Annie M Design
Classic concrete porch idea in Other with a roof extension

Gridley + Graves Photographers BeDe Design
Mid-sized country porch photo in Philadelphia with decking and a roof extension

photo by Jay Graham / Constructed by All Decked Out, Marin County, CA
Mid-sized classic concrete screened-in front porch idea in San Francisco with a roof extension

We love it when a home becomes a family compound with wonderful history. That is exactly what this home on Mullet Lake is. The original cottage was built by our client’s father and enjoyed by the family for years. It finally came to the point that there was simply not enough room and it lacked some of the efficiencies and luxuries enjoyed in permanent residences. The cottage is utilized by several families and space was needed to allow for summer and holiday enjoyment. The focus was on creating additional space on the second level, increasing views of the lake, moving interior spaces and the need to increase the ceiling heights on the main level. All these changes led for the need to start over or at least keep what we could and add to it. The home had an excellent foundation, in more ways than one, so we started from there. It was important to our client to create a northern Michigan cottage using low maintenance exterior finishes. The interior look and feel moved to more timber beam with pine paneling to keep the warmth and appeal of our area. The home features 2 master suites, one on the main level and one on the 2nd level with a balcony. There are 4 additional bedrooms with one also serving as an office. The bunkroom provides plenty of sleeping space for the grandchildren. The great room has vaulted ceilings, plenty of seating and a stone fireplace with vast windows toward the lake. The kitchen and dining are open to each other and enjoy the view. The beach entry provides access to storage, the 3/4 bath, and laundry. The sunroom off the dining area is a great extension of the home with 180 degrees of view. This allows a wonderful morning escape to enjoy your coffee. The covered timber entry porch provides a direct view of the lake upon entering the home. The garage also features a timber bracketed shed roof system which adds wonderful detail to garage doors. The home’s footprint was extended in a few areas to allow for the interior spaces to work with the needs of the family. Plenty of living spaces for all to enjoy as well as bedrooms to rest their heads after a busy day on the lake. This will be enjoyed by generations to come.

This Winchester home was love at first sight for this young family of four. The layout lacked function, had no master suite to speak of, an antiquated kitchen, non-existent connection to the outdoor living space and an absentee mud room… yes, true love. Windhill Builders to the rescue! Design and build a sanctuary that accommodates the daily, sometimes chaotic lifestyle of a busy family that provides practical function, exceptional finishes and pure comfort. We think the photos tell the story of this happy ending. Feast your eyes on the kitchen with its crisp, clean finishes and black accents that carry throughout the home. The Imperial Danby Honed Marble countertops, floating shelves, contrasting island painted in Benjamin Moore Timberwolfe add drama to this beautiful space. Flow around the kitchen, cozy family room, coffee & wine station, pantry, and work space all invite and connect you to the magnificent outdoor living room complete with gilded iron statement fixture. It’s irresistible! The master suite indulges with its dreamy slumber shades of grey, walk-in closet perfect for a princess and a glorious bath to wash away the day. Once an absentee mudroom, now steals the show with its black built-ins, gold leaf pendant lighting and unique cement tile. The picture-book New England front porch, adorned with rocking chairs provides the classic setting for ‘summering’ with a glass of cold lemonade. Joyelle West Photography

This is an example of a transitional screened-in back porch design in Minneapolis with decking and a roof extension.

The owners of this beautiful historic farmhouse had been painstakingly restoring it bit by bit. One of the last items on their list was to create a wrap-around front porch to create a more distinct and obvious entrance to the front of their home. Aside from the functional reasons for the new porch, our client also had very specific ideas for its design. She wanted to recreate her grandmother’s porch so that she could carry on the same wonderful traditions with her own grandchildren someday. Key requirements for this front porch remodel included: - Creating a seamless connection to the main house. - A floorplan with areas for dining, reading, having coffee and playing games. - Respecting and maintaining the historic details of the home and making sure the addition felt authentic. Upon entering, you will notice the authentic real pine porch decking. Real windows were used instead of three season porch windows which also have molding around them to match the existing home’s windows. The left wing of the porch includes a dining area and a game and craft space. Ceiling fans provide light and additional comfort in the summer months. Iron wall sconces supply additional lighting throughout. Exposed rafters with hidden fasteners were used in the ceiling. Handmade shiplap graces the walls. On the left side of the front porch, a reading area enjoys plenty of natural light from the windows. The new porch blends perfectly with the existing home much nicer front facade. There is a clear front entrance to the home, where previously guests weren’t sure where to enter. We successfully created a place for the client to enjoy with her future grandchildren that’s filled with nostalgic nods to the memories she made with her own grandmother. "We have had many people who asked us what changed on the house but did not know what we did. When we told them we put the porch on, all of them made the statement that they did not notice it was a new addition and fit into the house perfectly.” – Homeowner

