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Let the Sun Shine In!

When Debbie moved into a new home several years ago, her first order of business was a complete renovation of the screened porch. Perched about three feet above the ground, the porch offered a splendid view of the deep, green backyard, but the previous owners had let it slip into disrepair.

The floor consisted of little more than scruffed-up, scarred planks, while the screens were full of holes and falling out. The ceiling was constructed of asbestos panels and fluorescent lights, with an unattractive brown grid holding up each panel. "It was in bad shape," said Debbie. "The rest of the house was great, but the screened porch was in desperate need of a facelift."

So what to do? Debbie's first thought was to build a low kick wall with screens above it. She then decided that adding windows above a low wall would make it more of a year-round room: with the convenience of windows she could open and close, her time in the sunroom wouldn't be dependent on the weather and she could still enjoy a cool breeze whenever the mood struck.

When it came time to choose building materials, the process was a no-brainer, according to Debbie. "I chose Southern Pine for the floors and ceilings to create a clean, elegant feel to the sunroom. The grain of the wood is a perfect match for indoor/outdoor living space, and you can customize the wood with paint or stain."

The ceiling presented a bit of a challenge: its low height meant a ceiling fan would hit taller visitors, so Debbie invented a unique solution. An octagon cutout was created to recess the fan motor and add a little more height to the room. This way, the fan blades would rotate mere inches below the ceiling, but there was no danger of injuring guests. What started out as a necessary tweak turned into a true touch of whimsy: "All of our visitors comment on the cutout, which is perfectly framed with Southern Pine, and think it's one of the most original features of the room!" said Debbie.

Debbie chose a clear coat for her Southern Pine floors, deciding to let the natural beauty of the wood shine through. "When the sun comes in through the windows and bounces off the floor, it's just gorgeous," according to Debbie. "The entire room is covered with a warm, golden glow � it's hard to get up and leave the room sometimes!"