. Now it's occurred to me that we could probably do a small 'orangery' instead - by which I mean a room with a low wall round the bottom, three-quarter length windows, and a solid roof, perhaps with a rooflight in it. It might or might not link through into the house, and might or might not have central heating.

Would one be more practical in terms of the plants than the other? I'm looking to overwinter some plants (which I currently do in the potting shed) and do seedlings, etc (which I currently do in a spare bedroom)

well first of all bravo on the ponciest thread title for a long time

An orangery sounds like somewhere one would go and sit (perhaps to quaff a Pimms) and relax, whilst a greenhouse is a work based place for gardeners. I would go for the orangery, and have heating in there use it as an outdoor room and bask in the envious glances of my neighbours

What about a loggia?

LOL at cyb who has also called me poncey in the past I think!
What a dilemna...
I would also go for an orangery, think you will get more use from it, you would just need to make sure that the practical stuff looked ok so you were faced with mucky bags of compost and seed trays when you wanted to sit and chill out.
Not sure how you would manage that though...

This looks quite modern
www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/gardening-blog/2009/dec/15/gardens
but does show how you can combine a smart look with practicality

Very pleased to have managed to be so poncetastic on a Tuesday morning .

I'm basically aiming at what my Ex-DP's mum had, which was a greenhouse full of plants and a comfy chair where no DCs were EVER, EVER allowed to go, unless someone was actively dying at that very moment.

I'd thought that if we spent a bit more money, when we sell the house eventually we can witter on about an orangery and look poncetastic and slap £50k on the price.

I agree that the problem would be how to make garden tools, bags of old compost and flower pots look attractive. I suppose it could have huge floor to ceiling cupboards?

Love the picture, Pannacotta!

I never knew greenhouses and orangeries were in the same building family

Yes think full height cupboards could work plus practical flooring and nothing too pale/precious in terms of furnishings.

at orangerie! I'd definately go for that. Put in heating, although I wouldn't use it - but will help if you sell on. I'd use it for potting, propagating, overwintering and sitting with gardening books. Big citrus plants!

You can always posh it up for special occasions or if you want to flog the house.

Thank you, folks! I shall continue to bear it in mind as a not-insane idea, if we have any spare cash left.

LOVe that black conservatory

garden trading have some good indoor garden storage stuff too

good point about Garden trading, I like their zinc topped potting tables, but they are poncetastic for sure!