SUNROOM MAKEOVER PLANS
There have been so many changes in our lives since we moved into our Tanglewood house in October! It seems our whole world is an ever-revolving door of change! Most of the changes have been very good and some although good quite challenging! Let’s look at one more change on the horizon…
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We were so lucky to be able to move into a home we love and use quite a lot of the furniture we had at StoneGable. It was a bit like fitting our things into a big, complex real-life puzzle!
You can read about what-we-put-where and what we had to let go of HERE.
One room (besides the kitchen) that needed some love is our sunroom.
Here’s how it looked when we first moved in…
The painters were still finishing up and their dropcloth was still on the round coffee table.
The sunroom is a glorious, small, boxy room with a cathedral ceiling that opens up to our eating area. The other three walls of the sunroom are covered with windows that look out on the golf course and ponds.
The view and light coming through the windows are really quite spectacular. And this room was one of the big pluses when we considered buying Tanglewood.
Almost right away I decided not to put any curtains on the windows. This is just not the kind of a room that needs them.
I think rattan rolled blinds like the ones we had at StoneGable would look nice here. But sturdy, really nice blinds came with every window in the house so for the sake of continuity I think we will keep the blinds in the sunroom.
It has taken me the four months we have lived here to work out exactly how to decorate the sunroom without taking away from the real star of this room, the view!
The sunroom will also be the room we make the largest $$$ investment in outside of our kitchen and painting of our entire house.
Because this room has such great views and high ceilings I want to accent its architecture and views.
It’s a smart idea to highlight the best attributes of a room and not call attention to its warts and blemishes!
We decided to invest in a whitewashed planked ceiling to draw the eye up those pretty tall ceilings!
Here’s the ceiling. We will also replace the fan. I don’t like overhead lighting at all. I’ll opt for a big modern looking fan instead.
Here is a picture I found on Pinterest to give you an idea of what were are looking for…
You can see more HERE.
We will be only planking the ceiling and not the walls.
For now, the rug, two chairs, basket table, and pole lamp will stay. The sofa will find a new home at my son Christopher’s house. I’m not sure about the little round table… still thinking about it!
The round coffee table is an awful fit in the sunroom! If left to its own devices it wants to creep out into the center of the room
I think the hardest thing about this room is its square shape. Because it isn’t very big (it’s really very small) and it is very square (very, very square) furniture placement is difficult!
All the furniture has to have a low and streamlined profile to not hide the windows and give us enough seating to make this room usable.
Here’s where we watch television or a movie. The tv is mounted on the wall on a bracket that can move 180 degrees.
If you have a smallish room and want to put a tv in it I highly recommend mounting it on the wall! It frees up so much space!
So here is the look I’m planning for the sunroom!
You can check out the sources for the sunroom below starting with the table lamp in the top left and going to the armchair in the bottom right.
table lamp || small round end table || faux fern || andes 3-piece sectional chaise || floor lamp
wool natural and ivory area rug || woven pillow cover || cheetah pillow cover || embroidered lumbar pillow || coffee table || braided ottoman tray || textural vase || tall andra vase || faux potted fiddleleaf fig tree
arm chairs || woven storage rattan basket || braided natural jute poof
The sectional will go where the sofa is currently however it is much longer and will almost fill up the entire wall. The chaise will come out to the middle of the windows on the other wall.
The chairs and the basket table and floor lamp will remain where they already are.
Honestly, I’m really not sure at all what kind of coffee table will work in this room until I get the sofa in here.
As I was writing this post, guess what? The sofa came! It’s a month early. Miracles do happen.
I’m excited to work on this room so you can see the “reveal”, coming soon!
Such a great room to have in your new home. I bet you will spend a lot of time out there with all the light coming in. I understand not wanting to cover the windows, but I’m wondering if you might want to use stationary full length side panels with the chunky rods hung higher then the top of the windows. I’ve often used this treatment for clients who have a nice high ceiling…it helps to draw the eye up. It also helps to break up the line that your furniture creates because it is all at the same height. Have fun with all that you can do with this room. Can’t wait to see it completed.
Great suggestion, Judy! I’m really going back and forth about curtains. I love the continuity the windows lend to the scene outside and I’m afraid curtains would break up the panorama.
I’m with Judy on this one. But Yvonne is the 1 who Lives there and I understand how valuable a good view is!!! Curtains are just good for Pictures. Ha!
The stationary panels I’m speaking of are just that…stationary. They do not block any light or view. They do add height and softness to a room.
Yvonne-I love your furnishing selections. The planked ceiling will look absolutely beautiful. So fun to get started on this special room. Can’t wait to see the finished space.
It has been a room that honestly has been hard to come up with a vision. We use it a lot and often family gathers here. So we needed enough furniture so everyone sit down. What a decorating adventure!
Hi Yvonne
Thanks for sharing your decorating ideas with us.
I like the ideas you posted on what you are planning to use in the sun room. If you don’t mind can you say what the dimension of the room is? perhaps a rectangular coffee may do the trick.
