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Sunshine A SEAT IN THE m m

As summer heats up, patios and three-season rooms o er the best of outdoor and indoor spaces

By Alex Krutchik

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The 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 di erent room to congregate in for the summer. The “summer rooms” would have lighter and airier oors, 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 o er 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

Herman Textile Window Fashions

in handy when a large piece of furniture blocks a shade and makes it a hassle for the user to pull the shade manually. Ease of operation is imperative, Herman says.

“I use automation in three-season rooms often because there are obstructions in front of the windows,” says Herman, who adds that these treatments are also battery powered. “With those obstructions, operating a window fashion could be challenging. Today, automation is a ordable. I nd that my clients that have three-season rooms are interested in convenience of operation. They don’t want to be limited in using their window treatments.”

While the three-season room itself o ers a great atmosphere for relaxing on your own or for hosting a gathering, the furniture you put into that space is important for setting a good vibe, too.

“Woven-type furniture is very popular right now, along with rattan-type furniture and lighter canvas-type fabrics,” Friedman says. “Even indoor-outdoor pieces. People will use porcelain tiles for oors or di erent kinds of stone for their three-season rooms. And as far as furnishings, again, it’s a lighter feel because it’s for those warmer months. So, it’s not your heavy type of upholstery fabrics. It’s your airier type of canvas or Sunbrella indoor-outdoor fabrics people use in these threeseason rooms.”

Even for those without three-season rooms, many people want to bring the party outdoors. Therefore, furniture and decor that can function in outdoor settings are very popular right now, says Deborah Danals, interior designer and buyer at Leopold’s Fine Home Furnishings in Brecksville.

Resin furniture, which is made up of a high-quality plastic called high-density polyethylene, is also becoming very popular. Chairs and couches made from performance fabrics are also rated for outdoor use. These have a special type of cushioning that will let water go through the cushions and drain through.

Other options available for bringing the inside to the outside are outdoor area rugs. These rugs have been around for quite a few years, but have expanded into more interesting textures and colors. They use 100% polyester or acrylic combinations to make them feel more like indoor rugs, but can be used outdoors.

“They’re really making the outside to be an extension of their living room,” Danals says. “They don’t just want patio furniture, they want it to be spectacular. They want to entertain out there, they want to bring nature into the focus. And they want comfortable seating, they want a repit, they want a television. They want to be able to be in that outdoor space, and have it be as comfortable as an indoor space for them as possible, and be magni cently decorated.” sj

Opposite page: The Summer Classic line is available from Leopold’s Furniture. Above: An example of the sun shades at Herman Textile Window Fashions. Below: The Telescope line available from Leopold’s Furniture.

Publisher's Note: Joel Herman is a member of the Cleveland Jewish News Foundation Board of Directors.

Leopold’s Furniture