Conservatories have had a renaissance and stylish new designs will add space and value to your home

One of the more cost-effective ways to add space is with a conservatory; many available today rate very highly in the design stakes. Choose a style that complements the rest of your home and make sure it’s in proportion to the size of the house and garden, as adding a large conservatory to a small garden can have an adverse effect on resale price. Most conservatories are made of glass, which means south- and west-facing ones can become very hot, so think about blinds and cooling systems. Conversely, those that face north can be cold in winter and expensive to heat if not well insulated.

Words: Justine Roffey and Trish Lorenz  Image: Jefferson Smith