One of the most elegant and versatile additions you can make to your home is the conservatory. These light and airy rooms are wonderful to sit in and relax, hold a dinner party in superb surroundings or use as an overspill for a growing family. Modern or traditional, today there is an extensive range of conservatory styles to choose from, from lean-to units through to grandiose Period-style. Conservatories can also be individually tailored with a style, size and layout to suit your home, garden -- and pocket!

So where should you start? One of the most vital things to do is find a reputable company and often word of mouth is a good way of learning about above-board, high quality services. Otherwise check out quite a few before making a decision -- get a range of quotes and ask to go and see some of their work.

Of course, the cost of your conservatory will be dependent upon size, design and material -- uPVC or hardwood, pollycarbonate or a glazed roof. However, purchase the best quality that you can afford as it will go on to serve you well and give you many years of satisfaction.

It is always good practice to allow a small contingency of around 10 per cent once your initial order has been placed to cover any extras or unexpected additions you may decide upon.

Builders can have unforeseen work or you may decide to make some changes as work proceeds. There may also be some additional landscaping or similar that needs to be taken care of.

Guarantees are always very important. In general it should be for a period of not less than 10 years and should cover the entire conservatory including locks, handles and so on. If you are dealing with a small company this should be underwritten by an insurance company.

Then there's the material. Most conservatories these days are prefabricated from uPVC, which has the great advantage of being light and requiring minimal maintenance, but unfortunately it can look a bit too much like plastic.

So if you want to achieve a more classic look -- and are prepared to pay a bit more -- stylish wooden or stone conservatories are also available.

The position of French doors is dependent on the design of your conservatory, but you should consider putting the doors to the side of the space. This will allow you to put your furniture at the front of the conservatory giving you a great view and easy access to the garden.

If the doors are placed at the front or centre of the space, this could lead to a corridor effect and you may have to navigate around furniture and family to get to them!

As for the flooring, marble is great as it looks elegant and is cool in summer and warm in winter if under-heated. Wood and carpet are also popular, attractive alternatives.

Then on to the fun bit -- the decorating. This is of course, entirely up to you, but it's often best to keep the dŽcor light and fresh to enhance the feeling of space. And when it comes to furniture, don't be tempted to cram too much in -- give yourself plenty of space to move and relax in.

Finally, the lighting is a very significant feature. You want the light to be bright enough for those nasty grey days, but soft and subtle enough for those relaxing, romantic evenings. Therefore, opt for a system with dimmer switches and a mixture of soft down and up lights.

A conservatory can often prove to be a great monetary investment and perhaps more importantly, a place of beauty and tranquillity. Natural light, sunshine and constantly changing scenery act as a magnet to young and old alike, so you will find that your conservatory rapidly becomes the most popular room in your home.

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