I recently finished giving my backyard cottage a design makeover for the One Room Challenge, read more about the project here. To say I love my new office space is an understatement, it's more than an office it feels like a creative hub retreat. With spending so much time at home the past several months, it's been a great reminder to show my home some love. One of my favorite updates in the cottage is the new skylight from VELUX. The VELUX skylight completely changed the look and feel of my backyard cottage inside and out, the word that best describes the change is transformative.
I partnered with VELUX on my One Room Challenge to give my backyard cottage a skylight makeover and update the dated metal bubble opaque skylight with the VELUX No Leak Solar Powered “Fresh Air” Skylight. The old bubble skylight in my cottage gave off blinding white light, no view, and wasn’t energy-efficient creating hot zones in the cottage. When I used to sit under the skylight on hot days, it always felt like sitting under a heat lamp. Here’s how the old skylight looked in my backyard cottage studio.
I’m a very visual person and like my spaces to feel welcoming and relaxing. In addition to the old bubble skylight not being energy-efficient, it wasn’t an attractive feature in my small space. The ceilings in the cottage are around 7 feet and you could easily see all the old metal construction and honestly, the old skylight had no real purpose; no outside view, no fresh air, and zero energy efficiency. One of my concerns with the old skylight was it leaking, I was always nervous. Thankfully, VELUX is known for its no-leak skylights and offers a 10 Year No-Leak Warranty on the skylight and installation, giving me a peace of mind. Same angle, new view! On the left, you can see all the blinding light from the old skylight that would pour into the cottage. On the right when the blind on the new skylight is open you can see the beautiful view and natural light.
One of my goals with the skylight replacement was to create a light-filled cottage, bringing the outside in. I love natural light, I love being able to look outside my windows and soak up the outside space, with the installation of the VELUX No Leak Solar Powered “Fresh Air” Skylight, I’m able to bring natural light, a beautiful view of the outside and fresh air.
The installation process of my new skylight was super smooth and easy, in a few hours my cottage studio felt transformed. Below are a few images of the skylight replacement installation day. Let there be light with a view!
VELUX offers virtual design consultations, helping you determine what skylight is best suited for your home. These consultations can be done over the phone or via video chat, walking you through the process, and answering questions about what rooms in your home is a good candidate for a new skylight or replacement skylight along with recommending a VELUX installer in your area. Skylight replacement costs vary depending on installation type and location, including whether you have a flat or vaulted ceiling in your home, and the number of skylights being installed. VELUX offers a helpful tool on their website about the estimated costs of skylight installation.
As I mentioned earlier, the new skylight has been transformative, the skylight is solar powered and does not require any wiring, within minutes after the installation, I was able to use a simple remote control that comes with my skylight to open and close the skylight. I’m also able to determine how ‘open’ I want the skylight to be. Outside the skylight, there is a solar panel and that charges the battery, even on cloudy days. I also love the rain sensor that automatically closes the skylight when open during inclement weather. One night I was working late in my cottage studio, finishing opening some paintings during the One Room Challenge and I left the skylight open, in the middle of the night I woke to realize I forgot to close the skylight! I was panicked, we just installed new flooring the week before. To my very happy delight, the skylight was closed! I can happily confirm the rain sensor works!
From a design perspective, the VELUX skylight has enhanced the natural light in my cottage and the view! I love looking up at the beautiful blue sky, trees, and feeling the fresh air. I can leave the skylight open without fear of bugs coming inside since there’s a screen on the skylight. I’m also able to open and close the light filtering solar-powered blinds, my blind is standard white and is so beautiful. VELUX offers over 75 colors and patterns and different blind styles to fit your needs. I love the soft diffused light the shade gives. I’m able to have it fully open, partially open, or fully closed even when the skylight is open; giving me so much flexibility.
I can use the controls that come with my VELUX skylight or also use the VELUX Active System, allowing me to automate my solar-powered skylight and blinds. The VELUX Active System connects to your internet wi-fi allowing you to use your smartphone to operate the skylight and blinds remotely, the system also works with Google Home and Apple HomeKit.
The skylight adds that wow factor to my cottage studio, bringing the outside into my small office space feels incredible and makes everything feel special. What do you think of my new view in the cottage studio? Have you been thinking of replacing a dated skylight in your home or adding a new one? I’m so in love with how this project turned out, I would love to add one inside my home!
