House is similar to the one pictured, but features hunter green windows/doors along with the brown/red paint. I'm considering two main greenhouse options:
- The Backyard Discovery wooden Bellerose model, which seems to offer incredible value for the price
- A green metal greenhouse (BC greenhouse, etc) with a cobblestone or paneled knee wall
I have my heart set on the Bellerose because of price/features, but hubby thinks that a metal greenhouse with the cobblestone base might better complement the home's aesthetic. There’s a significant price differential which means I’ll be saving up much longer for a metal setup, but if it’s the better choice in the long run, it’s worth it.
Would be grateful to hear opinions on which style would be more architecturally harmonious with the house? I am a hobby grower that primarily grows cactus, citrus, and start some seeds; the greenhouse is a key part of my mental health in the wintertime 🥲
Also open to other ideas – maybe building instead of kit is the way to go(?)
by No_Assumption_108
12 Comments
You could paint the Bellerose green. I’m not sure how much pricier the metal greenhouse is and what your budget is like but I’m partial to the Bellerose because I have one and love it 😆. You should also look at features and thickness/survivability of windows (I live in an area that gets hails).
https://preview.redd.it/vrrya0gr2qhe1.jpeg?width=2843&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fec0593c550e0cdfb397c22833e61ef64941fb83
This one i builded myself had some luck and found old Windows that i builded the greenhouse around
And out of the two you had in the pics i think the wodden one looks much better🙂
Before deciding on building my greenhouse I heavily considered the bellerose. In my opinion it’s the best value greenhouse available and you’d be very happy with it for the price. It will require you to be handy and assemble, you’ll have to stain all of the panels which will be time consuming and frustrating to some.
With that said, if you can afford it the glasshouse with metal frame will be much higher quality and require significantly less maintenance than a wood and polycarbonate greenhouse. I made mine wood framed and polycarbonate on the roof and I expect to need to stain the wood every 2 years and replace the poly every 10 years (it will likely start to yellow and get brittle after about 7). The glasshouse is more expensive because the materials are longer lasting and the only real maintenance you will need to perform will be washing the glass and keeping it clear of debris, which will also apply to the bellerose.
If you can afford it, I’d recommend the glasshouse but for most people it’s just to steep for the budget (if you want a brick knee wall you’ll also need to hire an expensive stone mason in addition to an electrician/plumber if you want power and water for either greenhouse)
Are your requirements aesthetics only or do you need to worry about wind and snow?
Personally, I would either build your own and paint the exterior wood green (interior white) or clad it with green aluminum flashing. Do all the painting BEFORE you install the windows/polycarbonate panels. Or I would go with an Artic acres kit for wind/snow protection (they are pricey and have a dome look to them).
Really depends on how big you want to build, and what your priorities are, also space/location. Either way, you want something facing south and nothing blocking the sun in the winter, but keep in mind high winds that could damage weaker greenhouse. Wood is easier to fix than metal. Metal, once bent needs to be replaced since it lost all its strength.
Second one
I have the Bellerose and I couldn’t love it more! I think the options for insulation are a little better on the BYD kit because you have the solid walls on the bottom. There’s a FB group with lots of great info: Backyard Discovery Greenhouse Owners. Maybe that would help you make your decision?
[https://www.facebook.com/share/g/12Hs8RbNqVt/](https://www.facebook.com/share/g/12Hs8RbNqVt/)
I am a hobby grower and I absolutely love my Bellerose! I have had it built just under a year now and I have not had any issues with it. My house is white with black shutters and I didn’t think it was necessary for the greenhouse to match it. This is mine in my backyard. I put it on pavers so it’s level and anchored properly.
https://preview.redd.it/4i3ll4htqqhe1.jpeg?width=2891&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d16891a5bc928d02105d6e7a3c2010e99b85bea1
I think a lot of this is down to personal preference, but something I might recommend is choosing the bellerose and painting the support struts between the windows a green that matches the house. You can also get faux cobblestone or brick or whatever to cover over the bellerose in a few years if you really want the base to match that part of the house.
Personally, I would rather you just pick something that fits you and show it off. I’m not your mom
My personal opinion would be any type that will not be a sauna in the summer. Something that you could keep cool if you wanted to. My sister’s glass greenhouse is lovely but I call it the hot house in the summer ( which btw, I know some people call them hot houses and the name is greatly deserved)😂
I personally purchased a redwood greenhouse kit because I know how to deal with wood. I can make modifications etc, hang things on hooks attached to it, replace damaged parts etc. I love the metal look, but these things pushed me to do wood.