A Cozy Cottage-Inspired Sunroom Designed for Year-Round Relaxation
September 17th, 2026Andrea Picardi, Marketing Director
What if your favorite getaway was right outside your back door?
For these Virginia Beach homeowners, a previously screened-in outdoor space was transformed into a beautiful Betterliving Four Season Sunroom inspired by the charm of a garden cottage.
Overlooking their backyard pool and gardens, the new space blends the beauty of the outdoors with the comfort of an interior living room.
And while the homeowners originally set out to create a more comfortable way to enjoy their backyard, they ended up with something even better:
From Screen Room to Four Season Sunroom
The original screen room already offered the homeowners a connection to their backyard. But in Virginia Beach, enjoying a screened porch year-round can be challenging.
Summer brings intense heat and humidity. Mosquitoes and other bugs can quickly put an end to outdoor dinners. Rain and cooler temperatures can also make a screened space less comfortable and limit how often it’s actually used.
The homeowners wanted more from the space.
Working with the Betterliving Sunrooms & Awnings by McDrake team, they transformed the existing screen room into a comfortable Four Season Sunroom designed for year-round enjoyment.
The result is a warm, cottage-inspired retreat that feels like part of the home while maintaining an uninterrupted connection to the beautiful backyard.
Construction Phase
From the first day of construction through the final details, our team goes above and beyond to make the process as smooth and enjoyable as possible. It’s our commitment to craftsmanship and customer care that makes the Betterliving experience by McDrake Remodeling special.
A Garden Cottage With a Backyard View
The inspiration for the room was a cozy garden cottage—and every detail works together to create that feeling.
Expansive windows fill the room with natural light and frame views of the homeowners’ gardens and pool. Instead of looking out at the backyard from a traditional window, the sunroom makes the landscape feel like part of the room itself.
It’s bright, peaceful and inviting.
And because the space is enclosed and climate-controlled, the homeowners can enjoy those beautiful views without having to deal with the less enjoyable parts of Virginia Beach outdoor living.
No swatting mosquitoes. No sitting in oppressive humidity. No rushing inside when the rain starts.
Just the garden, the pool and the comfort of home.
Designed Around Their Dogs, Too
This sunroom wasn’t designed only for the humans.
The homeowners’ beloved Goldendoodles are an important part of their family, so the new space needed to work for them, too.
A custom doggy door provides the dogs with easy access between the sunroom and backyard, allowing them to enjoy the space alongside their owners.
It’s a small detail that makes a big difference in how naturally the room fits into everyday life.
The dogs can head outside to play, come back in to cool off and settle down with their family—all without sacrificing the comfort of the sunroom.
What Our Homeowners Had to Say
Why Choose a 4 Season Sunroom in Virginia Beach?
For Hampton Roads homeowners, a Four Season Sunroom can provide something a traditional screened porch simply can’t: year-round comfort.
A Betterliving Four Season Sunroom is designed more like an extension of your home’s living space, with features such as:
- Energy-efficient insulated glass
- Thermally broken vinyl framing
- Fully insulated roof and wall systems
- Available in gable or studio roof design or enclose your existing patio
- Custom designed to complement your home’s architecture
- Available in white or desert sand frame colors
- Adds valuable living space without the disruption of a traditional home addition
- Increases curb appeal and can enhance overall home value
- Professionally installed by authorized Betterliving Sunrooms dealers
- Backed by 50-year manufacturer’s warranty
Create Your Own Four Season Backyard Retreat
If you have a screened porch, patio or underused outdoor space that you’d love to enjoy more often, a Betterliving Four Season Sunroom by McDrake Remodeling may be the solution.
As an authorized Betterliving dealer serving Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads since 2017, McDrake can help take your project from initial design through permitting and professional installation.
Whether you’re dreaming of a garden cottage-inspired sunroom, a poolside retreat, a cozy family room or a year-round escape, we’ll help design a space around your home, your lifestyle and the way you want to enjoy your backyard.
Because your backyard deserves more than a beautiful view.
It deserves a room you’ll never want to leave.