DÉCOR
ROO SER ICE Leopold’s Furniture
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As summer heats up, patios and three-season rooms offer the best of outdoor and indoor spaces
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Sunshine A SEAT IN THE
By Alex Krutchik
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he weather is warming up, the UV index is rising and the sun is out until 9 p.m. again. All of this could only mean one thing: the season of house and backyard parties is back. Whether a small gathering amongst a couple of friends or a large holiday barbecue, homeowners are starting to prepare their homes and yards for guests again. For some Northeast Ohioans, that means sprucing up spaces to hang out in the warmer months, and either adding, renovating or decorating a patio or three-season room. Laura Friedman, owner of Interiors by Laura Friedman in Pepper Pike, says many of her clients are moving away from formal decor and adopting a more casual lifestyle. “They don’t do formal dinner parties and things like that,” Friedman says. “They like a more casual feel. So, not super formal furnishings anymore – more laid back, textural-type things like open concept rooms.” In keeping with seasonal shifts, Friedman advocates for having certain rooms to hang out in during the winter, and a
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Jstyle
Summer 2021
different room to congregate in for the summer. The “summer rooms” would have lighter and airier floors, larger windows to let in more sunlight and lighter colors. Another aspect of the home that will see a rise in popularity is the usage of three-season rooms – essentially an extension of the house used in the spring, summer and fall. Enclosed by glass and walls, they are sturdier than a screened patio. But they still offer ample sunlight to come in and provide an outdoorsy feeling. Many decor and functional features can go into a threeseason room to enhance the experience for the homeowner and guests, with window treatments being especially important to get right. Joel Herman, owner of Herman Textile Window Fashions in Highland Heights, says the current trend in window fashion is multi-functional shades. These shades can provide privacy, insulation and protection from the sun. One type is sunscreen shades. These use mesh-like materials with certain degrees of openness, minimizing sun glare and increasing insulation while still providing a sense of visibility. A big revolution in the window fashion industry is the popularization of automated shades. Herman says these come
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