Amazing Before-and-After Porch Makeovers

Pre-renovation, this undersize porch lacked appropriate scale in relation to the rest of the home. Its rickety construction and lack of visual interest served as a detriment to the curb appeal.

The newly redone front porch feels like a destination, thanks to key changes. First was an expansion of the seating area and a swap to a screened-in space. Architectural details, including cross-hatching at the base of the screens, also add visual interest. A wide set of stairs does wonders, too, adding a gracious welcome to the space.

Nondescript may be the best descriptor of this ranch-style home exterior. The front door offered an unappealing entry, and the collection of windows presented a visually unappealing, ill-proportioned front yard view.

Instead of trying to hide the garage door, the homeowners took advantage of the renovation to enhance it, making it a central part of the exterior redo. Wood shake shingles offer visual texture, complemented by vertical and horizontal patterning around the doorway. A small sitting area supplies connection with the landscape, now enhanced with columnar evergreens and pretty flowers.

Two steps were the only design focal point to this weary-looking facade. There was no connection to the yard and uninteresting details detracted from -- rather than enhanced -- the quaint cottage appeal.

A brand-new front porch offers a multitude of benefits for these homeowners. The expansive front porch offers a spot for resting and serves as a connection between the house and landscape. A considerate addition adds space but stays respectful of the scale of the original home, as do the restrained but thoughtful details such as the columns and porch railing. A pretty collection of midsize shrubs and perennial flowers softens the flow from drive to house.

Uninterrupted swaths of siding gave the exterior of this home a cumbersome appearance, and overgrown landscaping contributed to the dark and dreary feel of the front porch. In addition, the front exterior had been stripped of most of its architectural interest.

More windows -- some small, some tall -- break up both sections of the new facade. A new fireplace made of interesting stonework directs the eye upward and adds texture and visual interest. A cleaned-up landscape gives the new porch an openness and connection with the rest of the yard, and pretty details -- new shutters, different types of siding -- add charm.

A too-slim front porch offered little in the way of seating space for this overcrowded and fatigued area. Old windows and a dated door, as well as lack of any attractive details on the facade, contributed to the disappointing porch area.

Although it's only slightly wider than its previous iteration, the new front porch provides a dramatically different view for the home's exterior. Pretty columns add Arts-and-Crafts detailing add welcoming touches, as do stone accents. A slightly curved walkway and picket fence define the front landscape. Additional details reinforce the cottage-like feel, including new windows and color-defining accents on the roofline.

Tucked away and perpendicular to the street, the entry of this home was lost. Faux shutters and a dated color scheme reinforced the lackluster exterior.

The homeowners kept the brick detailing on the lower portion of the home, but enhanced the upper half with new shake shingles and a complementary neutral tone. Revamped windows updated the home's front face, as did roofline details and a railing on a small porch above the garage. Perhaps the biggest change, though, was the redone front porch and entry. Even though the door retained its same placement, a small sitting area, dramatic columns, and new stairs give the home's entry presence and definition. Pretty landscaping along the drive gives the shady setting added curb appeal.