Eric Roth - Photo INSIDE OUT, OUTSIDE IN – IPSWICH, MA Downsizing from their sprawling country estate in Hamilton, MA, this retiring couple knew they found utopia when they purchased this already picturesque marsh-view home complete with ocean breezes, privacy and endless views. It was only a matter of putting their personal stamp on it with an emphasis on outdoor living to suit their evolving lifestyle with grandchildren. That vision included a natural screened porch that would invite the landscape inside and provide a vibrant space for maximized outdoor entertaining complete with electric ceiling heaters, adjacent wet bar & beverage station that all integrated seamlessly with the custom-built inground pool. Aside from providing the perfect getaway & entertainment mecca for their large family, this couple planned their forever home thoughtfully by adding square footage to accommodate single-level living. Sunrises are now magical from their first-floor master suite, luxury bath with soaker tub and laundry room, all with a view! Growing older will be more enjoyable with sleeping quarters, laundry and bath just steps from one another. With walls removed, utilities updated, a gas fireplace installed, and plentiful built-ins added, the sun-filled kitchen/dining/living combination eases entertaining and makes for a happy hang-out. This Ipswich home is drenched in conscious details, intentional planning and surrounded by a bucolic landscape, the perfect setting for peaceful enjoyment and harmonious living

Troy Thies Photography
Farmhouse white two-story wood gable roof photo in Minneapolis

With enormous rectangular beams and round log posts, the Spanish Peaks House is a spectacular study in contrasts. Even the exterior—with horizontal log slab siding and vertical wood paneling—mixes textures and styles beautifully. An outdoor rock fireplace, built-in stone grill and ample seating enable the owners to make the most of the mountain-top setting. Inside, the owners relied on Blue Ribbon Builders to capture the natural feel of the home’s surroundings. A massive boulder makes up the hearth in the great room, and provides ideal fireside seating. A custom-made stone replica of Lone Peak is the backsplash in a distinctive powder room; and a giant slab of granite adds the finishing touch to the home’s enviable wood, tile and granite kitchen. In the daylight basement, brushed concrete flooring adds both texture and durability. Roger Wade

Mid-sized cottage white two-story wood exterior home photo in San Francisco

A simplified farmhouse aesthetic was the direction chosen for the exterior. The front elevation is anchored by a heavy timber sitting porch which has views overlooking the paddock area. The gabled roof forms anchor the building to the field, offering dimension to the landscape on an otherwise flat site. .

Mid-sized farmhouse white two-story wood gable roof photo in Nashville

Photo by Ethan Pines
Patio - modern courtyard patio idea in Los Angeles

Mid-sized craftsman gray two-story mixed siding exterior home idea in Salt Lake City with a shingle roof

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!

When Cummings Architects first met with the owners of this understated country farmhouse, the building’s layout and design was an incoherent jumble. The original bones of the building were almost unrecognizable. All of the original windows, doors, flooring, and trims – even the country kitchen – had been removed. Mathew and his team began a thorough design discovery process to find the design solution that would enable them to breathe life back into the old farmhouse in a way that acknowledged the building’s venerable history while also providing for a modern living by a growing family. The redesign included the addition of a new eat-in kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, wrap around porch, and stone fireplaces. To begin the transforming restoration, the team designed a generous, twenty-four square foot kitchen addition with custom, farmers-style cabinetry and timber framing. The team walked the homeowners through each detail the cabinetry layout, materials, and finishes. Salvaged materials were used and authentic craftsmanship lent a sense of place and history to the fabric of the space. The new master suite included a cathedral ceiling showcasing beautifully worn salvaged timbers. The team continued with the farm theme, using sliding barn doors to separate the custom-designed master bath and closet. The new second-floor hallway features a bold, red floor while new transoms in each bedroom let in plenty of light. A summer stair, detailed and crafted with authentic details, was added for additional access and charm. Finally, a welcoming farmer’s porch wraps around the side entry, connecting to the rear yard via a gracefully engineered grade. This large outdoor space provides seating for large groups of people to visit and dine next to the beautiful outdoor landscape and the new exterior stone fireplace. Though it had temporarily lost its identity, with the help of the team at Cummings Architects, this lovely farmhouse has regained not only its former charm but also a new life through beautifully integrated modern features designed for today’s family. Photo by Eric Roth

Greg Premru
Mid-sized elegant white two-story wood exterior home photo in Boston with a hip roof

Lori Hamilton Photography
Example of a beach style two-story house exterior design in Other with a hip roof