Conservatory Kitchens, Roof Lanterns and Bi-Folds: Connecting the Kitchen to the Garden
Most kitchens sit at the back of the house, and it makes sense to connect them to the
. The kitchen is where the family gathers, and a good link to the outdoors extends that space for half the year. There are three main ways to do it: put the kitchen into a conservatory or garden room, add a roof lantern, or open a wall with bi-fold doors. They behave very differently, particularly when it comes to heat, and that has consequences for the cabinetry and appliances.
Connecting the Kitchen to the Garden at a Glance
A conservatory or fully glazed garden room gives the most light and the strongest connection to the garden, but it runs hot in summer and cold in winter, and direct sun is hard on timber cabinetry and on refrigeration. A roof lantern brings in a great deal of light while leaving most of the roof solid, so the room stays more even in temperature. Bi-fold doors open a whole wall to the garden and suit entertaining and family life. Where there is a glazed room, the most reliable arrangement is to keep the kitchen in the main building and put the dining or living area in the glazed space. Handmade Kitchen Company design kitchens around all three, from our workshop in Essex.
A kitchen in a conservatory or garden room
Putting the kitchen into a conservatory or garden room maximises light, gives the room real character and lets it run straight out onto the garden. It also brings complications that are worth understanding before committing. Constant solar exposure means the room can become too hot in summer and too cold in winter. That affects the kitchen directly. A fridge in a room heated by direct sun has to work harder to stay cool, and solid timber exposed to repeated swings in heat and humidity can move, which in cabinetry means doors that no longer sit true. There are ways to manage it: automatic opening roof vents and windows, solar-control glazing, blinds, and air conditioning where the budget allows. But the most effective answer in an
layout is usually positional. Keep the kitchen in the main building and put the dining or living area in the glazed room. The people get the light and the view; the cabinetry and appliances stay out of the sun.
A roof lantern
Roof lanterns have become one of the most popular additions to a kitchen, and they are a good alternative to a fully glazed room. They let in a great deal of natural light, but because most of the roof stays solid and insulated, the room stays cooler in summer and holds its heat better in winter. Our
project shows how well a roof lantern works over a kitchen: finished in our classic shaker, with daylight falling where the family works and gathers.
A wall of bi-fold doors
Bi-fold doors open the kitchen directly onto the garden, uniting the two spaces and extending the room for entertaining. Guests can spill outside while you stay within reach of the kitchen to top up drinks and keep an eye on the cooking. For a family kitchen they have an everyday advantage too: you can work at the island while the children play outside, close enough to keep an eye on them.
Kitchen and Garden FAQs
Is it a good idea to put a kitchen in a conservatory?
It can work, but it is the most demanding option. Heat and direct sun make the room uncomfortable at the extremes and are hard on refrigeration and timber. In an open-plan space it is usually better to keep the kitchen in the main building and use the glazed room for dining or sitting.
Does sunlight damage kitchen cabinets?
Sustained direct sun and heat can. Timber moves with changes in temperature and humidity, and painted finishes can fade over years of strong sunlight. Solar-control glazing, blinds and good ventilation all reduce the effect, and positioning cabinetry out of direct sun avoids most of it.
Roof lantern or garden room?
A roof lantern gives a lot of light while keeping most of the roof solid, so the room is easier to keep comfortable year round. A fully glazed garden room gives more light and a stronger link to the garden, at the cost of more heat gain and loss.
Where should the fridge go in a bright kitchen?
Out of direct sunlight and away from the hob and oven. A fridge in full sun works harder and uses more energy, so in a room with a lot of glazing it belongs in the most shaded part of the layout.
Where does Handmade Kitchen Company design kitchens?
We design, hand-build and hand-paint bespoke kitchens from our workshop in Essex, for clients across Essex, Hertfordshire and North London. Whether you are planning bi-fold doors, a garden room or a roof lantern, we will design the kitchen to make the most of it.
today to find out more. We look forward to hearing from you.
