One of our long-time clients wanted to create a light-filled family gathering place overlooking their beautiful backyard. They decided to transform an existing deck into a 4-season room. We teamed up again with their contractor from their previous remodels, Pat O’Connor of Homes By Patrick O’Connor, who created the footprint. We were brought in to create the interior design elements for this remodeling project.
We always enjoy working on a team. The different perspectives offered by a contractor, homeowner and interior designer come together to enhance the process and the final design. In this case, our discussions ended up moving the design from being an exterior footprint to an interior footprint. This change allowed for a design that offered architectural interest opportunities, comfortable spaces, lots of light and an enchanting view.
Our client chose the color scheme for the sunroom from a picture in our office. An old-world flower with reddish pink and grey hues, the image allowed our client to show us exactly what she envisioned for the space. She set the tone and then stepped back, allowing us the freedom to design around her preferences.
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The entrance to the new sunroom from the interior of the house comes onto a landing with multi-colored, earth-toned slate. There was room to create a small sitting area off the dining room, which can serve as an additional eating area for large gatherings. We designed a sweeping staircase down the main living area, with a custom wrought iron rail that offers an outdoor feel, capturing the transition between interior and exterior. The slate flooring continued into this space as another nod to the exterior nature of the sunroom.
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The contractor called for large windows to maximize the view, which made furniture selection more challenging. Custom perching chairs provided the perfect solution, offering seating without blocking the view. We found large print fabric in the reddish pink and grey hues the client was looking for, providing pops of color to the space.
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The main seating area was filled with a custom sectional covered in a durable, light fabric consistent with the airy feel of the space. Pops of the reddish pink, grey and lime green were brought out in the decorative pillows. The color scheme was also mirrored in the upholstered chairs located in the adjacent seating area.
In keeping with the “view as the main attraction” goal, draperies were not included in the design. However, if winter offers a different glare from summer’s light, we will most likely install wooden matchstick blinds for light control.
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As daytime lighting was not an issue, we designed the lighting scheme to create a usable and comfortable space for nighttime. Canned lights in the ceiling illuminate the overall space, and table lamps and a lantern provide task lighting. We also included picture lights to help highlight the artwork.
With the project completed recently, the homeowners are just now enjoying their new sunroom. It is a perfect compliment to the open and airy feel we helped them create throughout the rest of their home.
