Celebrating the front porch
The front porch is not just a place to receive Amazon packages. The front porch is an extension of your home, a connection to the outdoors, and the place where you greet friends and neighbors and welcome them into your home. Life moments happen on the front porch! My kids know the drill… if it’s the first day of school, it’s pictures on the front porch. October 1st means stretching the 8-foot spider web between the porch columns to kick off the Halloween festivities. Strings of lights are hung across the porch roof during the holidays to brighten up the long, dark nights. The American flag waves proudly from the front porch, and if it’s College Game Day, the WSU flag flies. Go Cougs!
If your home project allows, a covered front porch adds outdoor living space. Yes, we endure our share of rainy days here in the Pacific Northwest, but we enjoy warm, sunny days as well. Having a deep roof overhang gives protection from the elements almost year-round. Hang a porch swing, stage a couple of Adirondack chairs, make a statement with a custom bench, or if space allows, add a café table and chairs. A small furniture grouping welcomes visitors and says, “stay awhile!”
The front door itself says “welcome home!” For added drama, consider an over-sized entry door. One that is wider and/or taller than a standard door. Add windows flanking the door, or a relight above the door, to further open up your space. Maybe you have a view that you want to take advantage of with a front door that is mostly glass. If structural changes are not an option, consider a replacement door in the same opening. A wood door with Craftsman detailing, or a modern, solid slab door will accentuate your entry and should compliment the style of your home. Giving your existing door a fresh coat of paint, with a new pop of color, is another great way to renew the entry to your home.
Lighting is a key element in the design of any entry. Porch lighting should be warm and inviting, welcoming visitors to your front door. Wall sconces give good up-down lighting, washing the entry wall with general light. The light fixtures themselves can either be a design statement, an accent to the style of your home, or they can be designed to blend into the architecture of your home.
If your space doesn’t allow adding a covered porch, other projects can have a big impact on your existing entry. Expand the approach to your front door by pruning mature landscaping. Install a new stone paver pathway and add pathway lighting – solar powered, for energy savings and ease of installation. Consider landscape lighting as well. Shine a spotlight on a favorite tree or two in the front yard, and when it’s dark the eye is drawn outside giving a sense of spaciousness to your entry. Widen the steps leading up to your front door for a more gracious feel.
Don’t forget the details! There are several “smart” doorbells available now with cameras for added security. Consider installing smart outlets on your porch, for things like holiday lights, that can be controlled remotely. Steps illuminated with theater aisle lighting are a welcome feature. Last, but not least, be sure to install your house numbers in a location where they are easy to read.
Whether you’re building a new home, planning a remodel or addition, or you simply want to freshen up the look of your space, don’t forget to celebrate the front porch!
Written by: Cristy Weller, Architectural Designer at H2D Architecture + Design
