DESIGN: A Dilworth Sunroom For (Almost) All Seasons
Crystal Nagel designs a three-season room for a family of four
Crystal Nagel’s clients were early in the construction of their new, three-story Dilworth home when they hired her to design the interior. The homeowners had two young children and loved to entertain, so they wanted a three-season room on the back of the house where they could relax and host friends and neighbors year-round. “They hadn’t even done the footing when I started, which was great, so we got to weigh in on different layouts and fireplace placement,” Nagel says. “The exterior of the home is whitewashed brick, so that’s why we pulled it in with the fireplace.” She also opted for floor-to-ceiling windows to let in plenty of light. “When you’re in there,” she says, “the focus is on the outdoors.”
CHANGE IT UP
Nagel worked alongside the team at RAM Construction during the yearlong build. She chose an outdoor-rated porcelain floor tile for durability and sleek wood paneling for the 12-foot ceiling, which she painted black to match the vinyl windows. “We painted the whole room dark so the black windows blended in and the fireplace was a focal point,” she says. “We wanted this room to be darker because you typically see light, bright colors in sunrooms. The rest of the first floor is light, so it’s a good contrast.”
IN FULL VIEW
The homeowners chose Eze-Breeze Windows, which have adjustable vinyl panels that look like glass. “They wanted it to be easy to maintain, and they can open them up in the spring … or close them to shut out pollen and dust,” Nagel says. The brick fireplace got a whitewash finish, and Nagel arranged the bricks inside the firebox in a herringbone pattern for some visual interest. She put log storage on either side of the fireplace and topped the cubbies with solid granite slabs. “That allowed us to place plants on top and add a pop of green,” she says. “When they have friends over, it can be a drink station.”
COZY AND COORDINATED
Nagel warmed up the space with a gray indoor-outdoor rug and furnished it with black chairs and a coffee table that the homeowners purchased for their previous home. She found the matching sofa at Restoration Hardware and styled it with pillows and a blanket to make it more inviting. “They considered putting flush-mounted ceiling heaters in, but we thought that was overkill with the fireplace,” Nagel says. “It was better to let the paneling be the accent there. With the windows closed and the fireplace burning, it’s plenty warm. They use it all the time.”
