The Book of the Conservatory [Paperback]

Peter Marston (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1999

In this book, Peter Marston, a designer and builder of glasshouses all over the world, shows the enormous diversity of conservatory styles, sharing knowledge gained over 20 years of creating customized conservatories. Marston explains how the conservatory has evolved and explores the many different styles to suit houses of all kinds. Both the text and accompanying photographs offer ideas for furnishing, lighting, flooring, glazing, heating and ventilation, revealing the conservatory to be one of the most versatile and desirable rooms in the house. The book also highlights various styles of conservatory gardening, identifies suitable plants and provides listings of sources for conservatory supplies.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Peter Marston combined his knowledge and love of architecture, carpentry and gardening under glass by founding, in 1972, the company that is now Marston & Langinger, to revive the art of building fine conservatories. His previous books include The Book of the Conservatory and Garden Room Style.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Orion (March 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0753805014
• ISBN-13: 978-0753805015
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 9.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,490,181 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful source of ideas for conservatory designs., June 25, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Book of the Conservatory (Paperback)

This book is a real gem for anyone who is dreaming of having a conservatory one day. The photographs provide countless ideas for the design of a conservatory. In fact, it is difficult to just sit and read the book without going through all the photos first! What is also nice is that the photos showcase both the exterior and interiors of the conservatories.

Although the book does not tell how to build a conservatory, the author provides many practical pointers that the average person or builder would not know. These tips are especially useful if the conservatory has a dual purpose; i.e., dining room.

This book is an invaluable resource for anyone building a conservatory. I have yet to find any other book that covers the subject as exhaustively as this one.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Book of the conservatory, September 19, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Book of the Conservatory (Paperback)

Somewhat informative but basic pictorial view of modern conservatory uses and alternatives. Like "Garden Room Style", also by Marston, barely veiled self serving to the fact that author is reputed to be linked to a manufacturing plant for conservatories and examples are dominated by same. Little here for the planner of a residential conservatory beyond what can be seen in brochures of British conservatory manufacturers that I have observed. Not much on construction, location and modern day applications of glass buildings. For inspiration and better visuals, see "Orangeries"(coffee table book), and "The Garden Room"(pictorial) or a selection of British conservatory companies' brochures.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The theory, aesthetics and practicalities of Conservatories, October 4, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Book of the Conservatory (Paperback)

Less of a how-to book than a source book for ideas and a very complete discusion on the history and theory of plant conservatories. Includes considerable detail on design features (floors, framing, furniture etc) and a small section on plants.

Virtually every one of the 170 pages contains drawings and photographs, mostly in color. The focus is British/North American, but translates to virtually any cold-temperate area in the world

You would probably need a how-to book if you were thinking of constructing a conservatory, and a planting guide book to fill it up, but you couldn't do better than start with this book to inspire and stimulate an interest in gardens under glass. A book for dreamers and do-ers alike.