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Kitchens Design Dilemma Lighting

roof lantern location

12 days ago

We are having a 2.5m (length) x 7m (wide) single storey extension. Originally we wanted two 2m x 1m roof lanterns but due to budget we are having to reduce our glazing to include just one 2m x 1m roof lantern.

We are currently unsure whether to have the lantern smack bang in the middle of the extension (between kitchen and seating area) or just over the kitchen as there will be 2.7m French doors with side lights which will let light in where the seating area is.

Also if in the middle then whether to locate it, again, in the middle of the roof or towards the back of the new part of roof.

Our garden is north facing however nothing shadows our garden.

What are your opinions on where we should position the roof lantern?

Thanks

Featured Answer

Isla Cherry

11 days ago

We need a plan. I would also consider lighting and how you will use the space at this point with regard to where you will get most benefit from the roof lantern.

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Comments (6)

siobhanmcgee90
11 days ago
You need to consider how the roof lanterns can bring light into the original floor plan as this will be darker with the extension. As Isla says, need a full floor plan.
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Hello PG. Your question is an interesting one! With regard to the size, it really depends on the look you wish to create. If you're looking to create an orangery style extension which is very popular at the moment, a larger lantern would be worth considering particularly from the perspective of adding the ‘wow factor’. However if the idea is to add a little light, then the smaller sizes you mention would certainly work. It's perhaps worth highlighting that the sliding folding doors will add light into the front of the extension but if you're looking to add light into adjacent rooms, a larger lantern would again be worth considering. You are very welcome to send your plans to us and we would be pleased to advise further. The link below is a project in London, the size of the longer roof lanterns are 2.4m x 1.2m. Hopefully this will give you an indication of the light created by a roof lantern of this size. Also like this example, you might like to consider more than one roof lantern to help define areas. We offer roof lanterns in purely aluminium and a combination of timber and aluminium. https://www.houzz.co.uk/projects/1427135/wrap-around-extension-featuring-3no-roof-lantern-installations-in-london
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I see what you mean. I disagree that it will look wrong, I think it's difficult to make it look right. It has to sit well with the rest of the house and that's the hard part. Your current window colour makes things the hardest. To put brown windows in the orangery just won't look nice. Any grey tone would look nice, but then the windows need to match everywhere really. A lovely tasteful shaped orangery in white always looks great, but again, all your windows and doors need to match. I'd extend the patio to, wrapping it around the Orangery and making that the feature point of the rear of the house. I know this is 'grand plans', but hopefully you'll see what i mean.
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Did you go ahead with this work and what glass did you go with? having work done to create a playroom in a north facing garden too. going with a combination of tiled and glass roof, just need to decide on which kind of glass ? blue for better temperature control or neutral.
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We went through this same decision process with our 6x4m rear extension recently. Eventually we choose a gable with glazed end for several reason. Firstly several friends and comments online made me wonder about the heat and light issues with lanterns. It will also be our main living area when entertaining so noise on a large glass lantern was also a consideration. However worth noting we spoke to several builders and all came back with slightly higher estimates for the gable than the flat roof extension so that might also be a something worth considering (although that did include the glasses end, bifold and skylights). I'm currently researching skylights (that's how I found your post) and were looking at circa £6k for velux and possibly more if we go for frameless bespoke ones. Good luck with your planning.
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Rebecca W
Original Author
10 days ago
Thank you both, I have attached the original and new plans. We will have spotlights over the entire area and 2/3 pendant lights above the island.
Rebecca W
Original Author
10 days ago
Existing
Isla Cherry
10 days ago
Just a quick observation. To make the lighting over the island more consistent I would move the rooflight so that it does not overlap the island at all. Cleaner design. Think about what will be below it if anything. It is difficult to place lighting over a dining table if there is a rooflight above. I would lay out my propective furniture positions first before deciding on the best position for the rooflight. They provide far more light than conventional windows and you don't want half your sofa to fade for instance because the rooflight is directly above it. I would move the rooflight over towards the side opposite the kitchen. Also consider turning it through 90deg as it would mirror the island.
siobhanmcgee90
8 days ago
Rather than thinking about the kitchen itself which will be flooded with light from the large areas of glazing, you need to focus on the original floor plan so on the play and dining areas which have no windows from what I can see. Given that I would prioritise the play area which will be used most I would expect.

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