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These Dreamy Garden Rooms Are a Soul-Soothing Feast for the Eyes

Photo credit: Peter Marston
Photo credit: Peter Marston

From Veranda

As spring comes into full bloom, the great outdoors beckons more than ever. But the season also dictates certain limitations, from fickle forecasts to seasonal allergies, on how much time we can spend in our yards and gardens.

Enter the garden room, that most Veranda of all spaces, which brings the outdoors in in every sense. Typically surrounded by windows on at least two sides, garden rooms usher in views of the garden year-round; during cooler seasons, they provide sun-drenched shelter for potted plants. And, like gardens themselves, these rooms offer sunny spots for lounging, inviting areas for entertaining, and stimulating environments for creative endeavors. Better still, they practically beg to be decorated with garden furniture, new or antique, and bright floral furnishings and accessories.

Our love of garden rooms is nothing new, of course. In fact, use of such spaces dates back to antiquity. Conservatories with large windows are believed to have originated in ancient Roman culture as a way to keep out the cold while letting in the sunlight. Later, in Europe, conservatories and orangeries (which originated during the Italian Renaissance in the 16th century) became popular among the wealthy, who wished to enjoy the fruits of their citrus trees even during colder seasons.

Now more than ever, as we shelter in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus, being close to nature — even while inside — feels right. Read on to discover some of our favorite iconic garden rooms around the world, along with a few from our very own archives, and shop our "get the look" items to create your own.


A Stately Orangery for Entertaining

Photo credit: James Merrell
Photo credit: James Merrell

This orangery features a pale blue ceiling (Skylight by Farrow & Ball) that makes guests feel as though they are already sitting outside in the garden. Side tables, slipper chairs, and a sofa made for the outdoors reinforce this notion, as do beautiful potted orange trees and stone floors from Chateau Domingue.

Get the Look: A Orangery Planter


A Whimsical Garden Room for Creating

Photo credit: Slim Aarons - Getty Images
Photo credit: Slim Aarons - Getty Images

Here, the Contessa Giuppi Pietromarchi perches upon a woven chair at La Ferriera, her family's Capalbio villa in Tuscany. The garden room, decorated with antique botanical prints and ornate planters sitting atop pedestals, feels like the perfect place to dream up new floral arrangements for the rest of the house.

Get the Look: Pressed Botanicals

Photo credit: Courtesy of Blackwell Botanicals
Photo credit: Courtesy of Blackwell Botanicals

Pressed Blooms and Fern
Blackwell Botanical

Shop the Look


A Quiet Orangery for New Growth

Photo credit: Alexandre Bailhache
Photo credit: Alexandre Bailhache

Talk about a soothing room that brings outside in: Floor-to-ceiling windows framed in iron flood this Provence farmhouse with natural light. An antique wooden table loaded with kumquat trees, potted lavender, and other plants rests on limestone flooring.

Get the Look: A Dramatic Lantern

A Sophisticated Garden Room for Chic Lounging

Photo credit: Slim Aarons - Getty Images
Photo credit: Slim Aarons - Getty Images

Here, Princess Caroline of Monaco reclines in all sorts of floral splendor on the palace grounds. Towering potted plants and rattan furnishings (complete with upholstery in a happy blooming print) make this garden room a feast for the eyes and a lift for the spirits.

Get the Look: White Rattan

A Classic Garden Room for Big Ideas

Photo credit: Cecil Beaton
Photo credit: Cecil Beaton

The photographer, artist, and interior designer Cecil Beaton poses in the garden room of his Wiltshire home. A wall constructed of bamboo with climbing vines, a wicker rocking chair, and a chinoiserie garden stool combine to make a classic space showcasing timeless garden style that's always in vogue.

Get the Look: Sculptural Scallops

An Intimate Garden Room for Tête-à-Têtes

Photo credit: Peter Marston
Photo credit: Peter Marston

Like a greenhouse, this cozy garden room, with its stone floor and glass walls and ceilings, features furnishings that create a charming place for an afternoon cup of tea. A curved dining table, iron patio chairs, and potted greenery allow this space to flow seamlessly into the courtyard just beyond the doors.

Get the Look: A Striking Chandelier

A Cheerful Conservatory for Garden Gazing

Photo credit: Horst P. Horst
Photo credit: Horst P. Horst

A neo-Edwardian conservatory at the home of Thomas and Nonie Schippers boasts an abundance of hanging potted geraniums, while a large Italian vase anchors the corner. Charming window seats make for ideal daydreaming — and sunbathing spots for pets.

Get the Look: Verdant Textiles





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