Appreciated throughout the year as a transitional space between a home’s interior and an exterior program, three-season rooms often become favorite places to gather as the seasons change. Protected from the elements by screened panes or storm windows, these rooms effortlessly extend the outdoor living season.
When enclosed in glass, these rooms might be termed sunrooms or solariums, Latin for “place of sunlight.” The use of large window areas helps to achieve the feeling of being outdoors and to optimize natural light filling the space, providing a marvelous natural aesthetic.
Our three-season rooms are most often designed with screened windows that can be replaced with storm panels offering homeowners ultimate versatility. In spring and summer months, air is able to circulate, and guests can enjoy being outside without the nuisance of buzzing insects. When temperatures dip, storm windows protect inhabitants from elements like wind and rain.
While not fully heated like a year-round room, our sunrooms often include radiant heat underfoot and a fireplace to add ambiance while entertaining. The surprising warmth found outdoors on cool evenings combined with the romanticism of a crackling fire makes the spaces incredibly appealing.
Sometimes, a client will request that we transition a three-season room into a year-round destination. In these cases, we often use permanent casement windows which open outward 90% in summer months surrounded by beadboard or wainscoting to give the impression of a porch was could have been enclosed over time.
If this exploration of three-season rooms has you longing for one of your own, contact us to learn how we might approach the project. In the interim, we invite you to find meaningful inspiration in our portfolio.
Originally posted October 3, 2019.
Revised August 31, 2023.