The client asked MOSAIC Group to design and construct a new porch from low-maintenance materials that would appear to be in character with the house. Other requirements included a small sun deck, an outdoor fireplace, a grilling and food preparation area, and table seating for eight. They also wanted a large seating area and adequate space to entertain friends and family. Photo: Gregg Willett

Best of Houzz 2015 for Design
This is an example of a craftsman tile front porch design in Austin with a roof extension.

This farmhouse front porch is quite charming with its stained shiplap ceiling and white posts. Architect: Meyer Design Photos: Jody Kmetz
Large cottage concrete porch idea in Chicago with a roof extension

Greg Premru
Sunroom - mid-sized coastal medium tone wood floor and brown floor sunroom idea in Boston with a standard ceiling

Look at the stained tongue and groove beamed ceiling, and custom cabinet designed to hold the homeowner’s TV on this Mount Juliet open porch additiion.

Most porch additions look like an "after-thought" and detract from the better thought-out design of a home. The design of the porch followed by the gracious materials and proportions of this Georgian-style home. The brick is left exposed and we brought the outside in with wood ceilings. The porch has craftsman-style finished and high quality carpet perfect for outside weathering conditions. The space includes a dining area and seating area to comfortably entertain in a comfortable environment with crisp cool breezes from multiple ceiling fans. Love porch life at it's best!

Photography: Jason Stemple
Inspiration for a large coastal screened-in porch remodel in Charleston with a roof extension

Mid-sized elegant front porch photo in Other with a roof extension

Most porch additions look like an "after-thought" and detract from the better thought-out design of a home. The design of the porch followed by the gracious materials and proportions of this Georgian-style home. The brick is left exposed and we brought the outside in with wood ceilings. The porch has craftsman-style finished and high quality carpet perfect for outside weathering conditions. The space includes a dining area and seating area to comfortably entertain in a comfortable environment with crisp cool breezes from multiple ceiling fans. Love porch life at it's best!

Place architecture:design enlarged the existing home with an inviting over-sized screened-in porch, an adjacent outdoor terrace, and a small covered porch over the door to the mudroom. These three additions accommodated the needs of the clients’ large family and their friends, and allowed for maximum usage three-quarters of the year. A design aesthetic with traditional trim was incorporated, while keeping the sight lines minimal to achieve maximum views of the outdoors. ©Tom Holdsworth

Screened porch addition interiors Photographer: Rob Karosis
Mid-sized elegant tile screened-in porch photo in Bridgeport with a roof extension

The Southern front porch, an absolute must and with so much character. The wooden plank floors, beadboard painted ceiling, drop lantern, wooden shutters and the bistro table with visiting pelican all work to make this a special place for "just sitting".

Inspiration for a timeless front porch remodel in Other with decking and a roof extension

Custom screen porch features a cozy stone fireplace, cathedral ceilings, and vinyl 4-track windows. A flagstone walkway wraps around the porch, leading to the front of the home. ~Mokena, IL http://chicagoland.archadeck.com/

Photography: Garett + Carrie Buell of Studiobuell/ studiobuell.com
Small transitional concrete screened-in side porch idea in Nashville with a roof extension

Rustic White Photography
Large transitional tile back porch photo in Atlanta with a fireplace and a roof extension

Greg Premru
Large beach style formal and open concept medium tone wood floor living room photo in Boston with a standard fireplace, white walls and a concrete fireplace

Lissa Gotwals Photography
Inspiration for a large timeless screened-in back porch remodel in Raleigh with decking and a roof extension

Inspired by the surrounding landscape, the Craftsman/Prairie style is one of the few truly American architectural styles. It was developed around the turn of the century by a group of Midwestern architects and continues to be among the most comfortable of all American-designed architecture more than a century later, one of the main reasons it continues to attract architects and homeowners today. Oxbridge builds on that solid reputation, drawing from Craftsman/Prairie and classic Farmhouse styles. Its handsome Shingle-clad exterior includes interesting pitched rooflines, alternating rows of cedar shake siding, stone accents in the foundation and chimney and distinctive decorative brackets. Repeating triple windows add interest to the exterior while keeping interior spaces open and bright. Inside, the floor plan is equally impressive. Columns on the porch and a custom entry door with sidelights and decorative glass leads into a spacious 2,900-square-foot main floor, including a 19 by 24-foot living room with a period-inspired built-ins and a natural fireplace. While inspired by the past, the home lives for the present, with open rooms and plenty of storage throughout. Also included is a 27-foot-wide family-style kitchen with a large island and eat-in dining and a nearby dining room with a beadboard ceiling that leads out onto a relaxing 240-square-foot screen porch that takes full advantage of the nearby outdoors and a private 16 by 20-foot master suite with a sloped ceiling and relaxing personal sitting area. The first floor also includes a large walk-in closet, a home management area and pantry to help you stay organized and a first-floor laundry area. Upstairs, another 1,500 square feet awaits, with a built-ins and a window seat at the top of the stairs that nod to the home’s historic inspiration. Opt for three family bedrooms or use one of the three as a yoga room; the upper level also includes attic access, which offers another 500 square feet, perfect for crafts or a playroom. More space awaits in the lower level, where another 1,500 square feet (and an additional 1,000) include a recreation/family room with nine-foot ceilings, a wine cellar and home office. Photographer: Jeff Garland