I may have oversold fall just a bit last week. However, in my defense, I did not check the weather forecast before submitting my column. As I lay by the pool Sunday afternoon sweating in the sun, I realized that Mother Nature has been a bit fickle and unwilling to commit to one season. So, though it is hot, it is fall! Maybe as October wanes in age we will experience wonderful porch sitting weather. If your Florida Room or lanai is not in shape you have a reprieve to get the work done just in time for cooler weather and the holidays to start. Let’s take a peek at two Florida Room/lanais that are ready for whatever or whoever the holiday’s bring somewhere in the heart of The Villages.
• Florida Room/Lanai #1
The first room is directly off the living room and it is long and narrow. Long and narrow rooms can be a real challenge because it is hard to fit furniture in a grouping so that conversation is easy to achieve. In this case the goal was to have a space that the owners could use each morning and some overflow seating when needed.
• Reading nook with a view
We placed the homeowner’s two favorite chairs at the end of the room. From this vantage point they could read the paper and have coffee in the morning and look out to back yard of their home; at least the one on the right could and she helped me set up the room! Together the homeowners could easily share conversation and relax in this space.
• The couch
The couch in the space was only able to be positioned looking inward toward the living room but this Florida Room/Lanai is not for entertaining as much as it is for the homeowners to enjoy the majority of the time. The sofa provides another place to relax, nap or share coffee with a friend.
• Side tables
We placed side tables on each side of the couch. We placed one lamp in between the two chairs at the end of the room and one lamp on one side of the couch. These lamps matched and added light where needed in the space. The homeowners wanted the Florida room/ lanai to look as comfortable and inviting as the rest of the home.
• Rug
We placed an 8×10 rug in the space in front of the couch. The rug warmed up the room, while cutting down on noise and adding softness to the space.
• Art
We added two large pictures to the wall on the lanai above the chairs because it is a part of the home and we wanted to treat it as such. The homeowners chose “Conch Cottage” and “Cracker Cottage” by Gene Rizzo. The pictures look great in the space and coordinate well with the rugs and lamps.
• Bamboo Blinds
The bamboo blinds were already in the space and they look great. I like the warmth of the bamboo color and the texture they add to the space.
• Bead board ceiling
The bead board ceiling was already in place when this lanai was an outdoor space but it transitions well to the indoors!
• Florida Room/Lanai #2
This Florida Room/Lanai was enclosed and air-conditioned but the homeowners wanted to keep the feeling of an outdoor room. They wanted to keep the outdoor furniture but re-vamp the look of the furniture to coordinate with the interior of the home, so we did! The interior of the home shifted form reds and oranges to blue, greens and teal.
• New cushions
If you have outdoor furniture it is very easy to replace the cushions for a whole new look. If you are unable to purchase new cushions then have them recovered in a fabric you like. It is much easier than living with it or trying to make the old cushions work.
• New Rug
A new rug with a strong print looked great upon entering the space. This rug was inspired by the interior colors of the home but looked a bit more casual than the rest of the home. The colors in the rug were reinforced over and over in the space to provide visual rhythm.
• New pillows
The new pillows on the sofas add a touch of whimsy while reinforcing the color choices in the space.
• Bead board ceiling and crown molding
The old ceiling needed a face lift, so we added bead board as a ceiling treatment and crown molding to show it off. The look is fresh, crisp and casual.
• New Ceiling Fans
The view from this Florida Room/Lanai is vast and expansive. With so much to see, the homeowners did not want anything to get in the way of the view, including the fans. They found fans that fit closely to the ceiling and the silver finish made them fade away so all we see is the view.
P.S. –Attention all club presidents! We give free decorating seminars. It is lots of fun and very informative. Call and schedule your club today. Also, we are on-line check out our web-site at www.ruthdyer.com and you can always e-mail us at ruth@finishingtouchfl.com or Call Ruth your full service decorator at 352-804-2056.