What is the point?

Being 5' 2 I entirely agree about wall cupboards above head height.

A conservatory is useful if you want to grow plants that cannot be grown outside in our climate.

But there is an awful lot of glass to keep clean, so I would not want one now.

OP you sound very entitled to me!!! Why buy the house if you are not happy with major aspects of it? Not that divine is it??

We had our conservatory integrated into our living room when we moved here. Has a radiator for the winter and huge opening windows for the summer. I sit there everyday although I love being outside too. It’s my comfort space!

Marydoll

I have a large conservatory and I love it. It has two large radiators, so is usuable even winter in a rainy Glasgow.
Ill health means I spend a lot of time in it resting and looking into our beautiful garden.
There is something magical about looking into a snowy garden in winter.

I’m sorry you have such ill health Marydoll but glad you have your conservatory and agree 100% about looking from it into a snowy garden. Our “garden room” is full of plants and has a proper roof and underfloor heating so we use it all year round and love it.

When we had our kitchen redone all the undercounter cupboards were changed for drawers so it is easy to see what is in each of them. We in one of the over counter cupboards we have a mechanism to pull down the two top shelves which means that I can reach everything in that cupboard with no difficulty. The kitchen fitter said that we were the first people he knew of to the have the pull down shelves.

We have other cupboards but we keep the kitchen items we use very rarely in those cupboards.

Love my conservatory - especially sitting in there on a rainy day, looking out onto the garden. I'm only 5'4" but have no problems at 74 in reaching the top shelves of wall cupboards from a sturdy stepping stool and feel perfectly safe doing so. I wouldn't be without them. Where would I put things? Leaning down to fetch things from the back of base units is far more problematic with my arthritis and back pain.

I had my upper wall cupboards done all the way to the ceiling to get rid of the dirty, greasy area over the cupboards that rarely got cleaned. The top shelves are for things I very rarely use like Christmas mugs and nice glassware. The doors are patterned glass so the colours from inside show through and reflect the sunlight.

I used to have open shelves but everything stored on them got dusty and I had to wash everything before using it.

I have a lovely conservatory and practically lived in it when I cared for my late husband who was totally paralysed and mostly in a wheelchair or recliner. We could sit just inside the French windows opened up, he could have his legs outside but face inside and feel like he was in the garden throughout the year as long as he was dressed appropriately. When it is too windy to be out you can feel gloriously warm in there. It only takes a tiny bit of sun and you can heat the whole house if you leave the doors open. I could not be without mine ever. As for cheap plastic, you have not got a clue, there is nothing plastic nor cheap about them these days.
I had extra wall cupboards fitted as I like everything out of sight. I use the top shelves for things I rarely use, no problem, have a safe small step ladder with 2 steps and handles which I find quite safe. What is not to like about that.

An estate agent told me that a conservatory implies that the house is too small.

Skydancer

An estate agent told me that a conservatory implies that the house is too small.

Ha, ha! 🤣

Oh the kitchen cupboards! Too high so I can't reach or too low so I have to bend down but struggle to get back up. I would love a walk in pantry but just don't have the room.

We don't have a conservatory in this house, but have had them in the past and liked them. Regarding kitchen cupboards, I am tall so can reach my wall cupboards and they are well used for everyday stuff, my problem is reaching into the back of floor cupboards, I find this very difficult and can't kneel on the floor to find stuff at the back. All of our floor cupboards have been replaced with deep drawers, they are so handy, you can see what you have and are so easy to clean.

I've never had one. I don't love them, but my SIL loves hers, and uses it a lot. I think much depends on which direction they face. North or South would make them hot or cold, but other directions could be much more useful.

We have a North facing boot room which the architect called an Orangery when he 'designed' it. It basically incorporates a few outdoor spaces and brings them into the house instead of being under a strange roof-type thing which was there when we bought the house decades ago. As it has a proper roof it is not a conservatory, but it has windows instead of walls on two sides, which apparently makes it an orangery . Given our geography, I think anyone attempting to grow oranges in it is doomed to disappointment but there we are.

We don't use it as a room - it is a passageway where children and dogs were encouraged to clean up a bit before running into the kitchen with muddy feet/paws. There is a loo in there and a broom cupboard arrangement, as well as storage for all sorts of things I don't want in the house but don't belong in the garage.

An estate agent will tell you anything! Obviously their commission is greater if you buy the larger house, so I would not trust anything they say

OnwardandUpward

An estate agent will tell you anything! Obviously their commission is greater if you buy the larger house, so I would not trust anything they say

Yup. (I daren't say 'this') 😉

A conservatory sounds wonderful. In my case it would end up partly as an indoor greenhouse with orchids and lovely plants. You could grow a little lemon tree, for example. I’d say go for it, you will grow to love it and the plants would love to grow!

nanna8

A conservatory sounds wonderful. In my case it would end up partly as an indoor greenhouse with orchids and lovely plants. You could grow a little lemon tree, for example. I’d say go for it, you will grow to love it and the plants would love to grow!

I have a lime tree growing in mine, nanna.

Skydancer

An estate agent told me that a conservatory implies that the house is too small.

🤣🤣🤣

Have you ever been to Hampton Court Palace?
I suppose it houses the vine rather than easy chairs and occasional tables

Our conservatory is glass and brick it’s warm in summer cool in winter but heating and windows come into use. I love the peace just sitting and watching birds each season it’s lovely.
My raised beds are bursting with delights right now in season and brimming with all manner of insects collecting pollen.
Who needs daytime tv when the wonder of nature is in front of you. It is an extra room call it what you will it’s invaluable to me as is our summer house there I catch the suns rays while listening to the bird song heaven!

Wall cupboards are too high for me and I have to climb, so IF I ever replace the kitchen there will be none. There will be drawers under work surfaces too; much easier to access.
A well-built conservatory would be lovely I think

Our conservatory is on the north side of the house so it gets the morning and evening sun. We use it a great deal as we can eat in it as well as sit comfortably. It's our dog's favourite place to sit. Unheated so unused in cold weather but we can ditch muddy boots and wet coats before entering the rest of the house, we also use it for bringing plants on in the spring and frost protection in winter. I wouldn't be without it.

I converted our conservatory into a room of my own during lock down. I decided to try and teach myself to draw and paint. It’s still my space, I can leave paints out rather than tidy everything away.
We solved the too hot/too cold issue by putting a roof and Velux windows in.
Over Christmas, the paints go away and the Christmas tree goes in. It’s lovely and extends the size of the sitting room.
And I have many high cupboards in the kitchen, Great storage

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Wrong thread. Will get it moved!

Another point about a conservatory is insulation. We had one in a previous house that cut down heating bills, and functioned as a greenhouse. I'd agree that they aren't always useful or sensible. I'd live in the house for a while (you can use it for storage! ) before deciding whether to take it down.
I'd do the same with the kitchen. I have a few friends who prefer shelves and separate dressers. I like "fitted" as they are easier to clean. Open shelves can gather dust, especially in a kitchen, although a very good extractor fan can help.
If you are fitting from scratch, you can look at "reach down" fittings - I have a couple.
Its always a good idea, if possible, to live in the house for awhile and find out how it works before making major changes.