Texas Sunroom Gets a Modern Cottage Makeover
An inviting new layout features a sitting area, reading spot, breakfast nook and custom wine bar
Becky Harris
March 8, 2018
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
Photos by Sarah Kirsch
Sunroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A mother and her teenage son
Location: La Grange, Texas
Size: 250 square feet (23 square meters); 25 by 10 feet
Designer: Heather Scott Home & Design
The goal for this large, light and bright sunroom in Texas was to make it a space where a single mom, her son and her friends would enjoy spending time. In addition to a comfortable sitting area, the must-haves included a place for drinking morning coffee and enjoying breakfast and a spot to open up the vino and enjoy a glass with friends.
Sunroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A mother and her teenage son
Location: La Grange, Texas
Size: 250 square feet (23 square meters); 25 by 10 feet
Designer: Heather Scott Home & Design
The goal for this large, light and bright sunroom in Texas was to make it a space where a single mom, her son and her friends would enjoy spending time. In addition to a comfortable sitting area, the must-haves included a place for drinking morning coffee and enjoying breakfast and a spot to open up the vino and enjoy a glass with friends.
Before Photo
Before. Yes, it’s very dark because of that bright sunlight coming in the windows, but you can make out everything you need to in this photo: In the sunporch area, the homeowner had placed two nice armchairs to the left and a round dining table to the right, but she needed help figuring out a better furniture layout for all that dead space in the middle. The space in the foreground was a living area off the kitchen. The large sectional was just floating in that area, with a bunch of empty space behind it.
“The sunporch was used as a dining and sitting room,” interior designer Vanessa Nobley of Heather Scott Home & Design says. “The room is very long, and the previous furniture layout didn’t utilize the space as well as it could have. This left the room with awkward empty space. The homeowner was disappointed because she felt like no one wanted to use the room, and she thought it had more potential.”
She was right about potential: The sunroom’s expansive windows look out onto a lush backyard and pool, with a door that leads out to them. It had beautiful existing floors, millwork, solar shades and a nice ceiling fan. You can see all the way through to the sunroom from the front entry, so the homeowner looked forward to having a space that would lure visitors back there.
“The sunporch was used as a dining and sitting room,” interior designer Vanessa Nobley of Heather Scott Home & Design says. “The room is very long, and the previous furniture layout didn’t utilize the space as well as it could have. This left the room with awkward empty space. The homeowner was disappointed because she felt like no one wanted to use the room, and she thought it had more potential.”
She was right about potential: The sunroom’s expansive windows look out onto a lush backyard and pool, with a door that leads out to them. It had beautiful existing floors, millwork, solar shades and a nice ceiling fan. You can see all the way through to the sunroom from the front entry, so the homeowner looked forward to having a space that would lure visitors back there.
After. Nobley’s job was to create a new furniture layout and to fully furnish and decorate the room. She moved the awkwardly placed sectional elsewhere and replaced it with the dining table and chairs that had been on the sunporch, creating a better flow from the front door to the sunporch and kitchen.
Function. “The homeowner felt like the space could flow better,” Nobley says. She envisioned it as a spot for breakfast, coffee, reading and hanging out. Since it’s air-conditioned and heated, it’s a year-round sunporch.
Style. “ ‘Modern cottage’ is the best way to describe the project,” Nobley says. “The homeowner wanted the sunroom to have a sophisticated cottage feel.” Her existing furniture already had this style, a mix of casual and elegant. “She liked the idea of mixing in elements with more age but did not want the space to feel too rustic,” Nobley says.
Style. “ ‘Modern cottage’ is the best way to describe the project,” Nobley says. “The homeowner wanted the sunroom to have a sophisticated cottage feel.” Her existing furniture already had this style, a mix of casual and elegant. “She liked the idea of mixing in elements with more age but did not want the space to feel too rustic,” Nobley says.
The homeowner’s great idea. “The idea of making it a wine room and cool place for her girlfriends to hang out was such a fun concept — we loved the idea too,” Nobley says.
Wine bar. The bar features shelving where wine can be stowed, opened, left to breathe and served. The console table has a wood top and a base that holds 42 bottles. Darker-stained wood shelves play off the millwork overhead. Forged steel supports add a modern texture that echoes the table base. The bar is between the new dining area and the sunporch, which allows it to be shared by the two spaces — and keeps direct sunlight off the wine bottles.
