CONSERVATORY CONVERSION

Altering an existing conservatory for use as a permanent room by upgrading and partial rebuilding.

This project involved the full conversion of an existing conservatory into a year-round rear living room extension for a residential property in Hove. Our scope covered the entire process from initial concept and planning permission through to building regulations approval, interior design, contractor tendering, and contract administration through to completion.

The result is a sleek, contemporary cubic extension seamlessly integrated into a traditional red brick home, maximising natural light, strengthening the connection between indoor and outdoor living, and creating a bright, versatile space that feels both open and inviting.

The Design

The concept centred on three principles: light, flow, and simplicity. Large glazed panels flood the interior with natural light throughout the day, while the carefully considered layout creates a smooth, uninterrupted transition from the living areas to the garden. Internally, the interior design blends minimalist elegance with functional comfort, clean contemporary lines, warm materials, and considered finishes that complement the extension’s modern character without competing with the original property.

The Technical Challenge

Conservatories are classified differently to extensions under building regulations, which meant obtaining full building regulations approval was essential before the space could function as a habitable room used all year round. This required excavating to assess and upgrade the existing foundations so the original walls could be retained, installing cavity wall insulation to meet thermal performance requirements, and insulating the existing suspended concrete floor from the underside via the garden store room below. Planning permission was also required due to the height of the structure, influenced by the sloping nature of the site.