Today we are sharing a very unique project we have been fortunate enough to work on, a conservatory. We did a full renovation on this historic home, located in Minnesota. Although the conservatory was a smaller part of a much larger project, it was a fun and challenging addition.

Conservatories originated in the 16th century, when wealthy landowners sought to grow citrus fruits that began to appear on their tables. These fruits where brought by traders from warmer regions. Nowadays these conservatories serve as sun rooms and dining rooms as well as indoor gardens (green houses).  They are highly sought after as lounging and breakfast rooms because of the large amount of natural sunlight they receive, is there a better way to start the day?

Here are some examples of conservatories being used as extended living spaces.

The conservatory we built was fairly large in size, 18′ wide by 25′ long with a 16′ peak and had a vast amount of windows. The conservatory operates on a separate heating and cooling system then the rest of the home, for this reason.

Conservatory by Purcell Quality

The building and finish materials used in the conservatory are as unique as the space its’ self. The tile floor was imported from England, the style and pattern are reminiscent of what you would typically find in a Victorian home, such as this.  The wall and roof structure are built out of African Mahogany. Mahogany was used for various reasons, the first being its’ stability and natural rot resistance.  The second, it is a tight wood grain and enamels very well, thus giving it longevity.

As you can see conservatories can be equally as beautiful inside and out.