You don’t need much to turn an entry porch into a place that allows and even encourages connection; even a simple chair will do. But if you’re planning to stay awhile, perhaps waving at neighbors over the morning paper or communing with trees over coffee, a thoughtful front porch design is a boon. See how designers used comfy seating, open railings, inviting landscapes and more to transform these 10 front porches into immersive experiences.
1. Swing Shift
A two-seater swing is just the right size for the couple who own this Austin, Texas, ranch house to sit in comfort and wave to neighbors passing by. Kaelee Pearson of CG&S Design-Build expanded and redid the old front porch with stained Douglas fir framing to match the new front door. Also part of the front-of-house makeover: a new walkway, siding, paint for the brick and landscaping that belies the urban setting.
As they swing in the fresh air, the couple can gaze out at both the street happenings and the plants in their front yard, which include ‘Natchez’ crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia ‘Natchez’, USDA zones 6 to 9; find your zone), bamboo muhly (Muhlenbergia dumosa, zones 8 to 10) and aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium, zones 3 to 9).
A two-seater swing is just the right size for the couple who own this Austin, Texas, ranch house to sit in comfort and wave to neighbors passing by. Kaelee Pearson of CG&S Design-Build expanded and redid the old front porch with stained Douglas fir framing to match the new front door. Also part of the front-of-house makeover: a new walkway, siding, paint for the brick and landscaping that belies the urban setting.
As they swing in the fresh air, the couple can gaze out at both the street happenings and the plants in their front yard, which include ‘Natchez’ crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia ‘Natchez’, USDA zones 6 to 9; find your zone), bamboo muhly (Muhlenbergia dumosa, zones 8 to 10) and aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium, zones 3 to 9).
2. Extended Invitation
The team at Case Architects & Remodelers shared Houzz photos and ideabooks with this Washington, D.C., homeowner to design an inviting and elegant space she could use for hosting visitors and taking in the garden year-round. They extended the front porch by 81 square feet, connecting new with old via a traditional-style railing across the entire structure and columns wrapped in PVC to match the existing ones.
The homeowner now can access the backyard directly from the new porch, whereas the old porch ended abruptly with no connection to the yard. An enchanting greenery-covered arched gate lies just out of frame here, and a birdbath next to the steps at the porch’s other end welcomes wildlife.
The team at Case Architects & Remodelers shared Houzz photos and ideabooks with this Washington, D.C., homeowner to design an inviting and elegant space she could use for hosting visitors and taking in the garden year-round. They extended the front porch by 81 square feet, connecting new with old via a traditional-style railing across the entire structure and columns wrapped in PVC to match the existing ones.
The homeowner now can access the backyard directly from the new porch, whereas the old porch ended abruptly with no connection to the yard. An enchanting greenery-covered arched gate lies just out of frame here, and a birdbath next to the steps at the porch’s other end welcomes wildlife.
3. Zesty Gestures
These Toronto homeowners have always loved their street, neighborhood and home. So when a fire destroyed the century-old house, they wanted to rebuild it with a welcoming front yard and a porch where they could have coffee, read the paper and chat with neighbors.
Landscape designers and builders Shelby Hallman Mailloux and Adrian Mailloux of Earth and Sole brought in low-maintenance plants with a friendly vibe, such as a fast-growing native silver maple (Acer saccharinum, zones 3 to 9) that will one day shade the yard and sidewalk. And on the porch, a zesty orange front door and seat cushions add joyful energy.
These Toronto homeowners have always loved their street, neighborhood and home. So when a fire destroyed the century-old house, they wanted to rebuild it with a welcoming front yard and a porch where they could have coffee, read the paper and chat with neighbors.
Landscape designers and builders Shelby Hallman Mailloux and Adrian Mailloux of Earth and Sole brought in low-maintenance plants with a friendly vibe, such as a fast-growing native silver maple (Acer saccharinum, zones 3 to 9) that will one day shade the yard and sidewalk. And on the porch, a zesty orange front door and seat cushions add joyful energy.
