Contemporary Conservatories: A Modern Twist to Traditional Space
Often, when you go shopping for a conservatory and you are limited to what seems to be only the traditional styles, it is not strange at all to feel that the usual styles are not suitable to your house or to your personal tastes. If that is how you feel about it, you should give contemporary conservatories a try.
As the name suggests, contemporary conservatories are conservatories done in modern and simplistic lines. It does not mean that just because they are not Victorian or Edwardian, they are not as beautiful. In fact, conservatories done in a contemporary design can sometimes be more beautiful and more appropriate, depending on the style of the house to which they will be attached.
Why Choose Contemporary Conservatories
In selecting the style for their conservatories, many homeowners choose the traditional styles. When we say "traditional" when talking about conservatories, we refer to what are known as the Victorian-style conservatory, the Edwardian-style conservatory, the lean-to style, the gabled style and their combinations. The reason why they pick traditional conservatories over contemporary conservatories probably lies mainly in the fact that the traditional ones are easier to do.
Unlike in contemporary conservatories, you do not have to think too much on the design and details of traditional conservatories anymore because there is already a reliable pattern to follow. All you need to do is to modify the pattern slightly so the measurements would fit your house. This is also why most DIY conservatory kits have the traditional patterns.
But even though conservatories in the traditional styles are popular amongst homeowners, contemporary conservatories do have their own following. The biggest reason for that is the desire for uniqueness. Most conservatories done along contemporary lines are bespoke. With bespoke, you are sure to have a unique conservatory whose appearance and design are all your own and are not a cookie-cutter version of some other style.
When to Opt for Contemporary Conservatories
Whether your preference lies with the traditional style of conservatories or with contemporary conservatories, what is important is that your choice of conservatory style should match with the overall architecture of your house. You should always remember that your conservatory should act as a natural part of the house and not just an extension that sticks out much like how a sore thumb does.
The traditional conservatories are typically more suited to older houses, especially the Georgian or Victorian ones. The detailing found in traditional-style conservatories usually echo the detailing on houses done in this architectural period. On the other hand, it goes without saying that newer houses would benefit more from contemporary conservatories. That is because houses done after the Victorian era are more symmetrical, and these would suit conservatories done in the modern style quite well.
But it is still possible to go for contemporary conservatories if the house is pre-Victorian or even pre-Regency. The minimalist lines of a contemporary or modern conservatory will still allow such an old house to speak for itself instead of being overshadowed by the conservatory.
Regardless of the period when your house was made, you can still select contemporary conservatories for your house if it is what you really want. However, you should expect yourself to have a tricky time of it, because it can be quite difficult to match older architecture with a conservatory that looks quite modern.
Design Considerations for Contemporary Conservatories
It was mentioned above that contemporary conservatories are, more often than not, bespoke conservatories. So, with conservatories done in contemporary lines, you can definitely implement your own design, be creative about it and find what is most suitable for you.
However, there are things that you should not forget when designing contemporary conservatories for your home. First of all is how the conservatory's design would match your house. As it is mentioned above, the conservatory should be an echo of the architecture of your house and not the other way around.
Your second consideration for designing contemporary conservatories is the space to be occupied by the conservatory and the function that this space is supposed to fulfil. For instance, if the conservatory is going to be a lounging area, you can take advantage of the light and the view by enclosing the conservatory with full glass walls. If the conservatory is going to be a living area or a home office, you may want to opt for at least one concrete wall for your television set or computer to rest against. If it is going to be a kitchen, you may want just one wall to be made of glass.
Your third consideration for designing contemporary conservatories is its relationship to the interior and exterior of the house. A conservatory should connect with the inside of your house as well as with the outside. There are details that could foster this connectivity, such as sliding doors, matching floor tiles and others.