| Front porch designs are usually modeled after a | | | | contemplation to watch the world go by? |
| home's architecture - such as country, | | | | - Do you have a view you'd like to take |
| contemporary, or perhaps a Victorian style. The | | | | advantage of? |
| style of a porch should fit the architectural style | | | | - Will you be celebrating summer-time birthdays |
| of the home as much as possible. Otherwise, it will | | | | and holidays on your porch? |
| look out-of-place and not give you the curb appeal | | | | - Do you like to decorate for the holidays? |
| you need. But just as important, when deciding | | | | Once you have identified your porch's primary |
| the style of porch you want, consider and plan | | | | purpose, determine what you will need. For |
| for its true purpose. | | | | decorating purposes additional electrical outlets (on |
| How will your porch be used? | | | | the porch and perhaps in the soffits) would be |
| Many builders give little consideration to the porch | | | | ideal. If you want more privacy consider its |
| although that is changing across the country. Many | | | | location and landscaping around your porch. If you |
| of us are opting for a porch that is both appealing | | | | love to listen to soft music on your porch, |
| and functional. The stoop just doesn't do it. So | | | | consider outdoor speakers. |
| begin by determining what you will mostly be | | | | Screen Porches and Three Season Porches |
| doing on your porch. Whether building a new | | | | If you enjoy eating outdoors a great option is to |
| porch or updating an existing one, cost is always | | | | convert part of the porch to a screen porch or |
| a factor. That given, make the most of what you | | | | three season porch. It doesn't have to be all or |
| are able to afford. | | | | nothing and this way you'll have the best of both |
| We know someone who is going to demolish an | | | | worlds. Because there is such a wide variety of |
| existing long and narrow porch to rebuild another | | | | screening materials you can find one that will |
| one. We advised them to make it wide enough to | | | | complement the color of your porch and home. |
| accommodate a porch swing and give ample play | | | | Small Porches |
| room for their three children. The porch can then | | | | Most people have small porches. You can improve |
| accommodate not only their family comfortably | | | | its design by landscaping around it to give you lots |
| but their kids' friends as well! They will also | | | | more space. You can then use it for quiet |
| potentially have space for a conversation area for | | | | conversations or just to relax and read a good |
| adults. They are going to incorporate these ideas | | | | book. |
| into a country style porch that will be | | | | Define your porch purpose and include the |
| approximately nine feet wide. | | | | requirements in the overall design, whether it is |
| Porches for Entertaining and Celebrations | | | | Victorian, southwestern, colonial, or |
| - Do you envision using your porch for | | | | contemporary. You'll be happy you took the time |
| entertaining? | | | | to think through how you will use your porch. |
| - Or do you prefer to have a space for quiet | | | | You'll be more satisfied with the results. |