Interior designer Lori Handberg turned this Deephaven, Minnesota, sunroom into a great spot for conversation. Pretty botanical throw pillows adorn a quartet of swivel chairs upholstered in navy-and-white houndstooth fabric. The ottoman in the center looks like a pretty pincushion. And there are spots for everyone in the group to put down a drink.
In addition to the views of Puget Sound, the design also keeps the views of the surrounding gardens as open as possible. The crew was careful not to disturb existing trees. An orchard of peach trees wraps around two sides of the porch, providing a beautiful view and healthy snacks. “We all enjoyed them during construction,” Price says. There are also apple trees, as well as a plum tree, on the property.
After: This is the approach from the driveway to the porch. The ramp eases catering deliveries for the many events the homeowners host. Architects from Build, which had designed the house and the original covered deck, completed some general drawings for enclosing it. Then Price took it from there, finding the best doors and glass panels to match the existing architecture through Cherry Creek Windows and Doors. The new glass doors and panels envelop the deck in a way that stops the wind but lets the homeowners open it up to let fresh air through when things are calm. Price had one outswing door, seen here on the left, and three sliding panel doors custom-made by Fleetwood Doors for the project. The size of the jambs works nicely with the existing steel posts, and the new sliding glass doors help give the structure a look reminiscent of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. “These clients are super savvy about design. It’s really fun as a designer to work with people like them,” Price says.
The most popular home bar of 2021 is in a Minneapolis kitchen by Tays & Co Design Studios. The bar includes a sink, beverage fridge and ice maker. Overhead are floating wood shelves hung from the ceiling with black steel bands. But the highlight of the space is the stunning stone veneer wall that adds visual weight and an undeniable rustic charm.
Homeowners’ request. “The clients requested a covered space in their backyard that would serve for entertaining and relaxing, tie into the existing stone fireplace and seating wall, and provide visual weight and a focal point to the pool area,” designer Micah Rogers says. Special features. The cabana features a stained tongue-and-groove ceiling with painted trim and posts. “Our masons constructed stack-stone pedestals that match the existing fireplace and seating wall finishes,” Rogers says. “They also retrofitted the fireplace to fit the new cabana.”
Designers: Tracy Schlegel and Kelcey Huff of Waterlily Interiors Location: Pasadena, Maryland Homeowners’ request. Update a cottage as a weekend getaway, keeping the original charm while making it brighter and more livable. Special features. Sanded and stained pine floors. Pale green beadboard ceiling (Fresh Mint by Benjamin Moore) with faux beams. Wood shingle siding. White wicker furniture. Outdoor rug. Designer tip. “Don’t be afraid to add windows and doors to a home,” designer Tracy Schlegel says. “This house had beautiful water views, but you could not see the view. We moved windows and added French doors.”
Designers: Alexis Vitale and Tiffany Lauer of Seventh Street Interiors Location: Manhattan Beach, California Size: 150 square feet (14 square meters); 10 by 15 feet Homeowners’ request. “The homeowners wanted an outdoor space they could entertain in,” designer Alexis Vitale says. “The vision was comfortable yet casual with a little sophistication.” Special features. Outdoor kitchen and grill area with range hood and patterned tile backsplash. Outdoor dining area with wood table, wicker chairs and striped rug. Lounge areas. Wood lantern-style pendant lights. Designer tip. An extendable dining table offers flexibility for accommodating extra guests.
The home’s classic Victorian architecture and double gallery porches were inspired by a historic house in Fernandina Beach on nearby Amelia Island. “Boat builders used to make the homes there, so there’s an artisanal aspect to it,” Hillman says. “That language was brought to this home — a classic traditional sensibility.” The porch fretwork and fence pickets closely resemble those of the historic house, and patinated lanterns offer old-world-style illumination. “All these little layers of detail make the home feel like it’s been there forever,” he says.
Meant as a porch space for the children, this spot has universal appeal. “The upstairs back porch is a haven where you can flop down, cozy up with a book and feel like you don’t have to be formal,” Hillman says. It flows out from the upstairs game room and features two hanging daybeds strewn with pillows. “You’re in your own little stratosphere up here,” he says.
The outdoor living room flows left to the dining area, complete with a teak table and shell-inspired decor. “You’re coming out to celebrate an even more intimate moment in the outdoors,” Hillman says. “You have a panoramic view of what’s in front of you.” Wood-effect cellular composite decking in weathered gray — used for all the porches — grounds the space and complements the interior French oak floors.
The screened-in porch, tucked behind the dining area, is ideal for more casual moments and offers a respite from the hot sun. “If the river is busy and you want more privacy, you come here,” Hillman says. “It’s a lean-back room where you really just want to stay and read a book or have a conversation.”
Garden House Set within a shaded woodland garden carpeted in ferns, this screened-in garden house belongs to Massachusetts-based landscape designer Hilarie Holdsworth. Designed as a spot for reading and relaxing, the garden house brings all of the comforts of being inside — soft cushions and blankets, screened sides to keep out bugs and a lamp overhead — to the serene setting of the garden.
Meriwether Design Group brought cushy living room comfort to this porch of a home outside Atlanta with relaxed European country-style furniture. The room’s architecture and lantern sconces give it traditional bones, while a bold-pattern rug and abstract artwork bring in graphic modern elements.
This Whitefish, Montana, house built by Denman Construction has rustic style, enhanced by elements like bark-covered tree trunks used as posts. A mix of plaid cushions, faux fur and Danish modern chairs elevates the look and provides comfort.
Balodemas Architects designed a porch for this Colonial Revival home in a way that takes on different decorating styles. The porch’s form, decking and beadboard ceiling are traditional, while the steel accents, minimalist lighting and wood stove are more modern. Because of this versatility, furniture and accessories can take the space in either direction.
Steele’s Design Studio and Boutique gave this screened-in porch of a historic home in Charlotte, North Carolina, a transitional update. Wicker furniture, wood planks and simple posts and railings bring the traditional, while the ceiling fan, sofa and concrete fire pit add modern elements.
“The sleeping porch is the coolest and they use it to sleep in the summer. It’s really fun for little-kid sleepovers,” Henley says. The daybed also makes it a breezy place to read a book during the day.
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