A charming room!

Not crazy about the purple lampshade on the table lamp - it feels too 'interior space', not sunroom enough. Perhaps change to a lighter, more fun fabric or a woven wicker-look shade.

A colorful area rug in the seating space could be nice, but not a necessity. It might set off the furniture a bit from the stone floor, tho, and bring some color down that direction.

I would love to see some type of soft valance or even faux awnings in s colorful stripe above the windows. It would break up the wood walls a bit and bring more color up into the room.

One other thing that I felt was that the brick for the stove is so dark and wintery feeling for a sunroom. Might it be possible to dry-brush the brick with a couple of shades of paint pulled from the flooring colors? I think it would make a big difference, and also show off the stove.

Excellent suggestions above!

Yes -- Try switching to fresh white or cream shades for the lamps for the warmer months ..... and a sisal rug -- banded in green would be nice too!

Yes -- another excellent suggestion about the bricks.

And adding more seasonal plants (swtich out the winter poinsetta) or herbs would be nice.

Perhaps add some artworks on the wall by the sliding doors -- maybe a set of six botanicals prints? Or one large artwork?

Thanks, Les. Ummm - there is a rug under the coffee table, but it is a sisal and since it is almost the same color as the floor, blends right in. Right now the rug is I think a 3 x 5 and does not go under the legs of the furniture. Would you suggest larger??
Maybe I need a whole new lamp on that table, something more fun.
When you say valance or faux awnings - are you talking about just for the windows or the doors as well.
At one time, I had kind of a valence over the doors. I had used a twig as the rod and wound a gauzy type fabric around it. I don't want to cover the windows much, but maybe it does need some softness up there. I will do some searching to find out what a faux awning is - can't picture that.
Thanks a lot for your help.
As far as the stove, it is not quite as dark as it appears on the pictures. It is a "used" brick, so more of an antique appearance. I don't know if I can convince to use any paint.

Thanks, Teacats. Maybe I can band the rug I have --- or paint it.
The artwork - which walls are you talking about? Between the sliding doors? - or the wall that would be adjacent to the family room - that wall has french doors.
Thanks a bunch!!

Well -- both the wall above the table AND the wall above the air conditioner (?) would look nice with some artworks ..... maybe a single larger one above the table AND some smaller ones (like a set) on the other wall ....

Thanks. That is the heater. I had always hesitated to put artwork on the walls, thinking it would start to look more like an indoor room.
Yes, I know I need to get rid of the poinsettia! DH and I were just talking about how little we used the room this winter. When the kids were here, it was carpeted and they used to play out there and then when they got older, they would entertain their friends. It worked out so well because we could "see", but not "hear".
A few years ago we put in the ceramic floor and I recovered the cushions again.
We don't use it much in the winter unless we have a group over or at the holidays. Heating prices around here don't warrant firing up the heater unless we need to.
Now that we are planning to re-do the patio and back area, I am hoping we will use it more in the summer.
As I was out there today, it just seems like it needs some "cozy-ing up". It is a large room, so can feel kind of cavernous. Thanks for the suggestions!

I will preface my comments by saying this is your room and I feel that you should do what makes you happy and not care what other people think. LOL :0

But.....for me what really seems weird is that the bones of this room (pot belly stove, brick and wonderful wood walls) and the outdoor vibe (red barn in the background and woods) is very cabiny/farm and rustic. And then there is the tropical fabric and you have tropical plants. Those two elements fight each other IMO. If that were my space, I would run with a "country farm/cabin porch" kind of a feel. It would seem so natural in your space. You already have red plaid fabric in there and it seems right at home.

No Green, your stained and beveled glass panel is lovely - timeless beauty. :)

Your room is wonderful! How about some artwork such as discussed in this thread on the walls here and there?

How about some window toppers or side panels to soften the windows?

I agree with Roguevalley. Of course, this is very much a matter of personal taste. But my first thought was that the tropical pastels fought with the overall rustic look and the exterior view. So - I would reupholster with fabrics in blue and multis, including pink, or in dark green and a red on the burgandy side, to accommodate that beautiful stained glass piece. Otherwise, everything about the room looks wonderful to me.

And I'd hang some pictures on the walls - a large-ish painting on each of the wide walls; perhaps a strong rural landscape (not Tuscan, lol), or animals, if you like them. I love botanicals, but wouldn't hang them here, because they might wimp out against the strength of the view to the outside.

It's a delightful space!

I know what's missing in your sun room........ ME!! That's a great room. Must be nice to sit and relax there.

I didn't notice any rugs on the floor, that might be a nice touch to define the area and bring in some more accent color.

Love your stained glass, it's beautiful.

I looked on RMS to see if I could find any inspration pics of country sunrooms. I came across a few. Here is a link to one that has some fun stuff.

Here is a link that might be useful: Country Sunroom

I like the juxtaposition of the tropical elements with the exterior and the rustic elements. I see the red flowers in the print echoed in the color of the barn. I also like the wood of the furniture paired with the walls.

