Please help me with my closed terrace!

10 years ago

I just bought a house and it used to have a little garden inside the house. For reasons I dont understand, the previous owner closed it down, meaning that he eliminated the grass and put concrete on the floor, raised the walls and installed a high ceiling. The end result is a room, kind of an interior terrace?
It is incredibly hot and dark since it has no windows and the four walls are concrete so they can not be taken down nor eindows can be installed.
I honestly dont know what to do with the space! It is quite big and it will be a huge waste of space if I dont use it. Initially I thought about a living room but its too hot and dark. If I had my way, I would reinstall the garden but its too expensive to tear it up
Thanks for your advice!

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Pamela Qarbaghi

10 years ago

This is a really dark space, in desperate need of some track or recessed lighting. Once that is done, I would focus on art as a focal point for the room, as you have a large amount of wall space. I would stay relatively light on sofas and furniture, as it will make the space seem larger. Bring in some color, as that is one way to warm a room that has no natural lighting. You can check here for inspiration on artwork: http://www.houzz.com/viewCollection/3947/312315

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Comments (21)

pcmom1
10 years ago
How do you access this space? Are there sliders to it? What are the dimensions?
Karen Molina
Original Author
10 years ago
Hello!!!
The space is about 8 x 4.5 meters, like a rectangle. You access it through a regular door which is before the main bedroom, in front of the kitchen.
Unfortunately I dont have pictures with me, I will take one tomorrow when there is a little bit of light.
Let me show you a picture of how you access the room, the red circle is where the door is. I also included a drawing of the room.
There are two doors on one wall, one is the ome to access and the other leads to a room they built.
There is also a little cubicle where they used to keep storage. The room has orange tiles.
Does this help? I will try to upload an actual picture tomorrow.
Quick note: the house is vey small and this space is like two and a half bedrooms.
pcmom1
10 years ago
Well, this is an interesting dilemma. First thing, for the heat, you need an air conditioner for the room.

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pcmom1
10 years ago
Then, of course, a good ceiling fan.

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pcmom1
10 years ago
Enlist a local artist to fill the four walls with a mural to take you somewhere expansive and cool:

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pcmom1
10 years ago
A fantasy mural. And that folding screen of mirrors could be your "window".

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pcmom1
10 years ago
This room has your orange tile and also shows the depth of field that a mural can bring.

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pcmom1
10 years ago
This wall is wallpaper. Gives a subtle backdrop but still gives that outdoor feel.

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https://www.houzz.com/photos/vintage-chic-eclectic-hall-chicago-phvw-vp~1734892
pcmom1
10 years ago
A final one:

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pcmom1
10 years ago
Or, you can keep the bare walls and add lots of green plants.

Post a photo of your ceiling when you can.

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pcmom1
10 years ago
Do you know about rope lights? They are strings of bendable lights that can be put behind wood molding for an effect like this.

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pcmom1
10 years ago
Nothing makes you feel cooler than the sound of water. Add a fountain.

This room has the mural, the fountain, plants, plus you can add framed mirrors that mimic windows.

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teamaltese
10 years ago
If the previous owner built up the walls, and poured concrete for the floor, they are not structural and can be removed. I'd pay the money to have it brought back to the garden, it sounds like a really cool feature, as opposed to a cramped, closed, airless room.
teamaltese
10 years ago
And you can have it done piecemeal. Remove the walls, later on the ceiling, do the floor last, use plants in pots until the floor is gone.
Karen Molina
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you SO much pcmom1 , those ideas sound really cool!!!!
As promised, I took some pictures of the space.
Tania Wolf
10 years ago
why don't you add skylights , it will bring in natural light and you will be able to use it as a real room , family room or maybe a bedroom!
teamaltese
10 years ago
Unless you add windows, it will never be anything but dark and airless. If you can afford to add windows, cutting into the exterior walls, or an air conditioner, again, cutting into the exterior walls, you can afford to knock out at least one wall, to open it up to the rest of the space. I don't know where you live, but in the US, the room as is cannot be used as bedrooms, because there is only one exit.
teamaltese
10 years ago
And while all of pcmom's ideas are beautiful, they all show that there are windows to let in natural light. I think you need to focus on getting light and air into the room, because without those, all the beautiful decor still won't make you comfortable, you'll just have a well decorated cave.
pcmom1
10 years ago
What is the ceiling? Wood? It is beautiful. And, I would add operating (motorized) skylights for light and air. Keep a collapsing ladder in the closet there and they can also act as a fire escape.

In the end, getting light and fresh air in is simply the best.

But I like your room! Lots of potential for a great living room.

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pcmom1
10 years ago
You can add shades to skylight for sun control.

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