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Landscape Design Porches & Decks Design Dilemma

Suggestions for front porch area

3 years ago

Our front walkway needs redone and the porch that came with the house is not great. the two windows on L and R sides of the front door are actually fully functional French doors. I’d like to make them part of the front porch area But I don’t want to ruin the appearance of the house I’m thinking some sort of concrete semi circle porches that mesh into a larger landing on the front door. I tried to draw (very poorly) my ideas so the purple is like a birds eye view and the green is looking straight on - so there would be stairs to negate the need for a rail. thinking maybe some stone to give a softer look. any ideas or suggestions or photos that match what I’m thinking?

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Comments (5)

jck910
3 years ago
I think I would find a designer or architect that can help you not to ruin the facade of you lovely home. Hard to tell from the picture but it looks like the french doors might be lower than the front door. I would start by removing the shutters on the sides of the french doors. Do you live in a neighborhood that lends itself to spending a lot of time on the front porch?
calidesign
3 years ago
Your house is adorable! I'd consider making the front porch and stairs wider to accommodate just the whole front section of the house that sticks out, which would make it more symmetrical and give you a larger welcoming area. If you run the porch across the entire front, I'd just do a clean straight line, with the stairs still in the middle. I'm not sure you'd really gain anything from doing that though.
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Maybe it's a Carolina thing - or maybe just MY yard! - but I tried them two years ago w/bad results. They took off and grew vigorously ..... a little too vigorously as they topped the trellis and proceeded to grow into a huge, heavy knot at the top (practically overnight!). Guess I should have been pruning them, but I'd never read of that. Anyway, then I discovered they were a major Japanese Beetle magnet - worst beetle year I've ever had and they were the obvious attraction! Once the beetles finished making lace out of the leaves, the MGs contracted some sort of rust-like disease/fungus and ugly doesn't begin to describe it. By mid-summer I'd had it and tore them all down leaving bare trellises for the rest of the growing year. They were lush, blooming and gorgeous for about a week - not enuf payback for me. Gonna stick w/clematis for my little chunk of dirt. I do love them, and am very sad I can't grow them here so thanks for the beautiful pics above! BTW, I interplanted moonflowers w/the MGs and the moonflowers never made an apppearance. Don't know what that was all about.
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A few things come to mind. A covered porch. Not so very deep that it will keep the front door in shade during the winter months when the sun is low in the sky but deep enough that when it is high in the sky during the summer months it will be shaded. An arbor arching over your doorway with vines that will shade your doorway during the growing season yet lose its foliage during the winter months. (Haven't a clue where you live so the choice of vegetation is up to you.) Long term: Plant a tree in front where it will cast shade during the summer. Replace your doorknob with one with a heat-reflecting finish? Use the back door? (Silly, I know but the rest of my answers get even more absurd.) Wayne
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You could build a small patio out front though where you could have a small sitting area. Where are you located? Can you take a picture from farther back? I couldn't find any great examples, but hopefully this will give you the idea. You would want to keep materials consistent with your current house and scale would depend on what else you've got going on.
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No on the window because, IMO, it is too shabby chic for you home…lovely, by the way. Indoor/outdoor runner up to front door; rattan furniture, all working with a new front door color. Suggesting B.M. Somerville Red for the door AND the storm door. Art, instead of the window, your choice, of course, this is from greatbigcanvas.com region Florida. Out door sofa (love the look) and indoor/outdoor runner are from all modern.com. The faux croc pillow cover is from etsy.com. Instead of 2 18 x 18’s, I think three lumbars would work out better. Couple of garden stools in white. These are from Hayneedle. Add perennial climbing vines on the columns. Would ever consider painting the columns black?
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decoenthusiaste
3 years ago
Local regulations will probably require a railing, like it or not. I agree, the shutters are ruining the French doors for me. If you want to actually exit the house via the French doors, I would plan on one porch all across, without curves or separations. The required railings will change your house a lot. You might do better to install a "gingerbread" wood railing at each French door, without a porch to step out on, for safety so the doors can be opened and the outside air enjoyed. Where do you live? Would retractable screens be needed due to insects? As for the entry, I might prefer a larger porch that spans that entire extension and has flared steps and railing.

Here's the idea; simply a way to keep you from falling out of the open door. Style them to match your cottage's look.
Patio and French Doors · More Info

Presidio Heights Residence · More Info

Sagamore Road, Marblehead, MA · More Info
okibujp
3 years ago
Your home is beautiful! Love it! I love Decoenthusiaste suggestion of a faux balcony like they have in in front of the windows in Europe. A window box might also be an idea. Beefing up the porch a bit would look wonderful. I agree that you need a new walkway. Maybe. This is a rendition of ideas so you can visualize. I added random landscaping just to give it some color!
katie piet
Original Author
3 years ago
This was an old picture, I agree - the shutters did nothing for the appearance so they’ve already been removed! Thank you all for the suggestions.

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