As a resident of one of the grayest, rainiest cities in the world, London, I'm a huge proponent of indoor-outdoor living. I love the idea of being able to harvest every ounce of sunlight, no matter the weather outside. To me, filling the home with light and visions of surrounding trees and plants is a surefire way to boost your mood and echo the unparalleled beauty of the outdoors as part of your interiors. Meg Ryan's Montecito home features one of the best examples I've ever seen.
The actress's sunroom idea was brought to life by Becker Studio, and the garden was built by Arcadia Studio. They're both stunning. The sunroom has high ceilings that can be seen through the unique, repurposed windows with black lines between the panes. Ryan's a-frame white ceilings have a statement spherical white light hanging down. Two white square armchairs sit by the windows. The garden features olive trees and evergreen bushes on either side of the sunroom doors. Feathery flowers wave in the breeze in front of it. Antique-style gray stone sprawls around the front of the property.
As beautiful as these spaces are independently, the marriage of the sunroom with the garden idea is what makes the home so gorgeous. From the vantage point of the garden, you can see the bright, minimalist design of the sunroom. It's clear that from the inside of the house, you would be able to see the trees, flowers, and shrubs as if they were inside the house. The complementary nature creates a space that looks cohesive and beautiful.
Indoor-outdoor living has been an increasing interior design trend over the last several years. It sits at the intersection of the biophilic interiors trend and the increased emphasis on personalized interiors. Biophilic interiors have been one of my favorite trends of the last few years. The look involves incorporating a variety of items sourced from nature for a grounding, calm feel in the home. It is versatile and can range from elegant to rustic. Personalized interiors, as they sound, revolve around decorating in a way that will allow you to enjoy your home to maximum capacity. The sunroom captures this feel by situating the nature-lover directly in the outdoors.
Further, in my opinion, a Mediterranean garden is the perfect choice for an indoor outdoor scheme. This Italian style of gardening is popular for its relaxing, storied ethos. One can imagine this garden easily existing hundreds of years ago, and it remains just as on-trend today.
Shop the Look
Olive trees with white furniture have the same Tuscan feel and color combination of Meg Ryan's home.
This beautiful olive tree is perfect for planting a Tuscan garden like the one at Meg Ryan's home
This white paper lampshade is beautiful for its round shape and paper material
This white lamb fleece-style accent armchair is the perfect, cozy addition to a sunroom
To recreate Meg Ryan's outdoor look with your own Italian garden, start with evergreens. These verdant bushes and shrubs can bring a sense of vibrancy to your garden year-round. Symmetry is also important for replicating the Tuscan look. Be sure to plant similarly on either side of any structures at your house. Hardscaping is another surefire method for a timeless Italian garden. Using aged stone brings that classic, antique sensibility to your outdoor space.
Whether you live in Montecito, Tuscany, or anywhere else, Meg Ryan's garden and sunroom are wonderful inspirations for indoor-outdoor living.
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