From Lanai to Florida Room

We moved into our home in June, 2012. It took nearly six months to buy new furnishings, and really settle-in. On December 14, 2012, I blogged about what we'd done and the progress we'd made. One of the pictures shows making our 10' X 26' screened-in lanai a comfortable outdoor space with outdoor furniture. 

We had the concrete lanai floor painted to "match" 18" tiles on the inside of the house. 

Fast forward to 2025. We recognized that we weren't using the outdoor space for two big reasons:

1. it was too hot - more hot days than comfortable days, even though the lanai is on the east side of the house; and
2. it was always dirty. Mowing lawn turned up dust. Wiping off the table top always made the cloth yellow with pollen. I'd clean the furniture, scrub the floor, and a week later it was dirty again.

Last fall we decided to enclose the space to make it liveable year 'round. Beginning on September 11 the first of three contractors came to give us estimates on the cost and time frame. We went with the third contractor. A crew came October 24, 2025 to remove the black-colored screens and black framework. 

It was replaced with more sturdy white (our choice) framework. 

Then measurements were taken within the new framework for double-paned windows. Since a 2012 county code change, the new windows had to be more hurricane-proof with a higher insulating factor.  

After the framework was installed October 24, we waited until December 15 for windows. 

In the interim, insulation was blown into the crawl space above the lanai, and a young man spent an entire day sanding the paint off the lanai floor in anticipation of putting down tile. Let me just say that I'm really glad the windows were not yet in when the paint and concrete dust was flying! Hubs washed down the lanai walls and floor after the floor paint was removed. 

On December 16, windows were installed. 

Most of the windows (large ones over short ones) are stationary. On the left side, the swinging screen door was replaced with a sliding door with a screen. 

Also, at the end of the room, the upper window slides either direction with a screen. Check out the drooping fan! That's what happens to an outdoor fan that's been exposed to 12 years of Florida humidity.

Disappointingly, two lower window frames arrived damaged, so though they were put into place, they weren't permanent.

At least, with the room enclosed, we could move forward with having tile put down. I won't go into detail about the decision-making process choosing tile but it involved a lot of discussion! We chose 12" X 24" porcelain tiles. 

Laying down tiles happened December 23, so perhaps it's no accident that tile spacers were all green and red. 

The team returned the next day to spread grout. 

While we waited for replacement windows, on January 19 the drooping ceiling fan was replaced.

The new fan has a bigger motor, a changeable down light, reversible blades (the palm side is out now), and a remote control. 

After getting estimates from three different painters, on January 21 the interior walls were painted, and the exterior stucco was patched (damaged when black framework was removed) and repainted with the exterior color.

Previously the now-interior color was the same color as the house exterior. Now those walls are Sherwin-Williams "Welcome White."

Above the sliding glass door. 

 

As I "just knew" would happen, the two replacement windows arrived February 19 while I was at QuiltCon. But yippee!

After the replacement windows were installed, a county building inspector came to approve the installation, checking that all the framework window screws were in place. Then followed another visit from the window guys who put caps over all those screws.

On February 24, after four months of storing the lanai furniture in the house, we moved it back into the room... hours before houseguests arrived. 

In spite of the dirty windows, we enjoyed the space with company.

On March 7 windows were washed, compliments of the window company. 

What a difference! I can't tell you how much that improved my outlook.

Today, March 13 was the last step... shades installation. Again, we received estimates from three companies, feeling sure we made good choices that suited us. 

Tah-dah.

View from the kitchen. 

View from the living room. 

Though it took from mid-September to mid-March to accomplish, we agree that we have a nice addition to our home.

We're considering a cabinet for the end wall behind the chairs, and I will definitely hang something on that wall (hmm, a quilt? 😄. 

The braided rag rug I've been working on for months will (hopefully) lay on the lanai floor. It's a 66" X 53" oval thus far and will help define the conversation space. I'm nearing the end of my clothing and bedding strips, so it should be finished soon. 

All I can say is... Gosh, this room took a long time to make liveable, but I will happily spend time in it. Linda