Enjoy Nature From Your Sunroom
Written by: Admin | Date: Wednesday, 1st June 2011

Beautiful views of the natural world that capture the ambience of the outdoors can be enjoyed from the comfort of your own home. A sunroom connects the indoors to the outdoors by extending the house into the garden space, or incorporating a garden within the living area.

Also called garden rooms, sunroom patios and conservatories, sunrooms are informal, light-filled spaces. Expanses of glass in a wooden or metal framework provide a tableau for expressing your individual decorative style. These simple materials are compatible with both modern and traditional architectural styles. A sunroom addition can be built onto an existing structure, even a roof terrace. A sunroom can be easily incorporated into new construction.

Sunrooms have been aesthetically pleasing and environmentally functional additions to residences, industrial complexes and commercial properties for hundreds of years. The solarium (Latin for sunroom) was traditionally an important space for healing in hospitals and spas. Perhaps the most famous glass structure is the Crystal Palace, built for the Great Exhibition in 1851 in London. This structure is the inspiration for metal and glass construction in modern architecture.

The sunroom was redefined and gained popularity in the United States during the 1960s. As urban areas expanded, suburban single-family homes featured enclosed porches rather than open verandahs. Today, solaria in modern houses range from simple, screened-in porches to high-ceiling, glass expanses that span the breadth of a building.

When considering a sunroom addition, orientation is important. Solaria can be designed to maximize solar gain and provide heat and light to interior areas. Southern exposures are ideal; however, the characteristics and geographical location of your property must be considered. If your building is in a southern region or gets a lot of afternoon sun, the room should be placed to maximize morning sun and minimize afternoon sun. In cold climates or regions with low-angle sunlight, a sunroom can be oriented to capture both heat and light. Heat can be vented into the interior of the house.

These rooms can be decorated according to your taste, from eclectic to traditional, rustic to formal. Minimal ornamental detail goes well with a modern structure. Natural materials such as clay tiles or rough-hewn stone slabs for flooring can be used to create decorative variations of country sunrooms. For example, the stucco and adobe construction typical in the southwestern U.S. is complemented by natural wood and glass in enclosed sunroom patios. A rustic pine framework can be used as paneling around glass to accentuate an Americana style. Adding plants and carefully selected bric-a-brac gives charm to cottage-style country sunrooms.

Sunroom windows can be left bare to enjoy the incoming light throughout the day, or covered to modulate the intensity of light and provide privacy at night. Window coverings should ideally be of simple materials and easy to operate. Bamboo blinds, wooden slat or louvered blinds, cellular or solar shades and lightweight curtains can contribute to the decorative effect and provide shade when desired.

Low-emissivity glass in sunroom windows helps to provide insulation and conserve energy. Several sunroom designs feature glass ceilings; however, in areas with intense sunlight, skylights in a solid roof provide light without too much heat transference.

Ventilation in a sunroom is important. Ceiling fans are not only attractive, but can be used to modulate the temperature of the room. Vents and ducts can help to distribute warm air to other areas of the house when desired. Solar-powered air vents that operate when exposed to sunlight can be used to circulate and vent air. Doors can be used to isolate the space from the rest of the house or as a means of enhancing ventilation.

The sunroom can be enjoyed as a family room, sitting room, dining room or cheerful place to sip an afternoon coffee with a dear friend.

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