How you decide to furnish your conservatory will ultimately depend on how you plan to use it, however within this article we will provide you with some ideas of how to make best use of your conservatory, and give some handy hints and tips on how to furnish it.

Conservatories as Dining Rooms

Many people elect to use their conservatories as dining rooms - which can be a lovely way of enjoying your garden even when it’s a little too chilly to actually eat outside. Alternatively in the Summer months you might elect to eat outside, and then move into the conservatory for post dinner drinks as the temperature drops.

If you’re planning to use your conservatory as a dining room there are a vast number of options open to you - many people elect to furnish their conservatories with furniture which can be easily moved outside when it’s warm enough, but looks equally at home inside.

Traditionally people have used rattan, cane and wicker furniture in conservatories, but there’s absolutely no need to be tied to these materials - you can create a lovely modern look with glass and chrome, or a more traditional cosy look with wooden furniture.

Conservatories as Offices

Some people elect to use their conservatory (or part of their conservatory) as a home office. If you’re considering this there are some fantastic solutions out there which enable you to hide your home office away once you’ve finished working. Make sure you’ve plenty of storage for papers, files and so on; and consider using a laptop rather than a desktop computer; as it’s much easier to store. That way you can use your conservatory in your leisure time - rather than using it purely as a working space.

If you are considering working in your conservatory, bear in mind that at certain times of day the bright sunlight may make it difficult to see your computer screen. As such it might be worth investing in some quality blinds. SEHBAC have a fantastic range of blinds so there’s bound to be something to suit you.

Conservatories as Living Rooms & Play Rooms

Many people elect to use their conservatories as additional living rooms and/or play rooms for adults and kids alike! Here the possibilities are endless - a conservatory can be a great place for that pool table you’ve always wanted!

Likewise a conservatory can make a fantastic living room - think comfortable sofas, arm chairs, bean bags - and a glass of wine with friends. Again it’s a lovely way of feeling like you’re outdoors even when the Great British Summer conspires against you!

Conservatories for Hobbies

If you like to paint, or are into arts and crafts a conservatory can be a great place to indulge your pastimes. The light will be fantastic for any kind of artwork, and again you’ve the benefit of feeling like you’re out doors.

Similarly, if you’re a keen gardener you can use your conservatory to grow plants which couldn’t normally be grown here.

Multi-Purpose Conservatories

Want to do a bit of everything? No problem. there are some fantastic furniture solutions out there. Choose a folding table, or choose a table which you can extend with additional leaves - that way, when you’re not entertaining in your conservatory you’re not stuck trying to manoeuvre around a large dining table.

Similarly, clever office furniture can allow you to hide away your workspace so you can use your conservatory for fun too!

Here at SEHBAC we’re committed to ensuring that you get the very best out of your conservatory. Our advice is always to plan ahead - so if you’re thinking about having a conservatory built, think carefully about how you are going to use the space. Our staff will be happy to talk through the options in order to come up with the best solution for you.

Why not call us on 0800 666 444, or book a home visit.

Here at SEHBAC as we specialise in manufacturing and installing double glazing, doors and conservatories, we are well used to working with glass for both domestic and commercial projects. Nevertheless, we’re still blown away by these truly amazing glass structures - to follow are our top five:

1.  Grand Canyon Skywalk

The Grand Canyon Skywalk is a tourist attraction, funded by Hualapai Indian tribe in partnership with Chinese-American businessman David Jin.

The horseshoe-shaped glass walkway stands at a 3,600 feet above the floor of the canyon. The Skywalk is not directly above the main canyon, Granite Gorge, which contains the Colorado River. Instead it extends over a side canyon and affords a view into the main canyon.

Skywalk protrudes 20 metres (66 ft) beyond the edge of the canyon. The walls and floor are built from glass 4 inches (102 mm) thick. Whilst this is clearly not for the faint-hearted, or those with a fear of heights you can’t fail to be impressed by the structure and the amazing views it affords.

2. Bailong Elevator

The Bailong Elevator is a glass elevator built onto the side of a huge cliff in Zhangjiajie, China. At 1,070 feet (330 m) high, this elevator is claimed to be the highest and heaviest outdoor elevator in the world.

The Bailong Elevator has set three Guinness world Records - World’s tallest full-exposure outdoor elevator, world’s tallest double-deck sightseeing elevator and world’s fastest passenger traffic elevator with biggest carrying capacity. 

However, the future of this elevator is uncertain as officials claim that the elevator is causing environmental issues.

Image credit kazuhito

 3. 30 St Mary Axe, ‘The Gherkin’

30 St Mary Axe, also known as the Gherkin and the Swiss Re Building, is a skyscraper in London’s main financial district. Completed in December 2003 it is 180 metres (591 ft) tall, with 40 floors.

