While David Heide and Chris Christofferson, of David Heide Design Studio, were working on a second-floor remodel in this Uptown home (to create a new master suite), the homeowners mentioned how they would love to have a porch on the back of the house. David and Chris agreed. The house was not only missing an upper and lower back porch historic to the structure’s style and period; new windows—and then a door—added to bring light into the new master suite provided a more balanced fenestration pattern that leant itself to porches.

Using details existing on the house’s front porch—including columns, simple square spindles, soffits and overhangs, and on the lower porch a low wall with siding and rails—Chris and David designed new upper and lower porches that add balance, functionality, enjoyment and aesthetic beauty to the back of the house. Interior and exterior are now more connected. The homeowners experience even more joy in their home, with two new porches from which to enjoy views, sun and shade, and their backyard. Moreover, the home’s entire exterior was painted a dark purplish-red to differentiate it from adjacent homes and enliven the block.

“The clients came to us for a second-floor master suite addition, which led to a discussion about a back porch,” says Chris. “Now that the project is done, they’ve said, they’re so happy we went ahead with the porches. While initially they didn’t know they needed those additions, now that they’re enjoying two new porches they can’t imagine living without them, nor can they imagine the house without them.”