Sun Porch

Every home, no matter how big or grand, needs what you might call a go-to room — a cozy, comfortable spot where you can put your feet up and really relax.

There are few decorating situations that can’t benefit from a classic blue and white scheme, and the sun porch designed by Teddy Karl is no exception. Karl transformed the room, which features windows on three sides and overlooks a mature garden, into a crisp-looking, yet cozy and comfortable living area through the infusion of all things blue and white.

“The room was originally a bit dark and heavy-looking,” Karl explains. “I definitely saw how it could be a relaxed space, yet one that would stand up to the traditional formality that the house dictates.”

Among the many blue and white furnishings and accessories are a transferware garden seat, ceramic table lamps, crewel-stitch decorate pillows and various porcelain accessories in the Oriental style. A skirted loveseat with blue trim, a tall, whimsically shaped wing chair with a bold blue and white stripe, chinoiserie spool chair, and a small, geometric patterned perch provide comfortable seating for a small group. Woven bamboo shades soften the large expanses of glass and afford partial privacy in the sun room, while the sea grass rug softens the brick floor underneath without overpowering the small space.

One of the biggest challenges in designing this window-filled room was the fact that it had only one wall. It was there that Karl placed a reproduction antique secretary, which draws the eye upward and offers a strong focal point in this cheerful and lighthearted room.

“I see the room as an escape from the formality that the main floor plan of the house suggests,” Karl concludes. “This would be a wonderful morning room; I envision the owners enjoying their coffee or an early evening meal here. And it would be a wonderful place to read the paper or a book.”