A Good Dose of Greenery Is All You Need to Feel Like You’re Living Outdoors 24/7
The Expert Team
Photo courtesy of Clarence and Graves.
Summer is best spent outside—blades of grass between the toes, soaking up every last ray of sunshine and smelling the sweet scent of garden roses or the salty ocean air. But even on the warmest, breeziest days, we occasionally just crave curling up indoors with a good book or a linen blanket for an afternoon nap. These rooms effortlessly bring the outside in so you can have the best of both worlds.
Photo courtesy of Brigette Romanek.
The Sunroom
Calling all green thumbs: the sunroom (or a bright, south-facing room) is where the magic happens. Fill it with tropical plants (you know, those pesky ones that can never get enough rays) and create your own little indoor jungle, like celebrity designer Brigette Romanek did in her Los Angeles music room.
Design by Sarah Sherman Samuel.
Photo by Matthew Williams.
The Bathroom
Who doesn’t dream of a large window-side soaking tub to unwind in (without the nosy neighbors)? Sarah Sherman Samuel achieved her very own home spa by pairing her freestanding bath with a healthy dose of plants, Zellige floor tile reminiscent of outdoor pavers, and a killer view.
Design by Mark Sikes.
Photo by Amy Neunsinger.
The Bedroom
In a moodier bedroom made for rest and relaxation (especially one that gets less natural sunlight), a darker botanical wallpaper in shades of moss and verdigris wrapped around the walls can create the illusion of a cozy secret garden (sans critters). Do as Mark D. Sikes and pair your favorite print with sage trim and white and blue accents for a fresh feel.
Design by Joy Moyler.
Photo by Simon Upton.
The Living Room
If storied English country homes are your jam, take a page from Joy Moyler’s book and cover your entire living room in blooming garden roses and pink peonies—walls, sofas, and all. It’s a wonderful backdrop to lighten up dark timberwork while still retaining a layered, timeless look.
Design by Jake Arnold.
Photo by Michael P. H. Clifford and Michael Stavaridis.
The Dining Room
Every dinner party can be an alfresco one in a room surrounded by a leafy tropical wallpaper this one in a recent Jake Arnold-designed Florida home. The French doors that open up to the outside and the raffia and woven accents help set the mood—just add candlelight.
Photo courtesy of Beth Webb.
The Kitchen
No big backyard? Bring your cutting garden inside by a large window and make your kitchen feel like your very own potting shed—just make this Beth Webb-designed room your blueprint. Does your space open up to a small outdoor courtyard? Blend the two worlds together with pistachio-hued glass double doors à la Clarence and Graves.