Do you find yourself continuously drawn to the room with the most light in your home?
We can’t help but be cheerful when the sun is out and the birds are singing! Beautiful clear skies and the warmth of natural light are so inviting we often find ourselves wanting to stay connected to nature even while indoors. Whether you are looking to incorporate a full conservatory or want to transform an existing space with a custom skylight, here are some things to consider when making decisions about what will work best for your lifestyle!
Maximizing Natural Light
Imagine the darkest room in your home… now imagine if that same room was a bright, light-filled space!
Introducing more natural light into a space transforms how we experience a room. From increasing our mood and productivity to creating an environment that is calm and rejuvenating, consider how the light will move throughout the room. For maximum exposure, consider adding a conservatory or orangery. As the sun moves throughout the day, light dances around these rooms creating a lot of visual interest and movement. If a more modest light exposure is desired, perhaps a skylight, cupola or dome feature would be best. While this addition may not maximize your light exposure, if positioned and designed properly, it can truly transform an existing space with little effort!
Get creative in how you integrate these unique features! Visit our portfolio for more inspired design ideas.
What to Consider!
Now that flashes of design ideas to enhance that favorite room are running through your mind, what is the best way to start planning!? The placement of these additions are important to ensure you are creating the right amount of sun exposure and architecturally it fits with your home.
1 | Be aware of where the sun begins and ends. If you are considering a skylight or roof lantern, for example, south-facing lights are likely to overheat your room whereas north-facing lights give off all-day soft light without the “sun-splashed” effect.
2 | Do you need to protect the objects in that room from the sun’s rays? Things such as cabinets and vanities can undergo bleaching from the sun’s rays if they are not properly protected. Consider glazing the glass with a gray or bronze tint to block the harsh ultraviolet rays of the sun. Glazing can also insulate the glass against heat build-up in the summer and heat loss in the winter.
3 | Are shades right for the space? While advances in new technology have allowed us to create strong, insulated glass units to help control the amount of heat entering these rooms, shades can be another solution to increase your control in mitigating heat gain further. We have often worked with clients to integrate them in conservatories, orangeries, and in skylights that cover expansive areas on a roof. On the right, for example, watch how the shades were integrated into this conservatory.
Finally, let’s take those dreams and ideas and make them a reality! Our team is here to work with you in designing and creating the perfect room.
For more information about these design solutions, visit Our Portfolio or give us a call at 410-479-4700!