We have long awaited those bright mornings and hot sunny days in the UK, and with this week being an absolute washout, we really can’t wait to make the most of the beautiful sunshine we are due to get. The kitchen is known as the hub of the home, where it acts as the core of the house for all the family to get together. Most kitchens are at the back of the home and it makes perfect sense to connect it with the garden to get the most of the great outdoors from the comfort of the main room.
Extensions made into garden rooms and conservatories
If you position your kitchen within a garden room or conservatory, there are potential complications. The constant solar exposure can lead to a potential rise in temperature, meaning that it could become too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. However, you will maximise the light that flows in, an interesting character will be added to the room and the kitchen will naturally flow onto the garden.
Direct sunlight can have a big impact on your cabinetry and appliances. The fridge would need to work harder to stay cool, and the timber on your cabinetry could begin to warp when exposed to increases in heat.
If you find that your garden room or conservatory does get hot in extreme weather conditions, there are a few adaptions such as automatic opening windows and vents that will help to regulate the temperature. You could always install a good quality air-conditioning unit. If you have an open-plan layout, positioning the living or dining area in the garden room is a good idea. It allows for the kitchen to be positioned in the main building, to minimise the impact on the cabinetry and appliances.
An added roof lantern
We are seeing more and more roof lanterns being added to the kitchen space and they are an alternative to a fully glazed garden room. They allow lots of natural light to enter, but by keeping some of the roofs tiled, it will; stay cool in the summer and retain the heat better in the winter, so it’s a win-win.
Our Woodford project really portrays how beautiful roof lanterns can be. Completed with our classic shaker, the design is enhanced and the flow between the kitchen and garden is done gracefully.
A wall of bifold doors
Other options to allow your kitchen to seamlessly open onto your garden are bi-fold doors. They unite the two spaces encouraging lots of light and extending the social gathering area. Your guests can gather in the garden within easy reach of the kitchen, so you can still enjoy your evening, top up the drinks and keep an eye on the dinner cooking.
If you are creating a busy family kitchen that you can enjoy all year round, bifold doors will allow you to complete tasks in the kitchen whilst the children play outside making it close enough to keep a watchful eye on what’s going on around you.
We will work with you on your new kitchen and design ensuring that the space is designed to incorporate your garden too. Whether you choose bifold doors, a garden room or roof lanterns, all of them will encourage light into the kitchen all year round, giving you a relaxing and welcoming room that you and your guests can enjoy. Contact us today to find out more – we look forward to hearing from you.
