Recording a podcast in the Cliveden

As a fan of THE PIG Hotels, Carla was inspired by the large Alitex greenhouse at THE PIG-in the forest. With her heart set firmly on an Alitex greenhouse, we became the only consideration for her garden renovation project.

Our Open Events provide the perfect opportunity for new and potential customers to look at our structures, and discuss design features such as internal layout and colour choice with their Sales Designer. Carla came and visited us here at Torberry Farm and looked around our glasshouses and factory, as well as visiting multiple structures in public locations.

Initially looking at our National Trust greenhouse collection, Carla knew she needed plenty of room for a large table for family meals and entertaining, whilst still being able to tend to plants. She therefore made the decision to go a little bit bigger and settled on the Cliveden greenhouse.

Decorated internally with many pre-loved treasures from Vintage Boathouse, as well as items the family already owned, that found their rightful place in the greenhouse. The most treasured item is her great grandmothers trug, lovingly restored by her parents, which sits pride of place on the L-shaped benching. The mix of pieces really makes the space feel like theirs.

Choosing the right colour for your greenhouse is the key to a perfect end result. After much deliberation, Carla selected our stand-out Graphite Grey, inspired by our greenhouse at Chewton Glen. It is perfectly harmonious with her greenhouse base painted in Farrow and Ball Purbeck Stone, and even matched the RAL code when painting the windows on her house.

The glasshouse was always intended to be an extra room for the house and not just for growing. With that in mind, Carla has our Gifford Lights on a dimmable switch, as well as water which is convenient for growing, and an ethernet cable so she can work and record her podcast in the greenhouse.

As a huge fan of Bert and May tiles, Carla selected a beautiful encaustic pattern for the floor. Bornos tiles from the Greenhouse Tile Edit really completes the aesthetic.

Carla’s top tip to Alitex owners would be to see as many as possible! Lots of beautiful hotels and public gardens have Alitex greenhouses, so it’s a great excuse to pay them a visit. It’s a great opportunity to get an idea of size and colour, as well as inspiration for internal planting layouts.