4. Fancy That
These Australian homeowners originally wanted a simple lawn in their front yard, but landscape architect Ben Scott knew that a layered garden with a meandering path would suit the storybook Victorian facade much better. Two openwork chairs beautifully fit the front porch’s lacy overhang and provide views of herbaceous perennials, ornamental grasses and an existing liquidambar tree with a new swing, which enhances connection to the garden.
Interestingly, the bluestone pavers lead around the back to a modern addition, with the landscape transitioning accordingly.
These Australian homeowners originally wanted a simple lawn in their front yard, but landscape architect Ben Scott knew that a layered garden with a meandering path would suit the storybook Victorian facade much better. Two openwork chairs beautifully fit the front porch’s lacy overhang and provide views of herbaceous perennials, ornamental grasses and an existing liquidambar tree with a new swing, which enhances connection to the garden.
Interestingly, the bluestone pavers lead around the back to a modern addition, with the landscape transitioning accordingly.
5. Big House on the Prairie
Looking out over a sugar kettle fountain with koi and a prairie meadow beyond, this front porch about 60 miles west of Chicago offers connection to the sights, sounds and scents of nature. Bob Hursthouse of Hursthouse Landscape Architects and Contractors, who lives here with his wife, designed the landscape with the history of the land — oak and hickory savannas and tallgrass prairies — and the Craftsman-style architecture of the house in mind. The country homestead is about 1½ acres and borders an oak grove belonging to the community.
Cobbled granite on the fountain nods to the porch’s column bases, and the bluestone of the porch flooring and steps extends to a new entry terrace. But the look gets looser and less formal away from the house, creating a gentle transition to the sweeping natural setting.
Looking out over a sugar kettle fountain with koi and a prairie meadow beyond, this front porch about 60 miles west of Chicago offers connection to the sights, sounds and scents of nature. Bob Hursthouse of Hursthouse Landscape Architects and Contractors, who lives here with his wife, designed the landscape with the history of the land — oak and hickory savannas and tallgrass prairies — and the Craftsman-style architecture of the house in mind. The country homestead is about 1½ acres and borders an oak grove belonging to the community.
Cobbled granite on the fountain nods to the porch’s column bases, and the bluestone of the porch flooring and steps extends to a new entry terrace. But the look gets looser and less formal away from the house, creating a gentle transition to the sweeping natural setting.
6. One and (Not) Done
Although there’s just a single chair on this Southern California front porch, whoever sits in it won’t feel lonely. Along with a Dutch door that keeps the connection to the kitchen open, a dining patio is nearby. In fact, there are three front patios to make the most of the temperate climate. A limestone trough fountain provides a pleasant sound heard from all three, and greenery aplenty boosts privacy and dampens street noise — important, as the house is on a corner lot.
PVC decking used for the porch flooring minimizes maintenance for the owners, who are retired.
Although there’s just a single chair on this Southern California front porch, whoever sits in it won’t feel lonely. Along with a Dutch door that keeps the connection to the kitchen open, a dining patio is nearby. In fact, there are three front patios to make the most of the temperate climate. A limestone trough fountain provides a pleasant sound heard from all three, and greenery aplenty boosts privacy and dampens street noise — important, as the house is on a corner lot.
PVC decking used for the porch flooring minimizes maintenance for the owners, who are retired.
7. It’s a Natural
While this is technically a covered patio, the homeowners treat the 320-square-foot space as a front porch and love connecting with the hikers checking out a popular trailhead nearby. Designer and builder Stephen Shoup and Hide Kawato of building Lab chose a charcoal gray fiber cement siding to complement the rest of the home’s wood siding, and the palette allows the home — which is on a quiet cul-de-sac in Northern California — to blend into the surrounding nature.
One extra-special design touch: Note how the bands of light coming through the garage door match the integrated step lights.
