Sunroom with stone fireplace.

Lisa Carroll

This house features an open concept floor plan, with expansive windows that truly capture the 180-degree lake views. The classic design elements, such as white cabinets, neutral paint colors, and natural wood tones, help make this house feel bright and welcoming year round.

Spacecrafting

Phillip Mueller Photography, Architect: Sharratt Design Company, Interior Design: Martha O'Hara Interiors

Ryan Theede

Beautiful sunroom addition in Burr Ridge, IL. Skylights with solar powered blinds allow for natural sunlight and sun protection at the same time. Large casement windows allow for great air flow when the outside temperature is right and when outside temperature gets cooler, electric floor heat and gas fireplace provide the necessary warmth.

Attractive sunroom just off of kitchen. Open to stunning outside views. Screened-in to protect from natural elements.

A lovely, clean finish, complemented by some great features. Kauri wall using sarking from an old villa in Parnell.

Paul SIbley, Sparrow Photography

With limited travel options available during the pandemic, everyone is spending lots more time at home. Many are even looking for ways to incorporate interior design elements from their favorite destinations into their spaces: this lets you feel like you’re traveling, even when you’re not. This project was my own personal quarantine design dream: to create an interior scheme for my sunroom that captures the color, joy and exuberance of those brilliant indoor/outdoor spaces you find in Mexico. My sunroom is filled with sunshine, and sunshine makes my kids think of two beach vacations we took to Cancun. Since we couldn't take them there, or anywhere, I decided to bring a little bit of Mexico home. As a backdrop, I embraced our floor to ceiling windows, great white wood paneled walls, and terra cotta floor tile, and added a soothing blue green paint to the beadboard ceiling, which to me is the color of a pool (Sherwin Williams Waterfall). Over the terra cotta tile, I layered a bright pink rug and pulled out the turquoise and yellow accents for the furniture. The furniture is at least 60 years old and will not fit out of the doors, so I had it resprayed in place and had new cushions made in indoor outdoor fabric (and trimmed it in hot pink tape). On the sofa and chair, I collected brightly colored pillows, including one that is authentic Peruvian craftwork. A teal telescope tempts young stargazers. The piece de resistance of this whole seating grouping is the coffee table. It was originally a stained wood coffee table that inhabited my in-laws’ living room in pristine condition for many years. Then it came to my house, where my son proceeded to bang his trains against it and generally abused and dented it. I had it sanded down and painted Sherwin Williams Green Bay. Over this teal colored base, my mother, who’s an artist, painted the most beautiful design of birds and flowers for me based on the Otomi tradition of Mexican embroidery. Otomi embroidery motifs typically incorporate animals and plants native to the Tenango area in central Mexico.

The dining table, fireplace and lounging furniture are perfect for relaxing, reading, and watching the kids play in the yard.