Porches

In parts of the country where insects are a problem, a screened space is the solution. Custom-designed screens on this porch extend from floor to ceiling for unobstructed views and bug-free evenings.

This is a great example of design and scale for tying a porch to the main residence. Here, the rooflines, half-timber details, and screen framing all pick up design elements from the Tudor-style home.

Dry-stacked Tennessee fieldstone provides a chimney facing and fireplace surround with sufficient mass and detail to ground the porch's huge interior volume. The hearth allows the porch to be used year-round in a mild climate.

Wide floorboards and a little gingerbread trim give this long porch a lot of visual punch. Plus, it is wide enough to accommodate function without impeding foot traffic. French doors offer entry to the porch and inside views, while outdoor seating allows for scenes into the landscape.

Painted pine flooring, wicker furniture, and garden-inspired accessories create a natural flow between the porch and the outdoors. Fluted wood columns flank each set of sliding doors, imparting Colonial flavor and giving visual weight to this modest-size porch. Sliding doors are a good choice when space is tight inside and there are foundation plantings outside.

Matching the elevation of the home and using gray siding help this porch addition blend into the house. The small-pane windows and sliding doors, integrated columns and fanciful railings play off the basic design elements of this Georgian Revival home.

Steep backyards make it challenging to build a porch, but this balcony-style porch allows outdoor access from the kitchen that overlooks a steep slope. French doors accent the classic home and let natural light and fresh air into the kitchen. Note how well the under-porch supports have been integrated into the overall design.

Large columns grace the entrance and give stable structure to this porch. The white column railing complements the home's formal style. A dining area is tucked along the side of the staircase.

Classic white columns define an intimate spot on this wraparound porch, and an overhang provides shelter from the sun for seasonal enjoyment.

By expanding the living space outdoors onto the porch, this addition doesn't take up an overwhelming amount of room. An overhang makes the porch cozy and livable, like another room in the house without blocking sun from rooms in the "L". Floor-to-ceiling windows on the house let the outdoors in.

A creative mix of materials including stone walls and pedestals, classic columns, and elaborate detailing on the pergolas create a mix of textures that energize the rear facade of this house and illustrate how a variety of structural additions can be integrated into one home.