A few years ago I decided to convert my Florida Room into an art studio.
If you aren’t aware what a Florida Room is, basically it’s an exterior room such as a patio, that is completely screened in. This keeps out the bugs, but still allows for wind as natural ventilation. I took down all of the screens and put in windows and walls. I laid down some heavy carpet over the cement patio floor, and before long it looked like a real studio. Of course, this area was not connected to the central HVAC system of the house. Since it only had screens before there was no reason for heating or cooling it. Now that the space was an art studio I needed climate control, not just for my own comfort but for the sake of the art. Excessive humidity needed to be eliminated, and the indoor air quality improved, or none of the paints or canvases would stay in good condition. As I mentioned, the ductwork system from the main house was not connected to the studio, and I did not feel it was worth the money to buy an additional HVAC system for just one room. Instead I bought a small, portable cooling unit that combined a fan, an air conditioner, and a dehumidifier. There is not very much cold weather in this part of the country, but I also got a cheap little space heater to use in the winter. The cooling unit will get the most use, and I hope it is able to keep the indoor air quality at a high level.