Transforming orangeries into open-plan kitchens

One of the most popular reasons for installing an orangery extension is to create an open-plan kitchen.

Having a spacious, light-filled area for cooking, dining and entertaining is the dream of many homeowners, and it’s not hard to see why. Not only does it serve a practical purpose but it also looks amazing and is a pleasure to spend time in.

Placing your kitchen within an orangery extension takes it to the next level. A modern glass orangery floods your space with natural light while offering outstanding insulation, heat control technology and thermally-efficient glazing to ensure comfort at all times of the year.

With expert advice and careful planning and design, you can create an orangery kitchen extension that perfectly combines functionality with aesthetics for a stunning result.

Orangery kitchen extensions

With large amounts of glazing, orangery kitchen extensions are bright and inviting spaces. They can be used as informal living and dining areas perfect for family dinners, relaxing evenings and playtime with the kids. Or they can be transformed into unique and stylish open-plan spaces that will impress your guests.

With a glass roof and floor-to-ceiling glazing, there’s no better indoor space in which to enjoy the benefits of natural light than a bespoke orangery extension. And the views! An all-glass structure is unrivalled in offering panoramic views of your garden and beyond.

Orangery kitchens are also fantastic for keen cooks. Their light and airy feel encourages creativity and creates a relaxing space in which to immerse yourself in your cooking.

Open-plan orangery kitchens

With an open-plan orangery kitchen you'll have an amazing entertaining and living space suited to everything from large family get-togethers to stylish summer soirees.

A creative and considered approach will ensure your new extension reflects your personal style aesthetic while offering the functionality you and your family need. Factors such as the layout, interior design and integration with your existing home need to be taken into account to ensure you end up with a functional space that reflects your personal style, enhances your lifestyle and adds value to your property.

Orangery kitchens: Things to consider

Bi-folds and sliding doors

Bespoke orangey glass extensions offer the option to install sliding doors or bi-folding doors along one or more sides. Imagine opening the doors when the weather is warmer to create the most wonderful indoor-outdoor space!

By blurring the boundaries between your home and garden or patio, sliding and bi-folding doors create a beautiful space for dining, entertaining and relaxing.

Layout

Think carefully about your new space and how you plan to use it. This will inform the layout of your extension. Will it be a functional open-plan kitchen or a versatile area split into smaller designated zones for food preparation and cooking, dining, entertaining, relaxing or even working?

If you are planning to retain your current kitchen and extend the space out from it, you'll be guided by what is already there. You may wish to enhance your current kitchen by, for example, placing additional units or an island in your new living space. And if you are planning to install a brand new kitchen, there are a few things to bear in mind.

Some kitchen and storage units as well as appliances such as a fridge and extractor fan, require placement against a wall, and don't forget those elements that need an external wall for example for waste pipes. Site these towards the back of your orangery glass extension, nearest to the property. Alternatively, you could put them inside the part of your home adjoining the orangery, if you are removing the exterior wall. Because of the freedom of design offered by a bespoke orangery extension, you could retain part of an exterior wall of your home, along which you could place some kitchen units. An example of this can be seen at the bottom right hand side of the image below:

Consider placing a peninsula or island nearest to the outside of the extension, so you can face towards your garden, and your family or guests. A large island can also act as a focus for the space. Place key features that you use regularly, such as the sink and the hob, within the island or peninsula, so you can face outwards as often as possible. Natural ventilation is provided by the window elements and the bi-fold doors or sliding doors, so you may decide you don't need an extractor fan for your hob.

Placing your kitchen towards the rear of the extension will leave the main part of the orangery leading to the outdoors free for a variety of uses. You could put a dining table here to admire the views and let in the fresh air while eating. It’s also great for entertaining guests as they can mingle between your home and garden or patio on hot summer days and balmy evenings.

Multifunctional living space

Will the interior of your orangery extension be a vibrant room filled with chatter and laughter, or a cosy and relaxed haven? Designing an orangery open-plan kitchen needs some imagination and creativity to prevent it from feeling empty and lacking purpose.

Why not design a versatile, multifunctional orangery kitchen with distinct areas for cooking, dining and relaxing. You can provide focus and emphasise these zones through the use of furniture, furnishings, colour, lighting and layout.

Blend old and new

Consider how adding an orangery kitchen extension to your home brings together your new and old living space. Think about how to harmonise both areas to create a cohesive design.

Some people choose to retain the external wall of the room they are extending, and add the orangery as a self-contained space accessible through a door. However, with glazed extensions now using high-tech glass and advanced thermal aluminium technology, it’s no longer necessary to have a dividing wall between your home and your new extension. For most people, this is the preferred option because it creates a beautiful, light-filled and spacious open-plan kitchen or living area.

If you are planning to knock out a wall, the contrast between old and new may be particularly marked, and even more so in a period property where the appearance of the whole space could be of two vastly different halves.

Perhaps you want to create a clear contrast? Whatever you decide, you can blend your new space with your existing home through the clever use of colours, furniture, furnishings and other elements. In fact, extending your property doesn’t just create additional living space, it’s the perfect opportunity to reconfigure and refresh your home, too.

Embrace nature

Incorporate the principles of biophilic design to connect the natural world outside with your orangery extension. If you have bi-folds or sliding doors as part of your design, you’re already a long way to making your home and the outside world feel as one, with lots of fresh air and natural light. Enhance this through your interior design, such as through the use of natural fabrics and colours such as greens, browns, blues and oranges. Potted plants, hanging baskets and herb boxes can also help to bring natural elements into your home.

You could also specify the frame of your orangery and your glass doors in timber rather than aluminium. An alu-clad option with an internal wood frame is a popular choice for homeowners who prefer a more natural, rustic and warmer aesthetic, while exterior aluminium adds durability and strength.

Lighting

While your space will be filled with natural light throughout the day, think about how you wish to light your orangery kitchen when it’s dark outside.

The frame of your glass extension can be specified with spot lighting, which will help illuminate the whole space, but you could also create warmer areas using free standing lamps.

For orangery kitchens, the functionality and focus of lighting are important for everyday tasks such as meal preparation. Lighting position is integral to creating a warm and inviting open-plan space.

Flooring

Using matching flooring from your home through to your new orangery open-plan kitchen is a great way to bring the whole space together. If you have sliding doors or bi-folding doors, you could blend the whole space even further by continuing with the same flooring out onto the patio. For the optimal effect, specify a zero or flush threshold on your doors.

Do you need planning permission for an orangery kitchen extension?

Modern glass orangery extensions are usually single-storey rear extensions, and therefore likely to meet the criteria of permitted development. However, we would always recommend seeking advice from our glass extension specialists, and checking with your local planning authority.