“Four Season Sunroom”
Sunrooms are a great way to add onto an existing home, not only gaining space but built with re-connecting to the outdoors again in mind. Traditionally built off of the back of the home, enclosures having an all-glass roof structure, and in many case that were sometimes more of an enclosed porch. Today, the term Sunroom, along with its purpose has evolved. This Four Season Sunroom, is a great example of this newer and improved term.
When land and property is at a premium here in The Lower Mainland, being able to utilize any available square footage more efficiently, an asset one can’t squander or overlook. This Burnaby home in the prestigious Government Road Area did just that. Adding onto the existing home (not just for extra square footage) but with the purpose of enjoy everything about their home, the property and beautiful city of Burnaby had to offer, and one they so dearly pay for.
A growing family that entertains frequently (and in numbers) wanted an area that could be used with this in mind. Annual summer Barbecues, usually consisting of 40-50 people, and self-catered Christmas Dinners prompted a need for a space that could make any scale of entertaining a breeze. Dreams of extra seating, food warming drawers and beverage centers. Wishing the weather always cooperated so a two-tiered deck off the back of the home could actually be used more often, not too mention patio cushion storage for times it never did. Rainy winter months during the holidays made little options regardless. Building a Four Season Sunroom became a wonderful solution to achieve everything, more space to entertain in ANY weather, and ANY season.
Being creative with its design allowed for even greater possibilities of a multi level addition. Instead of just adding one floor with a vaulted ceiling; designing plans that also extending out, below and above it created an addition that was exciting and exceeded any of their expectations.
Starting with a Sunroom that allowed for not only one, but two separate seating spaces. Keeping the existing window in the separate Dining Room, and not installing french doors, saved precious space in the Sunroom. It also meant a wrap around window seat could be incorporated into the design. A window seat that the smaller ones would surely claim as their own. A patio table set moved indoors now usable with guests protected, all the while still remaining well suited to the new space. Keeping the window not only allowed the natural light to still flood the Dining Room, in turn kept the formal feel of the room and ultimately less impact to the family.
Cabinets custom designed by i3c specifically for the space, cabinets which dictated the actual design of the room. One corner designed for two built in Fisher & Paykel DCS warming drawers. Not only keeping the food hot, but also crisp or moist depending on needs. Two side cabinets and a lower drawer dedicated for the Barbecue utensils and equipment. The other corner with three beverage centers and an inviting wrap around window seat with storage underneath for family board game nights. With one side of the window seat leading to another cabinet centering the room. Upper glass cabinets displaying a lovely collection of summer dinnerware, and lower cabinets and drawers storing other patio tableware and entertaining supplies. With two full ceiling height cabinets flanking both corners of the room designed specifically to hold the outdoor patio cushions, easily accessible for those sunny days.
Electrical requirements needed to be planned and discussed with a certified electrician as the appliances and counter outlets needed additional requirements for extra servers and buffets that previously tripped the breaker. Electrical and Lighting diagrams are something i3c has extensive working knowledge of and typically accompanies the floor plan, making things straightforward for the contractor and sub-contractors.
Not only does i3c Solutions design functional floor plans, sometimes often problem solving with the trades is necessary to achieve everything. Researching and finding a solution for adding heat or air-conditioning during opposite seasons that didn’t require extensive cost, or work by tying into the original home’s ducting. Working with a knowledgable Plumber helping the city’s building department for any necessary requirements needed to pass the newly marketed product. Installing a wall-mounted ductless Fujitsu mini-split unit was a great solution to this challenge. Even working with Home Audio specialists to add an outdoor speaker system tying into the basements entertainment system.
Sourcing a durable flooring that would keep feet warm in the winter and cool in the summer, finding a new product on the market that achieved this while matching the color tones of the room. Working with cabinet installers to solve an electrical issue on site prevented a costly electricians visit and delay. Designing, planning, sourcing and even problem solving, i3c Solutions can help with every aspect of the project.
Sight lines, layout, and function are factors i3c Solutions designed into this Four Season Sunroom. Including decorative details that coincided “with function” was achieved inside and throughout the layout of the outside space as well. Personal touches added included a mosaic table top hand crafted by Cindy Mirza, not only a conversation piece, but a functional piece of art complementing the color scheme of the soft furnishings and decor. In a southern facing room balancing neutral tones, with stronger accent pieces created more depth in the room, tying cool blues and warm browns further connected the space to the outdoors.
Positioning the Barbecue and Grilling Station to a more convenient location and not in any site lines, but also in an area that smoke wouldn’t bother guests. Allowing for better function when preparing food, getting extra supplies from the kitchen and serving the hot food more efficiently. A Grill Station of this magnitude, required a custom made cover commissioned by Sofa Works in Coquitlam, incorporating the Grill Master’s favorite NFL team, and given as his first Fathers Day present with the birth of a baby daughter.
Better function and a proper layout of the outdoor deck space to the indoor space was crucial and planned from the beginning. Designing a deck that allowed for various inviting spaces within its layout and with its decor. Designing a deck that wrapped around the Sunroom, connecting entrances also allowed for much better views of this beautiful property. Having a two separate entrances allowed for more convenience. The Eclipse Door System also gave the option of a single center door access point, perfect for quick access to the BBQ if the rain started unexpectedly. A second option of a sliding door (saved and moved from the Master Balcony), was installed along the side especially for easy access when the dog frequently needed out. Choosing to keep the original French Doors in the Breakfast Nook Area, meant less impact during construction, it also gave another extra level of security.
The most unique and amazing part of the Four Season Sunroom has to be the seventeen foot Eclipse Folding Door System. Opening up to the first tier of the deck connects the inside to the outside. Splurging on a retractable Phantom Screen System, having two magnetic sides meeting and closing in the middle, that could be stopped and positioned anywhere along the track. When not in use the screens discretely recessed into the wall hidden by the custom cabinets. Having a safety feature for clumsy kids, pets or forgetful adults, saving costly repairs. The ultimate protection against any flying insects threatening an enjoying night, can’t imagine living without it.
Striving to satisfy the client’s wish list, meeting the needs of an outdoor loving family, including the family pet (sometimes overlooked if their stuff no longer fit the decor), we pleased everyone on the list. Even those guests attending the popular events this family loved to host. Surpassing everyone’s expectations is what i3c Solutions always accomplishes. A Four Season Sunroom now surely envious of anyone living along this reputable block of Government Road.
