When People executive editor Alex Apatoff met with Havenly about her sunroom makeover, she had a self-admitted case of commitment phobia. “We moved into our house a little over a year ago, and I became paralyzed by the potential of making a design decision I might end up hating at any time in the future,” she writes for People.

While she admits the sunroom “had potential,” she had minimal budget and zero design vision for the space. “I just left it in its pink-and-brown glory and hoped for a fairy godmother to come make it over,” she adds, noting its 90s pink tile, unpainted wood ceiling, and dated fixtures.

“Before” image credit: People

Enter Havenly in-person designer Kasee Smith. “I was extremely excited to have someone make decisions for me,” says Alex. The two discussed design direction and ideas virtually before meeting in-person to take measurements and photos, and further collaborate on design ideas and overall aesthetic.

“Meeting Kasee in person gave me a lot more confidence that we’d work together well, and all of the features Havenly provides makes it much easier to envision the finished space before committing to a big purchase,” she adds. Ahead, get a behind-the-scenes look at Alex’s sunroom transformation, from initial ideas to 3D rendering to the beautiful reveal.

The Havenly Design Plan

Knowing Alex was loosely looking for a calming, laid-back space with a subtle coastal vibe, Kasee suggested a classic blue and white color palette, natural textures and materials, hints of greenery, and custom furniture pieces from The Inside. She first mocked up the design direction in a mood board before turning it into a lifelike 3D rendering of Alex’s actual space.

The rendering ended up being one of Alex’s favorite parts of the entire process. “I have absolutely no visual imagination, and the rendering helped me immediately realize I preferred the couch to face out towards the yard, and to have the dining area sized down,” she explains.  “All of [these] features [made] it much easier to envision the finished space before committing to a big purchase like furniture.”

Bringing the Look to Life

After making a few furniture and decor swaps during the design concepting phase, Kasee and Alex were ready to bring her coastal sunroom design to life. Alex went with Kasee’s paint suggestions for the floor tile (a pale blue) as well as the walls and ceiling (crisp white) prior to install, creating a calming blank canvas for her coastal-inspired retreat.

Getting Cozy

To add cozy seating and practicality to the space, the two ultimately went with a spacious wicker corner sectional facing the yard. Complete with matching side tables, a floating jute ottoman, and a nautical striped rug, the finished look is equal parts functional and stylish.

“[Kasee] absolutely nailed the serene, sort of nautical, low-maintenance vibes I was going for and hit all of my checkboxes for comfort, versatility and a good fit with the rest of my home,” notes Alex. “It feels polished and thoughtful without being overly ‘designed,’ which makes it just a really pleasant place to hang out — and we use it all the time now.”

Adding Dual-Functionality

Opposite the seating area, Kasee and Alex went with a small bistro table and custom slipcovered chairs from The Inside to create a small dining nook. Strategically placed near the windows overlooking the yard, it’s the perfect perch for morning coffee or weekend happy hour.

“All in all, I found the process of working with an in-person designer more seamless, more fun and more cost-effective than I would have thought possible,” concludes Alex. “I got everything I would have hoped to get from a pricey pay-by-the-hour designer (the attention to detail and personalized shopping list) and more (the 3D renderings and custom furniture from The Inside).”

Read Alex’s full review of Havenly In-Person over at People, and take our Style Quiz to start your own Havenly design project.