Porch of the Week: Room for Lounging and Socializing
Remodeling pros extend a front porch in Washington, D.C., to add living space and a seamless connection to the garden
The team at Case/Design Remodeling has collaborated with Jackie Calmes on her 1930s Washington, D.C., home for 20 years, tackling everything from a kitchen remodel and dormer addition to finishing her attic and handling various handyman projects around the house. So when Calmes wanted to enlarge her home’s existing front porch, she knew exactly whom to call.
Before: From this view, standing on the path that leads to the backyard, you can see how the porch abruptly ended before the remodel — with no connection to the yard beyond. Additionally, the window in the foreground is the reading room, which Calmes hoped a porch addition would be able to shade.
After: In this photo, taken from the same view as the previous image, you can see how the porch now extends almost to the end of the front of the house, with a new painted-wood trellis providing shade while still allowing natural light to pass through.
To seamlessly connect the 81-square-foot porch extension with the original structure, the team installed a new railing across the entire porch that met building codes and created a more traditional look. The team wrapped the columns in PVC to match those that existed.
Trim and column paint: Extra White, Sherwin Williams; shutter paint: Arabian Red, Behr
To seamlessly connect the 81-square-foot porch extension with the original structure, the team installed a new railing across the entire porch that met building codes and created a more traditional look. The team wrapped the columns in PVC to match those that existed.
Trim and column paint: Extra White, Sherwin Williams; shutter paint: Arabian Red, Behr
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New bluestone pavers run across the porch, covering what had been a bare concrete slab. “The client requested that we included the same type of stones used in their garden, so we ran it across the whole porch to finish the concrete slab and to bring more character to the project,” designer Vincente Neto says.
The Right Dimensions for Your Porch
The Right Dimensions for Your Porch
Extending the porch opened up views of the garden and created more room for outdoor seating and lounging. From this view, you can see how the new porch extension opens up to the yard, allowing the homeowner to step out of her front door, turn right and walk straight to the backyard. Before the renovation, she needed to turn left, step off the porch and walk around the porch.
Shop for Adirondack chairs on Houzz
Shop for Adirondack chairs on Houzz
Steps leading up to the porch on both sides also feature bluestone pavers, with complementary split stone veneer covering the step risers.
The team also solved the existing drainage issues. They built the porch extension over the low part of the yard, which collected water during rainstorms, and they bricked in a basement window located at grade that often flooded.
“The overall product looks very appealing and looks like it was original to the house,” project developer Adrian Andreassi says. “It is a typical project, but the finishes selected by the client made it special.”
More on Houzz
How to Get Started Adding a Porch
Read more stories about porches
Browse thousands of porch photos
Work with a landscape designer
Shop for your outdoor spaces
The team also solved the existing drainage issues. They built the porch extension over the low part of the yard, which collected water during rainstorms, and they bricked in a basement window located at grade that often flooded.
“The overall product looks very appealing and looks like it was original to the house,” project developer Adrian Andreassi says. “It is a typical project, but the finishes selected by the client made it special.”
More on Houzz
How to Get Started Adding a Porch
Read more stories about porches
Browse thousands of porch photos
Work with a landscape designer
Shop for your outdoor spaces
Porch at a Glance
Who lives here: Jackie Calmes
Location: Washington, D.C.
Size: 265 square feet (25 square meters)
Design-build team: Adrian Andreassi, project developer, and Vincente Neto, designer, both of Case Design/Remodeling
When Calmes reached out to Case Design/Remodeling about extending her front porch, she hoped to solve a number of issues. First off, she wanted to be able to move directly from her front porch and entry into her backyard. Second, she wanted to shade her overly sunny front reading room without blocking the natural light completely. Finally, the portion of her yard directly next to the existing porch had major drainage issues she needed to resolve.
Not only is the front porch used for year-round entertaining (weather depending), it’s also the home’s front entrance. For that reason, it was important that the porch extension not only complement the home’s 1938 architecture but also seamlessly flow with the existing structure. Sharing Houzz photos and ideabooks, the team collaborated with Calmes to create an inviting, elegant space for hosting visitors and taking in the garden.
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