ARTICLE FROM SOUTHERN LIVING
MAY 1998
Title: Closed
for Comfort
In order to turn
a favorite fair-weather dining spot into a year around family retreat,
architect Mark Harrison and designer Landy Gardner transformed their
clients' rear porch into a cheerful sunroom and breakfast area. Not
only does the new space provide a place for family meals, studying,
and visiting, but it also greatly improves the flow of the whole house.
"This enclosure allows us to walk through the house rather than
around it", the owner says. "It's made a hugh difference"
The porch was already
bordered on three sides by the house's brick walls, which were kept
in tact. The brick is repeated around the fireplace, which was opened
up from the adjoining library. For textural interest and to give the
room an open, airy feel, the peaked ceiling is constructed of beaded
board in a light, pickled finish. The neutral stone floor provides another
contrast in texture.
The remodeling plan
specified traditional French doors and transoms on the back wall, but
the owners had something a little different in mind. They wanted to
incorporate a view of the great old tree in their backyard, so they
asked Mark to redesign the wall with windows all the way up and around.
Plenty of natural light comes in with the view.
When it came to
furnishing the room, the owners' love of color made it's mark. "We
wanted everything to be really fresh and bright," says Landy. A
fun fruit print was chosen for accent pillows and a table skirt, while
a simpler pink and white covers cushions on the green wicker pieces.
The large above the couch picks up the pink, yellow and green from the
fabrics. These vibrant colors are tempered by the natural tones of the
brick, wood and stone, so the room is full of energy without being overwhelming.
"We originally
planned for the sitting area to be next to the fire," says the
owner, "but we have that in the other rooms and we wanted to be
able to eat next to the fire here." The spot is so popular that
the family enjoys almost all meals at the large round table.
