If kitchen conservatory ideas are on your wish list, we've got 12 options that combine design and practicality in perfect measure
Kitchen conservatory ideas can add extra space and a healthy measure of wow-factor to your home(Image credit: Mozolowski & Murray)
Kitchen conservatory ideas come in a variety of shapes and sizes, much the same as most conservatory ideas. But when it comes to getting the room right, fitting a practical cooking space into a structure that is traditionally made from large amounts of glass can be challenging.
The good news is, done well, kitchen conservatory ideas can add space, functionality and a substantial wow-factor to your self build or renovation.
So if you find yourself drawn towards the thought of a light-filled culinary concept you're in the right place. We've sourced 12 stunning ideas and expert advice on getting your kitchen conservatory ideas just right.
Kitchen conservatory ideas need careful consideration
"Creating a conservatory kitchen that is both beautiful and functional requires thoughtful consideration of various elements," says Virginia Murray, director of Mozolowski & Murray.
"From the overall layout to the details of materials and lighting, selecting materials and finishes that can withstand the unique conditions of a conservatory, such as fluctuations in temperature and humidity," she adds, "will ensure longevity and help maintain the aesthetic appeal of the kitchen."
Virginia Murray
Virginia has been pivotal in shaping the company's reputation and growth in the bespoke construction industry. With a keen focus on quality, craftsmanship, and sustainability, Virginia is an expert in the conservatory market and has customer experience always front of mind.
1. Choose a kitchen orangery for a classical style
An orangery kitchen conservatory idea will add light and an element of classical design(Image credit: Vale Garden Houses)
"If you're looking for kitchen conservatory ideas with a more classical style, a glazed kitchen orangery can be the most sympathetic way to extend a period property," says George Lucas, marketing designer at Vale Garden Houses.
"Brick-built extensions often form a bulky and heavy visual which is not necessarily compatible with a lot of homes. The beauty of orangery ideas is that they provide a transparent living space which breaks down the barriers between home and garden."
Choose a simple cream framework and match it to your kitchen units, but add a contemporary twist with a sleek kitchen island idea.
It'll soon become the favourite place for all the family - pets included.
George Lucas
George's role as marketing designer at Vale Garden Houses makes him well versed in knowing the benefits of each conservatory style and which one is suited to customer's needs.
2. Combine an angled roof design with a contemporary kitchen
Create an architectural design with an angled roof and modern kitchen fittings(Image credit: Mozolowski & Murray)
If you prefer more modern conservatory ideas, as this design from Mozolowski & Murray shows it's easy to create a stand out kitchen conservatory idea that is well and truly contemporary.
And while the amount of glazing in the roof was once an issue in older conseravatories, this is no longer a problem - regardless of how you use the space.
"Advanced glazing technologies, are fundamental in achieving a balance between natural light and thermal comfort," says Virginia Murray, "ensuring the space remains enjoyable across all seasons. Furthermore, the option to add electronic or integrated roof vents is particularly advantageous in a kitchen setting."
Pick a clean grey and white colour palette for a sleek and futuristic setting.
3. Use a kitchen island to divide an open-plan space
Use a kitchen island to help zone open plan kitchen conservatory ideas(Image credit: Hampton Conservatories)
“A kitchen island unit in a central position is a hugely popular addition and acts as an anchor for the entire kitchen design," says Mervyn Montgomery, founder and joint director of Hampton Conservatories . "It creates a datum which ensures the right proportions, ratio and balance for the rest of the room."
The island can act as a multi-functional work and storage space and when located in the right place, provides the perfect view outdoors, but still keeps you connected with your guests while cooking.
Key to the island feeling like a valuable addition to your kitchen conservatory idea is getting your kitchen island sizes just right. It should enhance, rather than overpower the area.
Founder and joint owner
Founder and joint owner
Mervyn Montgomery
Mervyn Montgomery, joint director of Hampton Conservatories, has been at the helm of the bespoke hardwood conservatories and orangeries business for over 40 years.
