Room of the Day: A Sunroom Shines Bright in a Renovated 1970s Home
A Dallas family takes the plunge with a large renovation, gaining a dazzling sunroom with views to the newly built front-yard pool
Karen Egly-Thompson
September 6, 2016
Houzz Contributor
Most homeowners looking to add more living space turn their attention to their backyard. But with a pie slice-shaped lot in which the home backed up to the narrow point, these Dallas homeowners didn’t have that option. Instead, they plowed forward, turning their mostly unused front yard into a more activity-rich spot that includes a gorgeous new sunroom with arty style that rivals the views to a new above-ground swimming pool.
Photos by Shoot2Sell
Sunroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their two little girls
Location: Highland Park, near Dallas
Size: 372 square feet (34.6 square meters); 15½ by 24 feet
Designers: Architectural and lighting design: Adriana Meyer of APM architecture; interior design by Erika Yeaman and Brooke Moser of YES Associates
The homeowners hired architect Adriana Meyer of APM architecture to tackle the addition. Meyer says the biggest challenge for the sunroom was trying to unify the new elements with the existing 1970s house and making it look like it was always supposed to be there.
A raised and sloped ceiling with high windows allows the sunroom to live up to its name. The raised portion also offers privacy for a rooftop deck and extends views to the raised swimming pool.
Structural beams from the original portion of the house continue into the space. A steel plate reinforces each beam, which is made up of two 2-by-12-inch boards sandwiching two 2-by-6-inch boards. LED lights nestle inside, while decorative wood planking spans the space between the beams, echoing a design found in the nearby extended kitchen.
The sloped drywall ceiling, shown here on the left, houses recessed light fixtures. “Since that was on a separate plane, we wanted a clean look that wouldn’t distract from the beams and wood ceiling details,” Meyer says.
Artwork behind sofa: Grey Malin
Sunroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their two little girls
Location: Highland Park, near Dallas
Size: 372 square feet (34.6 square meters); 15½ by 24 feet
Designers: Architectural and lighting design: Adriana Meyer of APM architecture; interior design by Erika Yeaman and Brooke Moser of YES Associates
The homeowners hired architect Adriana Meyer of APM architecture to tackle the addition. Meyer says the biggest challenge for the sunroom was trying to unify the new elements with the existing 1970s house and making it look like it was always supposed to be there.
A raised and sloped ceiling with high windows allows the sunroom to live up to its name. The raised portion also offers privacy for a rooftop deck and extends views to the raised swimming pool.
Structural beams from the original portion of the house continue into the space. A steel plate reinforces each beam, which is made up of two 2-by-12-inch boards sandwiching two 2-by-6-inch boards. LED lights nestle inside, while decorative wood planking spans the space between the beams, echoing a design found in the nearby extended kitchen.
The sloped drywall ceiling, shown here on the left, houses recessed light fixtures. “Since that was on a separate plane, we wanted a clean look that wouldn’t distract from the beams and wood ceiling details,” Meyer says.
Artwork behind sofa: Grey Malin
The new pool and landscaping blocks views to the street and allowed the designers to leave the windows without curtains.
The gas fireplace is actually double-sided (and see-through) and creates a focal point for intimate seating areas for the sunroom and exterior. “The sunroom was about bringing the outside in, so the fireplace is a continuation of that concept,” Meyer says.
Some of the furnishings follow this idea too. Interior designer Erika Yeaman of YES Associates says she particularly likes the flexibility of the swinging chairs because in addition to being fun, they can be turned toward the pool area or the TV area in the sunroom, or they can be used independently.
Hanging chair: Egg Swing, Maia Collection by Kettal
The gas fireplace is actually double-sided (and see-through) and creates a focal point for intimate seating areas for the sunroom and exterior. “The sunroom was about bringing the outside in, so the fireplace is a continuation of that concept,” Meyer says.
Some of the furnishings follow this idea too. Interior designer Erika Yeaman of YES Associates says she particularly likes the flexibility of the swinging chairs because in addition to being fun, they can be turned toward the pool area or the TV area in the sunroom, or they can be used independently.
Hanging chair: Egg Swing, Maia Collection by Kettal
A graphic feature wall and rug allow scoops of bright colors to burst into view, such as a pair of antique armchairs reupholstered in a lively green Knoll fabric.
White wall paint: Shoji White SW 7042 by Sherwin Williams; wallpaper: Eskayel through Studio Four, NYC; sofa pillows, gray chaise longue: available through YES Associates; pendant light fixture: Jonathan Adler; round wall mirror: Wisteria
White wall paint: Shoji White SW 7042 by Sherwin Williams; wallpaper: Eskayel through Studio Four, NYC; sofa pillows, gray chaise longue: available through YES Associates; pendant light fixture: Jonathan Adler; round wall mirror: Wisteria
This view highlights the configuration of the new spaces — the raised swimming pool and the narrow front deck featuring the double-sided fireplace and new sunroom just behind it.
Drawings from APM Architecture
This floor plan shows the location of the new sunroom, highlighted in yellow, in relation to the newly expanded kitchen, on the left, and the new swimming pool, shown at the bottom. A small exterior deck, shown on the right side, shares a double-sided gas fireplace.
This floor plan shows the location of the new sunroom, highlighted in yellow, in relation to the newly expanded kitchen, on the left, and the new swimming pool, shown at the bottom. A small exterior deck, shown on the right side, shares a double-sided gas fireplace.
The section (or cut-through) drawing shows the sunroom on the right-hand side and illustrates the sunroom’s ceiling level changes and rhythmic beam layout in sync with the kitchen, as well as the substantial eaves overhang oriented toward the front of the house.
Construction: Bill Calloway
More: 11 Elements of the Perfect Sunroom
Construction: Bill Calloway
More: 11 Elements of the Perfect Sunroom
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I wonder whether they installed a security fence around their yard. I would be afraid to have a pool without one.
I would like to see more of this house, particularly the roof deck.