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Active Windows & Doors designs and installs bespoke orangeries across the North East, helping homeowners create bright, comfortable living spaces that feel like a natural extension of their existing home.
An orangery gives you more than just an extension. By combining traditional brickwork, large windows, doors and a distinctive roof structure, you can create a new space that feels connected to both your house and garden.
Whether you want a modern orangery for entertaining, a peaceful family room or extra living space you can enjoy year round, our expert team can help you choose a design that complements your property and the way you live.
An orangery is a home extension that combines solid construction with generous areas of glass. Unlike a traditional conservatory, which is usually made primarily from windows and a glazed roof, an orangery typically uses more substantial brickwork, solid columns and a roof with a glazed lantern.
This gives an orangery a stronger, more permanent feel while still allowing plenty of natural light into the room. A well-designed orangery can become a natural extension of your living space rather than feeling like a separate addition to the house.
The main difference between an orangery and a conservatory is the amount of solid structure used. A conservatory is traditionally dominated by glass, with glazed walls and a glazed conservatory roof. An orangery normally has more brickwork, solid pillars and a more substantial roof structure, often incorporating roof lanterns.
This gives an orangery a solid feel similar to a traditional extension while retaining much of the light associated with a conservatory. Orangeries are also generally easier to integrate visually with an existing property because bricks, frame colour, windows and doors can all be tailored to match the home.
A modern orangery can provide a comfortable living space throughout the year when it is properly designed and insulated. Modern glazing, insulated roof systems, quality frames and thermally efficient materials all help maintain a more stable internal temperature.
This helps keep orangeries warm in winter while reducing excessive heat build-up during warmer periods. Good energy efficiency is particularly important across the North East, where colder winter weather can make poorly insulated extensions uncomfortable.
Choosing energy-efficient windows and doors alongside the right roof and wall construction helps create genuine year round comfort.
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Yes, bespoke orangeries can be designed to work with both traditional and contemporary properties. Brickwork can be selected to complement the existing home, while windows, doors, frame colour and roof style can be tailored around the property.
For traditional North East homes, an orangery can use sympathetic brickwork and classic proportions to create a natural extension of the original house. For contemporary properties, a modern orangery might use cleaner lines, larger areas of glass, aluminium-style finishes and minimalist detailing.
Our team will work closely with you to create a design that looks considered rather than added on.
One of the biggest benefits of an orangery is flexibility. The extra room can become almost any type of living space depending on your needs.
You might create an open-plan dining room that connects directly to the garden, a bright lounge filled with natural light or a family room that gives everyone more room to relax. Other customers use their new space as a home office, playroom, reading room or entertaining area.
Because the structure feels more substantial than many traditional conservatories, the room can become a genuine everyday part of the house.
Orangeries are a fantastic way to add usable space without losing the bright, open atmosphere associated with a conservatory.
Modern materials, glazing and insulation mean today’s orangeries can provide excellent thermal efficiency and year round comfort.
Homeowners across the North East choose orangeries for many reasons, including:
The ultimate aim is to create a room that becomes part of everyday life rather than an occasional summer space.
Roof lanterns are one of the defining features of many beautiful orangeries. Positioned within the solid section of the roof, a lantern allows additional light to enter from above and can help brighten both the orangery and the adjoining room.
A central lantern can also capture lower-angle sunlight during different parts of the day, helping the new space feel open and airy. The combination of solid roof sections and glass gives a modern orangery a distinctive architectural style while supporting thermal efficiency.
Modern orangeries can be highly energy efficient when the right materials and glazing systems are used. Insulated walls and roof sections reduce heat transfer, while modern windows and doors help retain warmth.
This balance is important because an extension containing large areas of glass still needs to perform efficiently during the winter. A well-designed orangery should therefore consider energy efficiency as part of the complete structure rather than focusing on individual windows or roof components in isolation.
The result should be a warm, comfortable room that supports year round use.
Every orangery installation starts with understanding your property, available space and how you want to use the finished room. Once the design has been agreed, the installation process will typically involve groundwork, foundations and construction of the brick perimeter or structural base.
Windows, doors and the roof structure are then installed to create the main orangery. Depending on the design, prefabricated components may be used to help make installation more efficient while maintaining quality.
The exact process and timescale vary depending on the size, materials, site conditions and complexity of the project, but an orangery will usually take several weeks rather than a few days. Our expert team will explain the process before work begins so you know what to expect.
Many orangeries can be constructed without a full planning application where the work falls within permitted development rights. However, an orangery is effectively treated as an extension for planning purposes, so factors including its size, height, position and previous additions to the property can affect whether planning permission is required.
Different rules can also apply to listed buildings, conservation areas and properties where permitted development rights have been restricted. Building Regulations may also apply depending on how the orangery is designed and connected to the existing property.
If you are unsure, obtaining professional advice or checking with your local planning authority before work begins is the right choice.
The cost of an orangery depends on the size, materials, glazing, brickwork, roof design, windows, doors and level of customisation involved. A compact design using standard specifications will naturally cost less than a large bespoke orangery with premium materials and extensive glass.
Ground conditions and structural work can also affect the final cost. Rather than relying on a generic national average, the most useful approach is to have the property assessed and obtain a tailored quotation based on the actual project.
Active Windows & Doors can discuss the options available and help you create a design that balances style, quality and value.
There is no single answer because both an orangery and traditional extension can vary significantly in design and specification. A traditional extension with extensive structural work, roofing and internal finishes may cost more than some orangery designs.
However, a large bespoke orangery using premium glazing, brickwork and custom materials can also represent a substantial home improvement. The better comparison is therefore based on what each option gives you.
An orangery combines the solid feel of an extension with the glass, views and natural light associated with a conservatory, which can make it the right choice for homeowners looking for both space and architectural impact.
Active Windows & Doors installs orangeries across the North East. Based in Washington, our team works with homeowners throughout Newcastle, Sunderland, Gateshead, County Durham and surrounding areas.
Whether you are researching orangeries in Newcastle or planning an orangery elsewhere across the North East, we can discuss the property, available space and the style you are looking to create.
Our local knowledge also helps us design home improvements that suit the wide range of traditional and contemporary properties found throughout the region.
Active Windows & Doors provides a complete service from initial advice through to orangery installation. Our expert team will work closely with you to understand how you want to use the room, how it should connect with your garden and how the finished structure should complement your existing property.
We focus on quality materials, careful installation and designs tailored around individual customers rather than applying the same solution to every house. From windows and doors to glazing, roof style, brickwork and colour options, we can help bring each part of your project together.