While this is technically a covered patio, the homeowners treat the 320-square-foot space as a front porch and love connecting with the hikers checking out a popular trailhead nearby. Designer and builder Stephen Shoup and Hide Kawato of building Lab chose a charcoal gray fiber cement siding to complement the rest of the home’s wood siding, and the palette allows the home — which is on a quiet cul-de-sac in Northern California — to blend into the surrounding nature.
One extra-special design touch: Note how the bands of light coming through the garage door match the integrated step lights.
8. A Rocking Time
Two rocking chairs let folks while away the day at the entry to this guesthouse in Illinois, which lies on a lot next to the owners’ main home. Interior designer Laurie Demetrio and landscape design-build pro Joey Rossa of JMR Landscaping carried over colors and materials from the main house to both the interior and exterior of the guesthouse. Blue is the star, with accents in white, gray and wood. The pavers here are bluestone, and the doors are clear Douglas fir with glass panes.
Two rocking chairs let folks while away the day at the entry to this guesthouse in Illinois, which lies on a lot next to the owners’ main home. Interior designer Laurie Demetrio and landscape design-build pro Joey Rossa of JMR Landscaping carried over colors and materials from the main house to both the interior and exterior of the guesthouse. Blue is the star, with accents in white, gray and wood. The pavers here are bluestone, and the doors are clear Douglas fir with glass panes.
9. All Wrapped Up
Structural updates were just as important as aesthetic ones with this wraparound porch at a Pensacola, Florida, corner home built in 1908. Originally without a railing and with sloped decking, an oddly pitched roof and seen-better-days ceiling paneling, the 400-square-foot porch felt like a danger zone. The couple who own the home and had been living there for over 20 years decided it was time to renovate — and luckily, one of them is architect Dean Dalrymple of Dalrymple | Sallis Architecture.
Dalrymple brought the structure up to hurricane codes and added railings that don’t block views. He also created three zones: one for outdoor living to the left of the front door; a seating area recalling a ship’s bow to the right, ideal for chatting with neighbors; and a reading nook around the corner. Bright orange chairs create a cheerful, welcoming vibe.
Structural updates were just as important as aesthetic ones with this wraparound porch at a Pensacola, Florida, corner home built in 1908. Originally without a railing and with sloped decking, an oddly pitched roof and seen-better-days ceiling paneling, the 400-square-foot porch felt like a danger zone. The couple who own the home and had been living there for over 20 years decided it was time to renovate — and luckily, one of them is architect Dean Dalrymple of Dalrymple | Sallis Architecture.
Dalrymple brought the structure up to hurricane codes and added railings that don’t block views. He also created three zones: one for outdoor living to the left of the front door; a seating area recalling a ship’s bow to the right, ideal for chatting with neighbors; and a reading nook around the corner. Bright orange chairs create a cheerful, welcoming vibe.
10. Coordinated Craftsman
A team of four — architect, interior designer, landscape architect and contractor — worked together inside and out to complete an extensive renovation of this Craftsman-style home and landscape in Toronto. For instance, interior designer Shannon Balm recommended precast stone made of Ontario granite and marble for the pillars and other accents on the home’s front porch and facade, and landscape architect Kyle Foch used it to build retaining walls in the front yard and planting beds in the back.
The front porch got a substantial makeover, which included recladding the columns, changing out the decking and soffits, removing concrete stairs that led to the driveway and reconstructing the banisters and walls. The team also added lighting, heating and speakers to make it an even more comfortable place where the family can interact with neighbors.
A team of four — architect, interior designer, landscape architect and contractor — worked together inside and out to complete an extensive renovation of this Craftsman-style home and landscape in Toronto. For instance, interior designer Shannon Balm recommended precast stone made of Ontario granite and marble for the pillars and other accents on the home’s front porch and facade, and landscape architect Kyle Foch used it to build retaining walls in the front yard and planting beds in the back.
The front porch got a substantial makeover, which included recladding the columns, changing out the decking and soffits, removing concrete stairs that led to the driveway and reconstructing the banisters and walls. The team also added lighting, heating and speakers to make it an even more comfortable place where the family can interact with neighbors.
Content provided by Elena Vega at Houzz.com
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