I used to sit in my very sunny living room near Chicago in my tropical print chairs and look at the snow. (Now the chairs and I are in Florida.

I think that the wall that faces left from the pot belly needs a collection of mirrors to bounce more light around the room. I don't think it'd be too 'interior' looking.

And some metal art work would help to lend to the outdoor feeling.

Thanks to all for your comments and suggestions. I have read them all - several times. Let me preface by saying that I am learning a lot on this forum, trying to figure out why things work together, why they don't, etc. - and I realize a lot is personal taste, so with that let me ask a few more questions.

As I said, the room was originally carpeted. The furniture came with tropical coverings. I then recovered it in a flowery print, reds, greens, etc, white background.
When we tore out the carpet and put in the ceramic, I thought that the white background was all wrong. So that is when I picked the fabric I did. Outside in the bed surrounding the sunroom are a lot of ferns. They are just now starting to come in. So I found the current fabric and recovered.

Rogue and Sable, I can see where you are coming from about the rustic. The potbelly stove used to heat my DH's granmother's house, so was important to incorporate in this room.

So a few questions if any of you are still reading this ---

1. Did I screw up by putting ceramic in with all the wood?
I hope not, because that isn't going anywhere anytime soon. In the sunroom you linked, Roguevalley, the floor was wood.

2. If I recover in more of the rustic, the furniture is still rattan, which imo is tropical. So is there not a contrast there?

3. Sable, you mentioned reds and pinks to complement the stained glass (thanks to all for your kind compliments). But the stained glass piece is hardly rustic.

4. Window treatments - are we talking about just the windows or the doors as well?? Would the stripe on the rocker work - or should I be looking for something completely different.

I don't know if I can replace the cushions even if I wanted to. The fabric is Liz Clairborne, so it was a bit pricey, plus with our plans to redo the backyard warzone, I don't know if I could fit another big project in this summer.
Thanks again to all who helped - I am really trying to learn - and have learned a lot!!

I'm not sure if this is what Les had in mind for the awning valances, but I'm posting a picture below of an awning-like valance that can be sewn from a Pate Meadows pattern. I am going to sew my own valance and matching roman shades for our kitchen. According to the site, you only need beginning sewing skills to use the patterns. They are gorgeous, and you can choose any fabric you like - check out housefabric.com. The pattern you choose will make a big difference in how the style is conveyed. Also, you can achieve a custom look at a much more affordable price.

Here are some photos of the patterns. Of course, you can sew them with any fabric that suits your space:

Thanks a lot, Jan. Sewing is no problem. I just need to find out what I want to do.
BTW, I have hired a designer for my "warzone" backyard. If you remember the thread, you posted pictures of the Brussels pavers you are going to use. He showed me some books and at first glance, those were the ones I picked. Now I am having an official design done. I am anxious to see what they come up with. He showed me a book and asked if I liked the pavers with the squared off edges or the round ones. I picked the rounded ones, Brussels. I think it looks more old world, antique-ish. Then I went back and reread the thread - and you had posted yours there.
I have loved the Pate-Meadows pattern site, just never had a need to use any patterns. Thanks.

no-green-thumb,

Your "wrazone" backyard is going to be beautiful - just wait and see. We spent a good deal of time agonizing over the right patio block for our style and needs. We looked at a lot of Belgard blocks, and they offer more colors, but ultimately felt the Brussels style was more antique and authentic looking. Plus, we're going to stay neutral with the limestone and sandstone so we can add color with our patio furniture and plantings as we like. I even posted here about our quandary as to whether to go with Brussels or Belgard, and the folks here voted for the Brussels. Hopefully, they'll get started with the patio next month. The weather has not been cooperative here so far. In our area, rural Wisconsin, there are not many landscape designers. There are a lot of landscapers, but not very many actual designers. I wish we had a designer for our entire back yard. I'm sure if you have a designer, you'll get the professional input you need.

Your sun room is great. I love the relaxed style.

Keep us all posted on your progress,

Jan

no-green: I like the combo of tropical fabrics w/ the wood walls and the tile floor. It's exactly like many of the beach houses we have rented over the years. Most of them had tile floors, cedar stip covered walls and tropical fabrics!

JMHO, but here is what I think would work....

Find a larger rug to anchor the seating area. Have at least the front legs of all pieces sitting on the rug. Or eliminate the rug altogether.

Change out the lampshades to either cream or white. My monitor shows your light fabric background as a light cream. Go for whatever the fabric really is.

Find some botanical prints of either birds, florals or ferns and hang one behind the dinning table and a pair on the heater wall. The birds or florals could bring in the pink shades in the fabric. The ferns would be simple and classic.

Could you make a cover for the heater when it is not in use? I'm thinking along the lines of old fashioned radiator covers that would have a solid top that could be used for additional display during the months the heater is not in use.

I agree that a color wash on the dark bricks would be wonderful and play up the lightness of the space. Love the natural wood tones of the walls and I would never change them (think of the beach houses!).