Paint color: Chantilly Lace, Benjamin Moore; all furniture and accessories available via Heather Scott Home & Design
Wine bar. The bar features shelving where wine can be stowed, opened, left to breathe and served. The console table has a wood top and a base that holds 42 bottles. Darker-stained wood shelves play off the millwork overhead. Forged steel supports add a modern texture that echoes the table base. The bar is between the new dining area and the sunporch, which allows it to be shared by the two spaces — and keeps direct sunlight off the wine bottles.
Paint color: Chantilly Lace, Benjamin Moore; all furniture and accessories available via Heather Scott Home & Design
Sitting area. “A cozy space with plenty of seating was a priority,” Nobley says. She mixed lots of neutrals and textures to achieve the modern cottage look. “The skirted sofa is a more traditional cottage element, but when paired with sturdy metal and leather sling chairs it makes the space feel more modern and cool,” she says. Layers of natural materials, such as the solid wood coffee table, jute rug and greenery, enrich the space.
Another priority was not to block the views out to the yard. Nobley kept the existing window treatments in place and didn’t add any soft window treatments. “We did want to make that space feel more intimate, and hanging the art above the sofa was one way to evoke that feeling in the space when window treatments were not an option,” she says. “The art piece adds color and draws your eye to that sitting grouping when you walk in from the entry.”
Another priority was not to block the views out to the yard. Nobley kept the existing window treatments in place and didn’t add any soft window treatments. “We did want to make that space feel more intimate, and hanging the art above the sofa was one way to evoke that feeling in the space when window treatments were not an option,” she says. “The art piece adds color and draws your eye to that sitting grouping when you walk in from the entry.”
Splurges. “The skirted sofa and leather sling chairs are as splurge-worthy as they are comfortable. They are American-made and built to last,” the designer says. “Our design philosophy is to spend on the areas that support you physically, such as sofas and chairs. It is important to have well-made seating to prevent back issues and other discomforts.”
Steals. “Live indoor plants added a dash of color and intrigue to the neutral sunroom,” Nobley says. “They also add a dramatic sculptural element.” For plants, she recommends inexpensive sources such as local nurseries and big-box stores. The tall, tapered concrete planters add a clean-lined modern element.
The rug also helped balance the budget. “The jute rug was inexpensive and added a lot of texture and warmth to the sunroom,” Nobley says.
Check out modern planters
The rug also helped balance the budget. “The jute rug was inexpensive and added a lot of texture and warmth to the sunroom,” Nobley says.
Check out modern planters
Reading spot. To the right of the bar, a wicker settee cozies into the window-filled corner. A stained-wood tripod lamp adds another modern piece that provides good reading light.
Accessories. Vases with varying silhouettes and a woven bowl full of mossy balls bring in more organic touches. Meanwhile, sparkly throw pillows add elegant texture.
Breakfast nook. A farm table with blue legs and rattan chairs continues the cottage look. The table and a large mirror with a distressed metal frame add the age and patina the homeowner desired.
The nook is now a bright spot with a great view — perfect for the homeowner as she starts out the day with her son over breakfast.
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Hi cmdmail26, I believe Heather Scott Home & Design can procure the coffee table for you.
Very nicely done. I know the homeowner is greatly appreciating it all.
One suggestion, the large beautiful ferns will drop loads of tiny leaves in the house & will be difficult to maintain in a dry home. Plants that lend themselves to easy interior care are succulents such as the ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) https://www.ambius.com/blog/getting-to-know-the-zz-plant/ They are rather slow growing so purchase a large one to begin with. The ZZs large glossy leaves are thick and thus retain water making them nearly maintenance free. Much easier to grow and no mess to continually clean up like the fern. Hang the fern outside, out of direct sunlight, to thrive better.
Nice makeover ! The settee, the jute rug and the blue breakfast table give it a nice feel. What I totally dislike are the planters : huge bulky square blocks, it just ruins the setting in my opinion. And ferns are shade plants so they may not like it here (too much light). I would have chosen other plants, e.g. higher ones to block the view and give it a lush jungle look (for example a ficus or a banana tree), combined with a few hanging plants (especially behind the sofa), and taking care of choosing plants that are adapted to the amount of light/heat in the porch. Except for that, the goal of this makeover is met, it is an inviting porch, great place to have breakfast, read a book or enjoy a glass of wine.