The sunroom reveal is coming at you on Monday (new Youtube episode Sunday – subscribe here so you don’t miss it!!!), but it’s been a long project and I wanted to remind us all where we started (and why). Listen, I’ll likely be working from home for the foreseeable future (turns out I didn’t thrive in an office job – even when it was my own office!) and I wanted a really pretty, well-lit room to write, meet, and work on design projects in (at least until we tackle the other house on the property that likely won’t be finished for years). So in other words, this room is ALL MINE – it MY Mojo Dojo Casa House (and sure, probably twice a year winter dinner party location). And I love it so VERY VERY MUCH. I can’t WAIT to show you the fully monty on Monday (with a fully set table, too).
In case you don’t know where we are – this room was added, it didn’t exist and it’s right off the living room, connecting to the back porch. When I’m not solo writing in it, Gretchen and I take many a call in here, and I’m sure there will be a lot of in person meetings in here, too. We have only eaten in here (for dinner) probably five times because we mostly eat outside (or at nook, island or in front of the TV – obviously).
This room also really changed the entire architecture of the house – and helped us create the covered back porch which we love.
Of course my Mojo Dojo Casa House had to get built, poured, framed, sided = all the things. And at times we nixed this room altogether due to budget reasons, but since it’s my writing space – my “office” if you will – the whole thing could be written off (which isn’t free, but can be run through the business).
ARCIFORM drew up so many versions (see the porch post here) and we ultimately found it’s right location. I had never done an addition before so I learned so much about the process.
They poured the foundation, framed it up, connected the roof, added the HVAC (mini split) and then the fun stuff – tile and windows.
The tile design took me forever (mostly because I had the time – and wanted to play a LOT – see this post), and we ultimately went with something classic (in a really bright fun color). We partnered with Pratt + Larson and created this gorgeous bright blue color that couldn’t make me happier. At times I worried that it was going too bright (I think I designed this when I was in a more muted/neutral period of my life) but boy am I glad that we went with this bright blue – it’s just incredible (and so me).
I did have a hilarious freakout after the tile was totally done because she is BUSY, and pre-table it made me slightly dizzy. Brian and I gave each other one of those uh-oh looks, like with the subtext of “is this a lot for you, too?” It’s not like there was anything we could do about it. But the second that the table came in it was PERFECT.
Of course there were two late in the day changes – we originally had a sliding door on the back wall (to the front porch) but then we realized that we had no room for storage or wall space (for art) in the whole house (LOL), so we nixed it and bricked it up. Once we took that out we realized that we were going to miss the natural light so even after the insulation we added two Velux skylights (shout out to Jamie for being so flexible) and I’m SO glad we did. North facing skylights FTW.
WAIT, I Never Told You About Designing The Windows!!!
I’m sure you noticed, but we custom designed the windows with Sierra Pacific to marry the design of the original diamond windows and the new more traditional grid on the first floor. You can see it more in the big pulled back shots of the house:
They are just so beautiful and Sierra Pacific was so wonderful to work with with such an excellent quality product.
We added the pendants from Rejuvenation (Rose City fittings, art deco shade) which worked so well because the ceiling is vaulted and the chain helps it hang straight down. They are definitely more vintage-y and whimsical than some of the other fixtures in the house, which I love.
Obviously, then I had to shop for (and choose) the perfect dining table, chairs and credenza which you’ve seen here and there but not all together.
So come back Monday. I know you think you’ve seen it, so to shake it up I set the table for a dinner party (with flowers cut from the garden) so you’ll see it try on a different costume. This is the room that currently makes me the happiest and on Monday I break down why. 🙂
*Pretty Photos by Kaitlin Green
What happened to the blue hutch/cabinet that you ordered from overseas that I think was supposed to go in here? I haven’t seen it pop up anywhere!
Also curious about this! I was a bit unsure about its purported provenance and quality, but maybe my mind could be changed if I saw it in place styled out. We heard SO much about it and Emily was SO excited. It’d be perfect for that sunroom wall without windows!
Yes please a blue cabinet update!
It’s weird because the tile looks so good I never even questioned it but I am sure I would have done the exact same thing upon seeing it installed (freak out that I’d gone too far). I’ve def done that with things like light fixtures and wall color – you can’t really see if it works or not until the furniture is in. That room looks truly lovely! I can’t wait to see how you finished it all out!
I got a small amount of heartburn as an accountant when you said the sunroom could be written off completely. Technically that is only true if it is used exclusively for business purposes. I doubt the IRS will come knocking on your door, but thought readers might want to know that home office deductions are a very common audit red flag.
🤣 Thank you for the heads up on this, Jeffrey!
Appreciate your conscientiousness mentioning this. Have to admit it really burns me when home offices, more important than ever with work from home, are considered a red flag by the IRS, though of course it can be taken advantage of. Very wealthy people have business managers/accountants meticulously record just about every daily expense because it is all tax deductible. Their salary is paid through their own companies and surprise, so many daily expenses turn out to be cost of doing business and is tax deductible. Certainly not the same for regular folks. Always worth asking your accountant if you can have this kind of tax set up because those deductions can really add up.
Yes, the home office deduction is both misunderstood and ripe for abuse. Ironically, for a sizeable percentage of people, even if they were eligible it would not save them all that much.
The IRS is pretty stringent that to qualify for a deduction the space must be exclusively and regularly used for business. For example, a lot of people think a guest room they also use as their office would quality, but that’s not correct.
Costs someone pays to use co-working spaces can be deducted now though and many people do not realize that its considered a legitimate business expense.
It will be interesting to see if any professional associations lobby the IRS for a different deduction standard given the increase in people working from home.
Can I find a blog post about designing my home with fireplaces??? I really wanna buy a freestanding fireplace but I cant figure out where to put it and need inspiration! Mainly something that looks good with this: https://www.bioethanol-fireplace.co.uk/open-3-sided-bio-fireplace—black_3293r26802.html
Please can someone give suggestions?? Thank youuuuu
I’ve learned a lot from seeing you design this room, so thank you for expanding my design sensibilities. Your house is coming out so nice!
It looks like Rejuvination has discontinued their art deco shades (same shade as in Caitlin’s hallway, no?) – ugh! They look amazing.
Search for the Deco Wedding Cake Globe Shade on their site.
I love the idea of a dual purpose dining room/office. Do you work off a laptop at the table? Or do you hook up a monitor? I find I need a whole keyboard, mouse, monitor situation to work a full. There was a neat “hack” on the Netflix show Hack My Home where the had monitors come up from the middle of a dining room table! And then tiny drawers on the side of the table for keyboard and mouse.
This is something I’d love to see covered here! I’m plotting how to fasten an outlet strip to the leg of the table as I also like a big monitor and keyboard. I have an armoire I could move in there to replace the little wheeled file cabinet that has my printer on top and would give me room to stash the monitor, etc. would love to see how others do this.
Love the windows and tile…such a positive happy place! Side note…where did you get those cute sneakers 🙂
They are the Kickoff Sneakers from Madewell. The top is the Poet Shirt Jacket from The Great.
I’m looking forward to seeing it styled. The tile in this room and all the bathrooms (especially the maroon tile) was a huge surprise for me. I expected something that looked a little aged or had some patina. This reminds me a little bit of 80s bathroom tile, but I’m sure it’ll be beautiful with a table and Emily’s styling.
Absolutely love this!