Moodboard Monday: Southern-inspired Sunporch

I used to dread Mondays, but now I wake up excited to share with you the moodboard for the week. Today’s design scheme originated with my recent obsession with green. From Adele’s dress at the Grammys to a beyond-fabulous farmhouse kitchen by Studio McGee (see it on my instagram), I have not been able to get it off my mind.

The adoration continued after stumbling upon this painting by Charleston artist Kate Long Stevenson. The Charleston reference had me thinking about cobblestone streets and hidden gardens down winding brick lanes. Gardens had me daydreaming about gas-burning lanterns with their perfectly aged verdigris patina. (Verdigris is the result of copper naturally aging over time when it comes in contact with water and the elements, turning it a green color). And here we are, back at the color green. The result of all of this “greenspiration” (forgive me) is a moodboard for a client with a small covered sunporch. Drenched in morning sunlight during the early hours of the day and ideal for an intimate gathering at dusk, it is a sweet, cozy space perfect for this particular concept.

I hope you find as much inspiration in this painting as I did. Enjoy!

1. Two Figures, Green by Charleston artist Kate Long Stevenson. While not predominately green, the darker strokes of sage and forest ground the otherwise airy nude and sky-blue tones. I tend to gravitate toward figural, expressionist abstract paintings, and this is no exception. The piece will be an ideal focal point for my client’s sunporch amidst groupings of ferns in terra-cotta pots and flowering vines creeping along a trellis. Unfortunately (for me) this painting has sold, but I will have to commission another with similar tones.
2. I love this herringbone pattern of brick. It is a nice nod to the nudes in the painting. In this case, I plan to keep the brick floor widely visible, with only an area rug anchoring the seating area.
3. This smaller weave of sisal is just right for an area rug, allowing for the other patterns in the space to take charge.
4. Since my client’s covered sunporch is fairly small, I am upholstering the sofa and chairs in the same indoor/outdoor solid white to maintain a simple, clean feel. This small-scale organic pattern, “Abstract Leaf” by Schumacher, is a welcome addition to the solid expanse of white. I’ll use it for sofa and chair throw pillows as well as an ottoman.
5. Other throw pillows will be fabricated in this solid (but textured) nude-blush tone. Without this addition on the sofa and chairs, the pink tones would be too “bottom heavy” in the brick floor and terra-cotta pots.
6. McLean Lighting lanterns are stunning, and the “French Marquis” is my favorite of their wall-mount designs. I might have to source a less expensive option, but regardless, they must have the verdigris patina to tie in the greens from the painting. 
7. I appreciate the detail of stone in settings that blur the lines between indoor and outdoor living. Keep an eye out for interesting stone pieces at garden and vintage stores. You can then hire a local glass store to cut a custom-size piece for the top. 
8. 1st Dibs is my favorite site. I could spend hours perusing products from antiques dealers all around the world. For this project, I needed something large in scale with a beefy frame as a contrast against white walls. The Anglo-Indian beauty below fits the bill. Mirrors are an ideal way to reflect the outdoors when mounted opposite a window, and in this case I’ll mount this one above the white sofa and in between the lanterns. Opposite a yard full of flowering trees, the result will be breathtaking.
9. Another WIN on 1st Dibs. I want to live, eat, and sleep in these chairs. I love their scalloped detailing and the dark chocolate leather binding set against the lighter-toned rattan. They are a pretty penny, but maybe my client will say yes!
10. A classic white sofa. The one-seat cushion makes it comfortable for multiple guests, and the skirt adds softness in juxtaposition to the glass, brick, and metal in the space. It will be upholstered in indoor-outdoor fabric so that a red-wine spill won’t be entirely detrimental…

Individually, these components are inspired by the South, but could be easily applied in Sydney due to their lifestyle of indoor/outdoor living. Architecture in this area lends itself to a seamless transition from one space to the next, and a scheme such as this would fit in nicely.

Whether you like to sip on Moscow Mules on a southern Charleston sunporch or an Aperol Spritz on a Sydney terrace, I hope you are able to utilize a few of these ideas for yourself.