Case study
Australian rules

When he decided on a second orangery to let in the sun and maximise space for all the family, internet entrepreneur Paul Steffans was looking to recreate in Surrey the lifestyle he enjoyed in Australia…

Paul Steffans is a man who knows what he wants and knows how to get it. An internet entrepreneur originally from Australia, Paul and his family have settled in leafy Surrey and created a beautiful family home.

The Steffans, who have two teenage boys, have tried – as far as our weather permits – to bring as much of the lifestyle Down Under to the UK and as part of this strategy they had two orangeries built.

When you have views like the ones Paul Steffans’ house boasts, it’s difficult to not to want to take the fullest advantage of them. That’s why the couple decided to build a second orangery at their home in Surrey.

The grand terrace is made from York stone and is the perfect place to relax on a summer evening. It also leads directly to a formal, sculptured garden with tennis courts beyond. It’s a large house, but the Steffans felt the sitting room was out of proportion. An orangery was the perfect solution, creating a much larger space, more in scale with the rest of the house.

The interior of the orangery is a crisp white and a stunning, highly polished marble floor runs the length of the ground floor. Underfloor heating ensures the orangery is cosy whatever the time of year and the family often spend time watching TV and listening to music in this beautiful airy space.

“It’s great on a really warm day to have all the windows and doors open,” says Paul. “It’s great on a balmy summer evening to have the outside coming in and Pimms on the terrace.

“Having collaborated with the guys from The English Glasshouse on a number of projects I have always found them really easy to work with. They have a great knack of interpreting my ideas and always deliver what they say they will. The orangery gives us all the space we need as a family. We chose The English Glasshouse because we really like the work they do and there’s real quality to everything they do.”