The building uses energy-saving methods which allow it to use half the power a similar tower would typically consume. Gaps in each floor create six shafts that serve as a natural ventilation system for the entire building even though required firebreaks on every sixth floor interrupt the “chimney.” The shafts create a giant double glazing effect; air is sandwiched between two layers of glazing and insulates the office space inside.

The shafts pull warm air out of the building during the summer and warm the building in the winter using passive solar heating. The shafts also allow sunlight to pass through the building, making for a more pleasant work environment and reducing lighting costs.

In December 2005, the building was voted the most admired new building in the world, in a survey of the world’s largest firms of architects.

Image credit Loz Flowers

4. The Observation Deck at the Calgary Tower

The Calgary Tower is a 191 meter (627 foot) free standing observation tower in Calgary, Canada.

The structure was designed by W.G. Milne & A. Dale and Associates. At the time of construction, it was the tallest structure in Canada, although it was surpassed that same year by the Toronto-Dominion Centre in Toronto, prior to opening. The official opening took place on June 30, 1968.

Image credit bchow

5. Werner Sobek’s R128 

Sobek was born 1953 in Aalen, Germany. From 1974 to 1980, he studied structural engineering and architecture at the University of Stuttgart. From 1980 to 1986, he was post-graduate fellow in the research project ‘Wide-Span Lightweight Structures’ at the University of Stuttgart and finished his PhD 1987 in structural engineering.

In 1992 he founded his own engineering firm Werner Sobek Ingenieure. Since 1995, he has been a professor at the University of Stuttgart.

His glass house is located in Stuttgart, Germany. Clearly not suitable for shy types, this home has no walls or closed rooms.

The building is completely recyclable, produces no emissions and is self-sufficient in terms of heating energy requirement. The electrical energy required is produced by solar cells. Image credit Werner Sobek

Historically, we’ve seen that during periods of recession, crime tends to increase. As such, in the current economic climate, many homeowners are understandably concerned about increased crime, and unhappily, the latest figures from the Home Office may bear these fears out.

This week, Glass Times (a glazing industry publication) reported that:

The Home Office figures for July-September 2008 showed an increase in reported domestic burglaries; and for the last four months of 2008, 31 police forces across England and Wales also reported a rise in burglaries - with 55,572 more cases of acquisitive crime taking place during those months, than for the same period on 2007. The last sustained rise in the burglary rate was back in the mid 1990s.

Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith warned of this in a leaked memo to Gordon Brown: “Our modelling indicates that an economic downturn would place significant pressure on acquisitive crime and therefore overall crime figures.”

So, what can homeowners do to ensure that their homes and possessions are adequately protected?

Well, whilst it might sound obvious - make sure your home is properly secured when you leave it. Make sure all windows and doors and closed and locked, as many burglars are opportunists - so if your home looks properly secured it may deter them.

Secondly, take precautions to secure any potential access point to your home. For example, if your property can be accessed via a rear or side gate, consider how this could be made more secure - e.g. invest in a sturdy padlock to secure it, or consider replacing the gate if it cannot be adequately secured currently.

Perhaps most importantly, invest in secure locks for your home - for example: 

1. Deadlocks for external doors
2. Secure locks to windows
3. Secure window shutters

Here at SEHBAC we take home security very seriously. As such, all of our double glazed windows benefit from the very latest in security features including multi-point locking systems with up to six locking points.

Likewise all SEHBAC doors are fitted with the latest multipoint locking systems, and are designed to endure sustained attempts to gain entry. 

If you’re thinking about replacing your windows and / or doors, and would like to talk to someone about security options why not call us on 0800 666 444, drop in to one of our show centres or arrange a home visit. Our staff will be happy to talk through the options with you, and offer guidance in selecting the right solution for you.

Image credit fotographix.ca

Here at SEHBAC we’re really excited about Pilkington’s new K Glass™ OW launch.

This new development is particularly important in terms of energy efficiency ratings for windows. You may remember last week we wrote a post about Energy Efficient Window Ratings - essentially, all new double glazed window units are assigned an energy efficiency rating from A-G (with A being the most efficient and G being the least).

Pilkington’s launch of K Glass OW is an improved form of Pilkington K Glass. Designed to be used as part of the Pilkington energiKare system, K Glass OW offers increased light transmission and improved solar gain.

Andy McDowell, Pilkington spokesperson, said:

“Pilkington energiKare™ is going from strength to strength – Pilkington K Glass OW is an invaluable addition to the range.

The increase in solar gain helps to improve window energy ratings meaning lower heating bills, whilst the increased light transmission helps to create a brighter environment reducing the need for artificial lighting and further reducing energy costs.”

So it’s excellent news for those interested in safe-guarding the environment!

If you’re interested in replacing your windows, why not drop into one of our show centres and speak to a member of staff - they’ll be happy to advise you on all the options available. Alternatively, call us on 0800 666 444, or book a home visit online.