Company proprietor Gary Butler is a man on a mission: to change Britain's experience of conservatories. "Conservatories should be living spaces," he proclaimed. "Spaces that you can use - in the summer, in the winter, all year."

He is clear about the limitations of the usual conservatory: "They are too hot in summer, blazing in the sun, then so cold in winter, you can't use them. Most conservatories are expensive ornaments - great to look at, but completely unusable."

His mission to design conservatories that function as living spaces has sent him round the world, sourcing the products that make it possible. Take his 'specialised glazing solution', a form of glass used in the US for over 10 years. The invisible coating between the two sheets of toughened glass reflects 75 per cent of the sun's heat energy, lowering the temperature in the conservatory on a hot day by 10-15 degrees.

It also reduces the glare from the sun, making reading or working in the conservatory comfortable. It cuts the transmission of UV by up to 95 per cent,

an increasingly important consideration as the dangers of UV become evermore known, and a feature that frees us from wicker as any material will be safe from fading. And yet this miracle glass still lets the light flood in to create a stunning, light and airy space.

In the winter, its great noise insulation reduces the impact of rain, allowing the conservatory to remain a calm and peaceful place throughout the year. And its fantastic heat insulation, comparable to a cavity brick wall, will keep the conservatory warm and cosy - and the heating bills down. The glazing is so clever it even cleans itself (it has a coating that encourages water and dirt to run off easily.)

Gary's passion for liveable spaces encompasses the whole 'indoor/outdoor' space. Classique Conservatories supply a complete service: from hot tubs to furniture, decking to landscaping, flooring to furniture.

Complementing this is the complete, customer-focused service. At his first visit,

Gary takes digital photos so that on his return he can show the customer how the proposed conservatory or landscaping will work for that house (with the benefit of computer generated images). "It is important that buyers know exactly how it will look - and it gives us time to really discuss how the conservatory will function as part of the home," explains Gary.

Priding himself on a relaxed and respectful process, for Gary it is important that all his team are directly employed by Classique Conservatories "That way, I know we are all working towards great customer service and we have complete control over the installation. From start to finish, we make sure the customer is kept completely up-to-date, which is important with such a major purchase."

"Buying a cheaper conservatory can prove expensive when you are not able to use it," says Gary. "We may not be the cheapest, but I won't sell a conservatory you cannot use."

Moving House 2005 Edition
covering the exclusive areas of South Manchester.