aeykelbo If you also have a terrarium, then I guess you have a conservatory inside a conservatory.

Hi-Lite Manufacturing Co. I Love the historical context!

And LOL!! x 2 @ Aeykelbo. Touché.

tetoette I suggest making these paper butterfly yourselves ;)

Rikki Snyder I love this, Samantha!

That kitchen is amazing...a food photographer's dream with all those windows!

scarbowcow Maybe a stupid question... but what side of the house do you put a conservatory on? If it's on the south side of the house, wouldn't it be too hot? East side, light only in the morning; west, only in the late afternoon, and north... no direct sunlight. So it seems to me. So which side would you put it on?

Oh, and how do you clean the glass roof from the outside?

rbrad scarbowcow,

You would have the conservatory on the south side of the house which should have tall deciduous trees that provide shading in the summer and sun exposure in the winter. It should also have operable windows at the top to allow the rising heat to escape.

Good question about the glass roof. I was wondering the same thing.

JAN MOYER scarbowcow
I guess there's a reason these originated in England.....a place known for misty sunless days, yet a rather temperate climate in which to enjoy the sun there IS. Not to mention the love of gardening. Every single one I've ever been in here? TOO HOT!! : )

scarbowcow Thanks, Jan Moyer and rbrad. I'm thinking about a house that is almost cross-shaped (one horizontal arm of the cross is set back, 'higher' than the other horizontal arm), so every wing has windows on three sides of each room (lovely light) and there are in effect four 'outdoor rooms' possible in the angles of the cross; some larger and some smaller, with the two largest getting full southern sun (the mismatched horizontal bar of the cross runs east-west) and the two smaller being either totally shaded or only getting morning sunlight. The location is in central Europe - snowy winters, true springs and autumns, up to 25-27C in summer. So yes, rbrad's comment makes sense: plenty of tall trees to shade it in the summer and then full light to enjoy it in the winter, if it's in the angle of the horizontal bar.

No idea how to get the fallen leaves off the roof, though. But having looked at the home where this photo was taken, I guess their solution is to 'have a man come in' and take care of it.

jaguargrowl The windows are cleaned by someone with a cherry picker.

beverlyalbers I LOVE the birdcage chandelier!! How cute is that!!

JAN MOYER Something else to consider: The light in any room, a home, comes less from a breadth of particular exposure, although that certainly is a factor! But!! Far more light will come from tall windows. Or basically, a really bright, sunny room, without an exposed to the sky ceiling. Unless you live in a cloudy climate, you will spend a fortune covering the "sky" in a conservatory. Sixty degrees Farenheit outside will have you sweating in 85 degrees plus in there on a sunny day. So unless you literally love a greenhouse......maybe a wonderful ten foot ceiling/ windowed on three sides sunroom. With a real roof.

patscats2 Who wants to eat off of dessert plates that have bugs painted on them? Ugh!!

I'll take that second conservatory and live in it full time!!! Lovely.

candybird Good heavens...your outside gardening staff keeps all those windows sparkling. Just kidding. Love the kitchen/conservatory and wish I had the lovely chore of keeping the windows clean.

Georgia Blum Bug prints! Bug plates! Tiered metal plant stand! And especially that beautiful bronze terrarium to put my pet tarantula in which beats the pants off the standard pet store variety! Oh dear I think I may be hyperventilating...Please Santa I'll be a very good girl all year I promise!

Conservatory Craftsmen I like the fact that this discussion shows some of the many fun accessories one can enjoy in a conservatory.
To address the discussion of orientation, that answer is: if you want a conservatory, put it on whatever side of the house is best suited to your lifestyle.
After designing and building conservatories for 25 years, I can offer a few comments relative to the climate in such a space.
First of all: it is unlike any other room in your home. It reacts differently to the day, much like your car does. If you leave the car on a rooftop garage in the summer, it gets hot. Drive a few blocks with the windows open, it cools.
My only complaint is that conservatory salesmen are too eager to sell the structure and not design the 'environment'.
Myself, a retired horticulture teacher, can tell you that in a greenhouse in Minnesota I can bloom roses in February, but I have to understand the environmental requirements of the structure in which I am working.
Today's glass technology allows you a plethora of options to control radical temperature swings in a conservatory no matter what the exposure.
When making a choice regarding a conservatory design, consult a seasoned professional. You should put as much time into the environmental design as you do into the architectural design.
A week ago, I was in Boston, visiting with a past installation. The woman of the house, who suffers from SADD told me that she used to spend winters in Florida, now spends them in her conservatory and is much happier. She was sitting among her hibiscus and bogainvillia all in bloom and looking as happy as she was.

sclawson That conservatory kitchen is to die for. Would love a closer look at all its details.

suevh10 I don't have a conservatory...though I dreamo f having one...probably wouldn't work in AL. I do have lots of greenery where ever I can find a space!

Christina Comer I love the doors in the second picture with the table... It is the table that I do not think goes with the room. The table is drawing my eyes to it...instead of the door way... A lot to look at!