WT could be either light scarves draped over rods over the tops of the windows or very simple cotton or linnen type pannels hung on either side of the windows. I like the idea of the pannels to break up the horizontal lines of the wood walls. Have them hung wider than the windows to capture the view of your soon to be re-done yard!

I like the simplicity of what you have now and think that just a few touches will make this room one you will love to spend more time in. It doesn't need to be made to look more like a decorated inside room... just needs to be tweaked just like you said!

NGT - Of course, this is all personal taste. Re-reading through all the posts and looking at your pictures again, I agree that a rug would be good for grounding the furniture and for warming up the tile. IMO the tile is a good idea, considering the room's direct access to the outdoors. The rug could be very simple, even sisal if no one is planning to sit on it.

The stained glass is indeed not rustic, but stained glass is an element that fits in with almost any decor. I would simply keep its strong color in mind when changing or adding anything else. Whatever you put on the walls should not clash.

I like Syllabus's ideas for window treatments, but the right valance would also be good. The idea is to keep it simple, unobtrusive, and warm and "finished".

You could have your Liz Clairborne pillows slip-covered - less expensive than reupholstering them and saving the original fabric for a change-of-season look. I guess that when I read "rural Wisconsin" I automatically thought of a rustic look. I spent many happy times vacationing in Wisconsin when I lived in Chicago, mainly in the North Woods and Door County. BTW, I love that fabric on the rocker. Matching window treatments would be pretty (again, just IMO).

What a great room for reading, or an intimate conversation, or just day-dreaming. Do you have bird-feeders outside or a salt lick?

Thanks for the reassurance, Jan. I want to use some of the existing flagstones somewhere. He was talking about having a path leading into the garden behind the sunroom. I might then just have the bricks be about the same color. I haven't seen them in person yet, just the pictures.
Syllabus, I like the idea of a radiator cover. I will give that some thought. I don't know about painting the bricks. I love the idea. It might be a hard sell with DH. One thing at a time. He finally agreed to take out the flowering crab that is near the patio. The thing is about on its last lap, has some fungus where half the leaves fall off and he still wanted to keep it. The landscape designer said the roots might interfere with the patio - that's all it took!!
Sable -- JAN is in Wisconsin - I am in Ohio -- about the same thing just maybe 20 degrees warmer in the winter! I was thinking about that fabric on the rocker. I don't know if they still make it. I covered the cushions myself and instead of making a slip cover with a zipper, I covered the tops, and then hand-sewed a backing onto each one. It still took forever but I think less time than putting in zippers and I didn't put zippers on the back cushions either, just sewed them shut. Next time I will go with a different look I am sure. With the sun coming in, they will not last but a few more years.
Yes, we have bird feeders - salt lick, no. The deer ruin everything. We have so many, they are starving and the animal lovers put up a huge fuss everytime they want to thin the herd. I do not like killing animals either, but they are starving. I am constantly spraying Liquid Fence and they make a huge mess with their hooves. I am sure that is part of the reason so much grass died this winter. The side of our yard was a pathway for them.

Not to hijack this OT, but has anyone made an awning valance? Do you make it from a special pattern. Is it difficult.

NGT - I understand about the deer. I do love deer, but around here they're referred to as rats with hooves. We are in town, but our long driveway is sometimes a deer trail, and I can depend on losing almost any flowers. That's why we built an entry-proof deck attached to the dining room - so that I could container garden with roses and other plants. The only thing on our property that they've left alone are the big stands of calla lilies and wild geraniums that grow and spread without any help from us.

With all the work you put into your cushions, I can see why you don't want to cover them!

Brutuses, I looked briefly online and at the PateMeadows site. PateMeadows says their pattern comes with instructions for making the hardware out of PVC. My guess is it is just a long piece of PVC with an elbow on each end, then a smaller piece on the sides. I would think you would make a casing, then thread it through. Just a guess.
Shari Hiller had done one where she used awning hardware and the poles were seen on the sides.
I thought I had seen another on HGTV at one time, but couldn't find anything.
I am thinking that maybe the stripe on the rocker would make a nice awning - don't know if that fabric is still available.
Sable - yes, the deer are a huge problem. I spray Liquid Fence everywhere. My sister says that doesn't work for her. She uses mothballs. That takes take of ornamentals for me, but the woods which used to be totally filled in is now more sparse. The house in back used to be completely hidden. Now there are so many deer that they just eat anything coming up in the woods. And I haven't said anything about the other damage. They tear up the grass and leave droppings everywhere. All winter the side of our house was a walkway. They are creatures of habit. I think the most we have seen at one time walking through was 11.
PS - I will cover the cushions again, just not this summer. Too much going on with the patio install and many other things that are already cropping up.

Whoa - I love those awnings you posted, Jan! We have a similar sunroom, sliding glass doorways on each outward facing wall. I wanted some type of valence, but not the typical gathered type. Thank you for posting these!

I'm going to look where no-green-thumb directed so I can read about the PVC hardware. It seems to me that using PVC would be a lot cheaper and sturdier than the typical curtain rods.

I love this site!