4. Turn your kitchen island into a multi-purpose fixture
Prevent glare affecting the use of your kitchen island by installing roof blinds(Image credit: Vale Garden Houses)
"Now more than ever, the trend for kitchen islands seems to be not for one solid island, but multiple materials to break up the large surface area, especially when an extremely large island has been specified," says Mervyn Montgomery.
"This delineates the working zones of the island for cooking, eating and socialising, and is more visually appealing than one solid mass of stone, concrete, metal or wood."
It's perfectly illustrated in this multi-purpose kitchen island which comprises not only an oven and sink, but also a breakfast bar idea, curved and linear storage units and a variety of different finishes including wood, granite and chrome.
5. Manage a difference in ground levels with steps and a vaulted roof
Add steps and a vaulted roof to create a kitchen conservatory idea that deals with different ground levels(Image credit: Mozolowski & Murray)
If you're looking to install a kitchen conservatory on an area of land that's has different levels but you want to avoid excavating, a vaulted conservatory roof with internal steps could provide the solution.
As well as the providing sufficient head height across the area, the steps add visual interest and help two zone the different areas.
Tie the scheme together by the same conservatory flooring idea throughout. The use of large stone tiles in this kitchen conservatory idea is not only practical and easy to clean, but also helps to ground the space by providing a solid contrast to the light and airy white vaulted roof above.
"Choosing the right flooring is critical in a conservatory kitchen," explains Virginia Murray, "due to its exposure to high traffic, moisture, and temperature fluctuations. Durable materials like porcelain tiles or natural stone are ideal, offering longevity and ease of maintenance."
6. Embrace darker tones in a light filled space
The abundance of light allows for a darker frame choice in kitchen conservatory ideas(Image credit: Hampton Conservatories)
Although several of the ideas we've showcased favour a lighter frame choice, the abundance of natural light in kitchen conservatory ideas actually provides ample opportunity to embrace a darker frame and kitchen colour scheme.
Navy, grey and light wood paired with a variety of pendant lighting make for a chic farmhouse feel, and the abundance of glazing stops the scheme from feeling dark or oppressive.
Choose one of the best range cookers to complete your scheme and you've nailed the look to perfection.
7. Extend your outdoor seating options with an external canopy
Adding a canopy to kitchen conservatory ideas can offer extra outdoor dining options(Image credit: Mozolowski & Murray)
If the ever volatile weather leaves you wondering just how you can spend more time outdoors without constantly getting rained on, take your kitchen conservatory ideas to a new dimension by adding a glazed canopy to the exterior.
Continue with the same pitched roof shape and frame colour as your conservatory so that it feels connected to your home, and don't forget to think about the practicalities of cleaning both the inside and outside of the roof. While sunshine is always welcome, it's not forgiving when it comes to showing marks on windows and glass.
8. Include room for a bar in your kitchen conservatory ideas
Add a bar to your kitchen conservatory ideas for extra character(Image credit: Vale Garden Houses)
Like to entertain? We think this idea might work for you. If you're extending across the width of your house, why not dedicate one side of your new kitchen conservatory idea to a bar.
Use a glass countertop for your seating area, top with an extravagant crystal chandelier as one of your conservatory lighting ideas and make sure there's a large rooflight above for a perfect evening view of the stars.
If you're keen to make the space a little more multi-purpose, although this design from Vale Garden Houses has the drinks on open display, opt for a behind closed door approach instead to make this double up as a potential breakfast bar idea or an extra dining space when you've got additional guests.
9. Add a small lean-to conservatory to create a kitchen diner
A small lean-to conservatory can turn your kitchen into a kitchen diner(Image credit: Westbury Garden Rooms)
If your long, narrow kitchen just isn't big enough to house a dining table, opt for small lean-to conservatory idea instead and create a small kitchen diner that not only gives you seating space but some extra storage to boot.
