Author: nawp705wdc
Subject: and textures."But
Posted: 15 Apr 2013 at 7:01pm
It's been a long, hard winter in much of the country. Towering
snowdrifts,and a pickup in car sales and consumer spending., icy roads, freak hailstorms. For many of us, spring
can't come fast enough, and with it the chance to enjoy our
porches, patios and sunrooms.
Options abound for making these indoor/outdoor spaces look
stylish. But can we have all that gorgeous style while using
durable, easy-to-care-for items that will stay looking good all
season?
The experts say yes - if you choose carefully.
"When it comes to materials, now more than ever the gap has been
bridged between indoor and outdoor. There are a ton of pieces that
look fit for your actual living room, but they're meant to be
outdoors," says designer and founder Brian Patrick
Flynn. "A lot of people are beginning to find that perfect outdoor
sofa and bring it into their sunroom."
Here, Flynn and two other experts - Los Angeles-based interior
designer Betsy Burnham and decorator and design blogger Nick Olsen
- offer advice on creating beautiful sunrooms and porches that you
can enjoy effortlessly.
The right fabrics
Outdoor fabrics have come a long way since the plastic-coated
1970s,Celine bags. These designers all praise Sunbrella and other high-end
outdoor fabric companies for their wide selection of colors, styles
and textures.
"But," warns Olsen, "really good outdoor fabrics don't come
cheap,Celine bags." He recommends buying a basic indoor sofa at a reasonable
price from a retailer like West Elm, then recovering just the seat
cushions and a few throw pillows in a pricey outdoor fabric. This
will cost notably less than upholstering all of your sunroom
furniture in high-end outdoor textiles.
Another use of fabric: Flynn suggests hanging drapes "to soften
the feel of a room that's on the exterior of your house," and to
add a dash of color and pattern.
"Sunrooms usually have so many windows, so much glass,2003881," he says.
"You want to soften the hard edges and take away the feeling of
being up against the outside of the house."
Drapes can be hung at windows or used to cover a
less-than-attractive wall.
The oldest objects
"Something that's been through a lot already is going to be able
to put up with even more," Burnham says. She suggests using vintage
furniture and accessories that have already withstood the elements
to give porches and sunrooms a dose of personality.
Search flea markets for items made of worn wood and metal. If
they become further scuffed, it only adds to the beauty.
If you prefer a fresh sheen on vintage items, metal pieces such
as old wrought-iron furniture can be sprayed with automotive paint
at an auto-body shop. This creates a glossy, colorful surface
impervious to the elements.
"It's an excellent way to take something that might be 50 or 60
years old," says Flynn, "and make it look showroom new."
Another option: Burnham sometimes repurposes cowhides to
upholster seats. They're high-style, she says,air Jordan, but "can take some
abuse,burberry handbags. The cows certainly have been out in the rain."
The easiest floors
Flynn suggests using porch paint on wood or cement floors to
bring color and pattern without a rug. Spill some food or drink,louboutin shoes? It
wipes up easily. And if the painted floor gets worn as the summer
wears on, no problem. A faded patina adds to the charm.
Rugs in outdoor fabrics are also an option.
"Thom Felicia has a line you can get on right now
that's super-affordable," Flynn says.
Olsen also visits for outdoor rugs,louboutin shoes, which he says
are very durable,air Jordan. "The dog can chew it up and nothing happens. ...
But if worst comes to worst and it's damaged, you don't feel
guilty, because it was no major investment."
The sturdiest accessories
Like outdoor fabrics, plastic dinnerware has come a long way in
recent years. Burnham has found chic Suzani-print plates that are
"fabulous. You'd never imagine they were plastic."
For durable seating, Burnham says L.L. Bean's basic rocking
chairs have a classic style and are built to last.
For planters, "instead of going crazy with really nice pottery"
that can be expensive and fragile, Flynn suggests buying an
inexpensive aluminum trash bin (think Oscar the Grouch), remove the
label and add casters to the bottom. Fill the entire thing with
used two-liter plastic soda bottles, which weigh very little. Then
pour in potting soil, packing it tightly at the top.
"Put in a combination of plants that drape over the side, plants
that grow really tall like grasses, mossy things that are short and
then flowering things," Flynn says. "You're using nature as art,
and you're containing the plants with something used out of
context" that is durable,Bahadir Yahsi.
For more fragile accessories, it's all about location: Olsen
says a large framed mirror brings indoor glamour to any porch, and
should be safe if it's hung properly in an area away from the flow
of foot traffic. Ditto for table lamps.
The softest lighting
In the evening, you can raise the style quotient of your porch
or sunroom by using warm, flattering light,longchamp.
"Hanging lighting is a very interesting way to dress up your
porch," Burnham says, "and there are certain kinds of fixtures that
you can use safely outside." Look for ones that are "wet-rated,"
meaning they're safe even in rain.
And for the simplest, easiest dash of beauty, Flynn says, "you'd
be surprised how far those inexpensive paper lanterns will go."
Hang one over a bare light bulb and it instantly "adds a beautiful
soft glow."