Hi June, I’m not sure the dimensions, but it is small!
May I ask what color paint you used for the sunroom? It looks lovely!
Thank you
Hi Cindy, The color is Simply White by Benjamin Moore. It is a gorgeous soft white.
Being the ever practical person I am, I’m wondering what wall you’re mounting the tv on. With windows on three walls, it has to be the one that opens to eating area. Wouldn’t people sitting on the sofa have to look to the side to watch tv?
I’ll have to share the location of the tv on the wall.
I think stationary curtains are not the way to go, although I do think you’ll want something to soften those Windows and integrate the upper space.
May I suggest art work or architectural pieces? You are the u disputed QUEEN of tnis, so I say, have at it!
Might be a good place for your chamber lot lids!
I love the idea of the planked ceiling. It will be gorgeous. I’m sure you will figure it out and love it. You always do amazing things.
Loving your sunroom and the vaulted ceiling.I had a sunroom in my previous home, although small,I loved it.Can’t wait to see the finished room.
I always love to see a makeover! Your ideas are very exciting, and I anxiously await the finished reveal. I like your idea of natural woven blinds in the future. They will add so much texture and color to the room. I think you will eventually want some drapery panels to soften any hard lines, but that can wait. I have tried to think of something that would be very unique for a cocktail table. It appears the rectangular one you selected will work. I like it in black. Since the rectangular size seems to be the best shape, what about a bench with an upholstered top? Add a tray and vignette, or remove these items for extra seating, Bottom line: You have great ideas and you need to find what works for your family. Oh! I do like the idea of a LARGE architectural piece above the windows you face, as you walk into the room. YOUR way will be lovely!
Yvonne, I forgot to mention, in my LONG previous post, the possibility of a unique acrylic cocktail table. It would have to be grounded on top with one of your pretty vignettes. Otherwise, it would appear to be floating. That would definitely provide the “tension” you often mention. THE END!
I did not see the TV on a wall? Too bad round coffee table does not work. I adore that table. Still looking for the chairs you had in FR at Stone Gable from Pottery Barn. Those chairs were awesome. Planked ceiling is a great idea. I agree with you about the windows. That view is spectacular!
So excited for you…always fun to have something new to look forward to! I guess that’s why I’m always buying new bedding or towels…I need change…can’t wait to see it!
I have been enjoying your site for several months and I am so appreciative of you sharing your expertise and recipes. Would you consider dedicating an article to showing how to coat a mood board? Warmly, Sue Logan
I think all of your ideas are spot on! A big ottoman instead of a glass coffee table could provide some comfort for you also. I love a glass coffee table, but my son keeps trying to get me to replace it with an upholstered ottoman so that’s why I thought of it for you also. (btw, I’m not replacing my glass one! haha)
Perhaps full length curtains on extended poles that can be wooshed into the corners for daytimeand wouldn’t block view but lovely pulled closed on cold winter nights
Hi Ruth, I’ve thought of so many things. But there is just not enough wall on any side of the windows.
Your home is beautiful. I love reading your blog to get inspiration. Unfortunately I have to do things on a very small budget But a girl can dream.
You are very fortunate.
I have one full wall of windows in an open floor plan living area. In order to not obstruct the lake view, I have Roman shades so that I can shield the sun some mornings. Though they are costly, they provide a bit of decor but keep the windows uncovered unless we need shielding from the sun.
That sounds lovely Margo!
Mmmm I love the idea of the planked ceiling. I also have a pitched ceiling in the living room and the entrance way. Maybe I could do that to mine!!!
Possibly add greens to sunroom. I’m a sucker for house plants!! Will be gorgeous no matter what you do.
Everything you do is amazing. Your sunroom will be beautiful and inviting. Wish you could come up to Connecticut and help me with my dining room.It is a little dreary here in March. Just want a little change. Was thinking of a light gray paint on the walls above the white wainscotting. Like you I love white. Thank you for showing us your beautiful home, Yvonne. Love everything you do. Wished I lived near you. We could have tea!!! Have a wonderful day…..Judi Nolan
Just my two cents Judi… if you think your sunroom is dreary you don’t want to paint it gray. Gray is dreary! Try a soft warm neutral instead. You will be so much happier!
Yvonne, I know your new sun room will be beautiful your style is so amazing and I always look forward to viewing your new ideas. I have a sun room that is extremely small 8X11 and have always struggled with décor so I am looking forward to some inspiration for my room right now I have Paula Dean’s settee and a small end table that’s all I can really fit so the room does not feel cramped. I know before long you will be enjoying your views and loving your new sun room !!! Have a great day Terri
Your plans look lovely, Yvonne! That sectional is gorgeous, too! How fun!
I can’t wait to see the ceiling and the whole room come alive. I am also looking forward to seeing all the green out that window during late spring and summer (as I am sure you are too!)
Thanks for sharing at All About Home!
We are excited too!
I love the idea of the planked ceiling! It will be beautiful! I also love the fact that you are keeping the windows the way there are. Your outdoor view is so lovely!