QUESTION: We are thinking of installing a sunroom kit, but conservatories look so much nicer. Is there any disadvantage to installing a conservatory instead of a standard sunroom and what features are most important?ANSWER: Conservatories are extremely attractive and will function the same as a sunroom as additional living space and for a few plants. The only disadvantage of conservatories is they typically cost substantially more than a standard sunroom kit, but you are getting much more.A conservatory is one subset of sunrooms. The easiest method to distinguish conservatories is they usually have many sides giving them a somewhat circular appearance. They also often have a pitched roof, ornate trim along the roof ridge and may have decorative leaded or etched glass trim.The traditional Victorian-style conservatories have been popular in Europe for centuries. Some of the highest quality, and most expensive, conservatories are still manufactured in Europe and delivered in modular or other partially completed form to your building site. Others import the frame and roof from Europe and purchase the window glass and doors domestically.Since you mentioned a sunroom kit, you may be interested in doing some or all of the construction yourself. A company, H2othouse (www.h2othouse.com), offers complete building plans, including a materials list, for conservatories. You or a local contractor can build one from the plans.The most attractive conservatories use wood frames or ones trimmed with wood. If you are planning to use your conservatory for growing many plants, which increases humidity, it would be wise to select one with an aluminum frame. A low brick or stone kneewall is an attractive feature and it provides a location to run electrical wiring and any plumbing.As with any sunroom, the type of glass selected is critical to comfortable year-round use of the conservatory. Double-pane thermal with a low-e coating is the minimum you should install. Some offer triple-pane and other super-efficient glass for cold climates. For hot southern climates, tinted glass will block some of the sun's intensity.Installing proper ventilation is also an important feature. Motorized skylights and vents are often installed. These may operate automatically from a thermostat. Solar-powered vents are also available which open themselves from the heat of the sun.Movable shading, along with the ventilation, is also critical for a comfortable conservatory. The location and type of shading will depend upon your climate and the orientation (south, west or east) of the conservatory. Try to avoid locating the conservatory on the north side of your house in all but the hottest climates.The following companies offer conservatories and kits: British Conservatories, 800-566-6360, www.britishrose.com; Four Seasons Sunrooms, 800-368-7732, www.four-seasons-sunrooms.com; Oak Leaf Conservatories, 800-360-6283, www.oakleafconservatories.com; Renaissance Conservatories, 800-882-4657, www.renaissance-online.com; and Town & Country Conservatories, 773-506-8000, www.town-country.net.Send inquiries to: James Dulley, Butler Eagle, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com.QUESTION: My husband loves whipped cream on all desserts. I thought about buying a whipped cream maker instead of the aerosol cans at the grocery. I try to be an environmentalist, so which way is better?ANSWER: Both methods use cream and nitrous oxide gas. A large can of whipped cream from the grocery yields 112 tablespoons. An Easy Whip Half Pint maker (ISI North America, 800-447-2426, produces about 80 tablespoons from one gas cartridge.The empty can from the grocery weighs 130 grams and the Easy Whip gas cartridge weighs only 20 grams. For the amount of whipped cream produced, making your own whipped cream consumes less metal, no plastics, and you control the ingredients.