We love how this clever combined seating and island idea also still includes the kitchen sink which was likely previously placed below a window on the rear wall. Making sure you still have a view while washing up, makes the task a little more bearable.
The clever design trick of wrapping an antique mirrored finish around a supporting column also serves to create extra views in different locations, and helps bounce the natural light back into the kitchen area.
10. Add two roof lanterns to your orangery to enhance and define
Opt for two lanterns in a kitchen conservatory orangery for extra light(Image credit: Vale Garden Houses)
"Adding roof lanterns can significantly transform an existing kitchen in many positive ways," says George Lucas.
"A roof lantern allows abundant natural light to flood into the kitchen and can enhance the appearance of surfaces, colours, and textures. It can also be strategically positioned to highlight specific areas, such as a kitchen island or dining area," explains George.
Therefore, opting for not one, but two roof lanterns in an orangery achieves a number of different results.
It provides a central section for hanging pendant lights above an island
Creates a more solid, architectural feel to your kitchen conservatory idea
Still allows plenty of natural light in above task and dining areas
Helps to separates the dining area from the kitchen area
11. Use bi-fold doors to bring the outside in
Blend your external and internal spaces with double sets of bi-fold doors(Image credit: Westbury Garden Rooms)
“A glazed kitchen extension, such as a conservatory, allows you to blur the lines between your home and garden," says Mervyn Montgomery. "Whether it’s through the inclusion of French doors, bi-fold doors, or simply due to the level of glazing, a conservatory creates a seamless link between the indoors and the out."
And it's usually one of the main reasons homeowners opt for kitchen conservatory ideas over more permanent kitchen extension ideas.
If internal and external space is no issue, embrace the outdoors with large sets of bi-fold doors on two or three sides of your conservatory. However, "if bi-fold doors are intrinsic to the design," advises Mervyn, "attention must be given to how many panes of glass are specified and how the doors concertina - doors that fold internally can use up valuable space and mean a run of units cannot extend to the end of a wall."
12. Combine a long glazed roof with a smaller roof lantern
Use different roof styles to suit the use of space in your kitchen conservatory ideas(Image credit: Westbury Garden Rooms)
A wrap-around conservatory by definition is "an architectural design that extends around one or more sides of an existing building, creating a seamless and expansive living space that combines the kitchen with a glass-enclosed conservatory," says Virginia Murray.
In this example of an L-shaped conservatory idea has been created as opposed to a wrap-around extension, combining a smaller roof lantern above the kitchen with a longer pitched, glazed roof extending towards the garden.
Providing a more enclosed, intimate space in the kitchen, with plenty of ceiling space for functional spotlights, the light and airy cream colour drenched space also perfectly complements the honey-toned brick exterior of the main house making it a stylish, practical and considered addition to any home.
By the sheer nature of the fact that kitchen conservatory ideas usually need to cram a lot of functions into one space, it's important to make sure you establish what regulatory approvals are required prior to finalising your idea.
It's firstly important to note that kitchens aren't allowed in conservatories under Scottish building regulation laws.
However, in the rest of the UK, there can also be lots to consider.
"Kitchen orangeries for example, by their very nature, can attract a more involved planning process than, for instance, a conservatory or orangery project that ticks all the criteria for permitted development," says George Lucas.
"Kitchen orangery extensions will often involve the remodelling of certain areas of your house, such as knocking through existing walls, installing steels and extending existing heating systems for open-plan spaces. These works, in their own right, will require building regulations and potentially planning permission depending on their size."
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Sarah is Homebuilding & Renovating’s Assistant Editor and joined the team in 2024. An established homes and interiors writer, Sarah has renovated and extended a number of properties, including a listing building and renovation project that featured on Grand Designs. Although she said she would never buy a listed property again, she has recently purchased a Grade II listed apartment. As it had already been professionally renovated, she has instead set her sights on tackling some changes to improve the building’s energy efficiency, as well as adding some personal touches to the interior.
