Outside living room

Enjoy the seasonal comforts of a screened porch.

Im into looks, and he wants comfort," interior designer Margaret Jones says of her husband, Arthur. "We agreed that this screened porch should be attractive and comfortable."

Located at the rear of what was once a modest Alabama fishing camp, this spacious screened porch faces the lake, affording picturesque natural views. Plush furnishings and special accessories evoke a feeling of being entirely inside.

Ferns and impatiens peek from behind tables and are nestled in between chairs. Floral pillow fabrics add color to the neutral decor. Instead of a large floorcloth, small woven rugs are tossed about to add warmth underfoot, and a collection of candles brightens the space at sunset.

Margaret searched for more than a year for the perfect sink-in upholstered furniture. "I wanted furniture that was as comfortable as something you would have indoors," she says. Not only do the sturdy wrapped-aluminum pieces shrug off the brunt of weather, but they're enhanced with soft cushions covered in weather-resistant fabric. Friends and family feel at home lounging on them in wet bathing suits.

Accessories and collectibles also form an integral part of the decor. "It's really a collection of my life," says Margaret as she surveys the space. "I never get rid of anything." Mossy green shutters serve as a focal point behind the sofa, and antique pots hold plants that thrive in the light-filled space. An iced tea pitcher, passed down from Margaret's mother, remains an almost permanent fixture.

Overhead, the green ceiling acts as a canopy, and ceiling fans ensure cool breezes and air circulation. A teak dining table extends the function of the space, and an adjacent stone fireplace is what Arthur likes to call his "ultimate barbecue pit." Stainless steel grates inside and doors at the bottom make cooking a breeze.

The porch is a shady respite from the summer's sun and a fine place to watch the changing fall foliage. The cozy space accommodates a gathering of three children, two dogs, and a number of friends and neighbors just as easily as it does romantic weekends for two.

"We changed our minds a hundred times along the way," says Margaret. "We had never done a renovation like this before. It turned out exactly the way we wanted." ALICIA K. CLAVELL

AND SANDRA ALLEN LYNN

where to find it

OUTSIDE LIVING ROOM

Page 134: Interior design by Margaret Jones, MJC Co., 3235 Dell Road, Birmingham, AL 35223, (205) 871-6714.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Sep 2002
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