An antique Moroccan lantern lit the way for renovations of a Summit Avenue sunroom that don't scream green but are eco-friendly in another way.

"When we talk about sustainability, that also means reusing things instead of buying something new," says Sheree Vincent of Fusion Designed, who co-designed the space with Carol Boyles Interiors.

The lantern chandelier was already in the home.

"It came from one of the travels from the original homeowner - it had Arabic inscriptions in it,"Vincent says. "It was in the billiard room, and we moved it out to the porch after it was cleaned up and electrified. It inspired a 'Midnight at the Oasis' kind of look."

(Josh Stokes)

The theme worked well for the space, which had to be grand because it was part of the makeover of a mansion that was an American Society of Interior Designers.

The theme worked well for the space, which had to be grand because it was part of the makeover of a mansion that was an American Society of Interior Designers Showcase Home. Each spring, ASID renovates a private home and then opens it for tours.A different designer or design team decorates each room.

First, though, the sunroom, which overlooks the Mississippi River Valley, needed some basics.

"It was always very inviting," says Nancy Nicholson, who owned the home at the time. "We liked it from the beginning, but we did change out all the windows so they would open and added a patio. Now, it feels like more of an extension to the outdoors - you see the beautiful view."

To find pieces to decorate the space, Vincent worked with Alsadu, a local import company that supports fair trade and sustainable principles.

And then they stepped back in time - sort of.

"My favorite was a 19th-century pair of leopards, almost full size, made of a hollow bronze, which I placed at the doorway to welcome you," Vincent says. "They came from the royal palace of the Benin Kingdom."

Interesting accents, especially handcrafted ones, give a room life, Vincent believes.

"Anything hand-carved, hand-molded, that's been done by a human - they have such a spirit to them compared to something off a conveyer belt," she says."Alsadu likes to say that everything they carry has a story, and people love that. All these things came with a story."

The designers also tried to think long-term when selecting such items as furniture.

(Josh Stokes)

These 19th-century bronze leopards welcome visitors near the doorway. They came from the royal palace of the Benin Kingdom.

“From a sustainability standpoint, we chose pieces that were incredibly durable, like teak,” Vincent says. “There are different elements that come into play when you're trying to create a sustainable space.”

It's a balancing act,Vincent says.

“Ask yourself, ‘Is it durable?' ‘Is it something that can be gotten locally?' ‘Does it come from a renewable resource?' ‘Can it be recycled and used in a different way?' ” Vincent says. “Can you always accomplish all of these? No, not always. But balance is good. For example, a wool carpet with natural dyes comes at a higher price point, but you won't be replacing it every five or six years like you would with something more inexpensive.”

The most important element: tranquility.

“It was such a wonderful space to be in, very comforting reds and browns, an amazing view, an uncluttered space … people said they felt like they wanted to sit there, and they did. They felt the breeze, enjoyed the space and hung out. It was a place where you felt like you could exhale.”

Molly Guthrey is a Pioneer Press reporter and a frequent contributor to Spaces.

(Josh Stokes)

This sunroom, which overlooks the Mississippi River Valley along Summit Avenue, was renovated to take advantage of the spectacular view and updated by Sheree Vincent of Fusion Designed and Carol Boyles Interiors as part of the American Society of Interior Designers Showcase Home event. The teak lounge and ottoman are covered in outdoor acrylic fabrics for durability and comfort and the window treatments are woven woods.