Do you ever wish you could just live in a greenhouse? When we were renovating the Merc, that was the goal. To let it as much light as humanly possible while preserving the original cedar planked roof.
When we started I knew that VELUX skylights were going to be a big part of the renovation (I have a lot of plants to keep happy!) but I didn’t know how significantly they would become one of the key design elements in the entire space.
The skylights transformed what would have been a 25’ dark ceiling abyss into something that not only draws your eyes up and outward but illuminates the character of the original roof, and fills the entire building with life-giving light. Transformative doesn’t even begin to describe the impact that our VELUX skylights have on the Merc.
We installed 23 skylights in all (told you the goal was a greenhouse!) One of my favorite moments during the renovation was walking in after they had cut the holes for them. It was so bright!! We have a mix of VELUX No Leak Solar Powered Fresh Air Skylights and VELUX No Leak Fixed Skylights, some with shades, some without! So I feel super qualified to speak on all of them!
Skylight Placement
Determining the placement of our skylights was a little tricky. The biggest design hurdle was figuring out placement in the exposed trusses and rafters. After a lot of back and forth, I ultimately decided that getting the vibe I wanted, we would need to install them a little unconventionally. This is one of the biggest Merc Perks we worked around. Of course the rafters weren’t centered on the main trusses.
Or on the windows.
Or on the room.
Because 100 years ago when they built the Merc, why would they need to be!?
Ultimately instead of conventionally installing the skylights vertically inside the rafters, we decided to flip the banks of 3 horizontally and install them over the top of the rafters. This fixed ⅔ of our design dilemmas. They were centered between the large trusses and centered on the windows. And truthfully, I love the added character and dimension that the perpendicular rafters below the skylights bring into the design. Each bank casts a different shadow and has its own quirky little pattern!
Lighting Up the Entire Space
Light balance is something that was really important to me when designing the placement. This part of the Merc is so expansive, I really wanted everything to feel balanced and symmetrical. Because the majority of the space is open without defined walls, even illumination was the goal to make it feel united. The glass walls on the loft make the space feel like it’s part of the larger room. So having VELUX skylights there was important to visually balance the natural light.
Plant Heaven
With all of my plants, you can imagine just how important natural light is. Installing skylights means that I can spread my plants throughout the space. The most critcal bank of skylights in the main living area is the one directly above the living wall. Without it I would need to have a very intense artificial light system to give the plants adequate light to grow. Another huge bonus is that the plants grow upward. You might be thinking, uhhh of course they do? But plants don’t necessarily grow upward, they grow toward light. Without the bank of skylights shining down directly on the entirety of the wall, all of the plants would be reaching toward the window and the wall wouldn’t be visually balanced. So cool right!?
Skylights in the Primary Bedroom
Our primary bedroom has the same exposed roof that the main living area of the Merc has, but because it’s the bedroom, I wanted less sunlight to make it more comfortable for sleeping. We installed two No Leak Solar Powered Fresh Air Skylights with room darkening shades in this space and love them! The room darkening shades work so well, they make the room nice and dark for sleeping. Perfect for afternoon naps!
Skylights in the Office Loft
The design of the office, with its glass walls and white paint makes this space feel like such a fun modern juxtaposition from the original adobe walls. This space is my sanctuary. I love working out of it everyday and the natural light that fills it makes my heart so happy. Because of the light that comes in from the skylights, I have plants spread throughout the entire room. Its where all of my most demanding guys hang out and can get the most love. Unlike the room darkening shades that we installed in the bedroom, I used VELUX light filtering shades. They are remote controlled and when they are closed they have the best filtered light, and soften hard shadows. It’s a dream for when I am shooting product shots!
How are the Temperatures!?
Hands down the most common question we get about our skylights is how they perform in the heat of Southern Utah. In the summer our temps regularly are over 100 degrees. After living with them for a full year, I have so much information to share! First, let me put any and all concerns to rest. All of the VELUX skylights we installed have dual paned, lowE3 glass that is extremely energy efficient. These are not just pieces of glass in the roof, they are designed to protect interior temperatures. Adding shades helps boost the skylights’ energy performance by controlling the amount of sunlight that comes through. In the main living area where we don’t have shades the spot of direct light is a little warmer than the rest of the room. The puppies love it and follow it along the floor all day long. Even with the wild outside heat, we have never had an issue cooling the space. Want proof? Buckle in because I’m about to blow your mind. From May 2020-May 2021 our utility bill average was $217.62 for the 2000 sq ft of Phase 1. From May 2021-May 2022 the average was $268.15 for the entire 4200 sq ft space after the completed renovation. The bill only went up $50 (!!??!) FIFTY DOLLARS. If that’s not a testament to the efficiency of our skylights and windows, I don’t know what is!
In short, we have LOVED our VELUX skylights. The quality, smart technology, beauty, efficiency and style have surpassed even my wildest dreams. If you are considering them, do it, 1000x over!! It transforms a home into a light filled sanctuary in ways you couldn’t get any other way, unless you move into an actual greenhouse!
WOW!! Beautiful. I’ve missed your posts. I hope all is going well with you and your family. Any update on this space next door? Were you going to do a restaurant?
Beautiful! As a plant lover, I wish I had your space. We recently installed velux skylights with shades in our main bedroom and are extremely happy with them. I needed to feel the breezes at night, but the windows alone didn’t cut it. The skylights are a dream!
These spaces are so gorgeous! Did you do a full tour of the completed Merc reno, your office or your primary bedroom? I looked all over for one but didn’t see anything. It all looks amazing!!