Porch of the Week: An Outdoor Room for Cooking and Relaxing
A Texas design-build firm uses Houzz to transform a crumbling structure into a dream space for socializing outdoors
Annie Thornton
January 25, 2020
Houzz Editorial Staff
The owners of this home in Austin, Texas, had a clear problem on their hands when they hired CG&S Design-Build to renovate their back porch. “It was basically falling off the house,” says Sara Hadden, who oversaw the project’s design. “[The homeowner] was afraid to even go outside on the porch because it was in such bad shape.”
The design-build firm completely overhauled the structure, rebuilding a larger and stronger porch with new outdoor amenities. The homeowners now have easy access to their pool and backyard, a comfortable spot where they can supervise their young daughter while she’s swimming and plenty of room to host and entertain friends.
The design-build firm completely overhauled the structure, rebuilding a larger and stronger porch with new outdoor amenities. The homeowners now have easy access to their pool and backyard, a comfortable spot where they can supervise their young daughter while she’s swimming and plenty of room to host and entertain friends.
“After” photos by Fine Focus Photography
Porch at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with a daughter in elementary school
Location: Davenport Ranch neighborhood of Austin, Texas
Size: 480 square feet (45 square meters)
Designer and builder: CG&S Design-Build
The new porch sits in the same spot as the original porch, overlooking the backyard and pool. CG&S, which designed and built the new porch, worked with a structural engineer to design the porch on a steel structure and concrete base. “We wanted to make sure we were providing a space that wasn’t going to fall off the house,” Hadden says. The new porch provides room for outdoor living and lounging and features a new outdoor kitchen.
Find a design-build firm on Houzz
Porch at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with a daughter in elementary school
Location: Davenport Ranch neighborhood of Austin, Texas
Size: 480 square feet (45 square meters)
Designer and builder: CG&S Design-Build
The new porch sits in the same spot as the original porch, overlooking the backyard and pool. CG&S, which designed and built the new porch, worked with a structural engineer to design the porch on a steel structure and concrete base. “We wanted to make sure we were providing a space that wasn’t going to fall off the house,” Hadden says. The new porch provides room for outdoor living and lounging and features a new outdoor kitchen.
Find a design-build firm on Houzz
Before Photo
Before: A smaller porch sat off the back of the house before the renovation. A balcony directly above the porch connected to the home’s master suite. In addition to the porch’s structural issues, its existing skylights also leaked whenever it rained. Stairs leading down to the backyard offered convenient access between the house and the pool, but they took up valuable space that the designers hoped to recoup during the redesign.
In addition to creating a safe outdoor space, the homeowners also wanted more room for outdoor entertaining. A gathering space for adults that also offered a view of and access to the pool topped the list. “They just wanted a space that they felt comfortable in. They didn’t want to feel cramped when people were out there,” Hadden says.
In addition to creating a safe outdoor space, the homeowners also wanted more room for outdoor entertaining. A gathering space for adults that also offered a view of and access to the pool topped the list. “They just wanted a space that they felt comfortable in. They didn’t want to feel cramped when people were out there,” Hadden says.
After: The new design brings more of a contemporary style to the outdoor space, something the homeowners wanted. The designers left the home’s existing facade as a way to maintain continuity between the new design and the original house. “We definitely wanted it to be cohesive and to not stick out,” Hadden says. The new porch features an expanded footprint, offering more room for outdoor entertaining while also creating a safe, easy transition down to the backyard.
A new set of stairs leads to the pool area and backyard. The new configuration takes up less space than the previous stairs and makes it easier for the homeowners to use a storage area under the porch that is accessible through new double doors.
The family uses the storage area, which stretches all the way to the house, to stash outdoor chair cushions and accessories for the pool and other outdoor needs. A gravel floor keeps the space from getting too damp, with the slightly spaced wood boards enabling air flow.
A new set of stairs leads to the pool area and backyard. The new configuration takes up less space than the previous stairs and makes it easier for the homeowners to use a storage area under the porch that is accessible through new double doors.
The family uses the storage area, which stretches all the way to the house, to stash outdoor chair cushions and accessories for the pool and other outdoor needs. A gravel floor keeps the space from getting too damp, with the slightly spaced wood boards enabling air flow.
Before Photo
Before: One side of the porch connected to the home’s family room through a sliding glass door. Stairs on the right led down to the yard and pool. This photo also shows one of the porch’s existing skylights, which leaked water when it rained.
After: A new outdoor kitchen is positioned for easy access to the home’s main kitchen, with a pass-through window connecting the two spaces. New downlights shine onto the cooking area where the home’s second story projects out. A hood helps contain any smoke from the grill.
The kitchen’s layout was inspired both by the grill setup that the homeowner wanted and the encaustic tiles they chose for cladding the kitchen’s base. “He was pretty specific about the grill he wanted and the size of the grill,” Hadden says. “We laid it out very specifically for those pieces of equipment.” Additionally Hadden wanted to include only full tiles in the design. “We laid out the outdoor kitchen very specially to course with full tiles.”
New folding patio doors from Panoramic Doors connect the porch to the home’s family room. The door system can be completely opened up, or just one panel can be used to get in and out of the house.
The kitchen’s layout was inspired both by the grill setup that the homeowner wanted and the encaustic tiles they chose for cladding the kitchen’s base. “He was pretty specific about the grill he wanted and the size of the grill,” Hadden says. “We laid it out very specifically for those pieces of equipment.” Additionally Hadden wanted to include only full tiles in the design. “We laid out the outdoor kitchen very specially to course with full tiles.”
New folding patio doors from Panoramic Doors connect the porch to the home’s family room. The door system can be completely opened up, or just one panel can be used to get in and out of the house.
In the mostly neutral-colored outdoor space, the encaustic tiles add interest and also lend the space a slightly more Spanish-style feel to tie in with the look of the house. “We looked at a bunch of spaces on Houzz that use encaustic tile,” Hadden says. The designer and homeowners then selected tile patterns they like and picked their tile based on available colors.
Counters with a concrete look top the outdoor kitchen space. “He really liked the feel of a concrete countertop,” Hadden says of the homeowner, emphasizing that he was drawn to concrete’s color and easy cleaning. With those details, the designer was able to suggest a solid surface material instead. “We felt like we could achieve that without having to go to the expense of having a custom concrete countertop fabricated,” Hadden says.
Ceramic tile covers the floor of the new porch. Hadden says they used a solid surface instead of decking so no water would drain into the storage area beneath. The tile they used has a subtle texture for traction, especially for the daughter or anyone else going between the house and the pool with wet feet.
Shop for patterned tile on Houzz
Counters with a concrete look top the outdoor kitchen space. “He really liked the feel of a concrete countertop,” Hadden says of the homeowner, emphasizing that he was drawn to concrete’s color and easy cleaning. With those details, the designer was able to suggest a solid surface material instead. “We felt like we could achieve that without having to go to the expense of having a custom concrete countertop fabricated,” Hadden says.
Ceramic tile covers the floor of the new porch. Hadden says they used a solid surface instead of decking so no water would drain into the storage area beneath. The tile they used has a subtle texture for traction, especially for the daughter or anyone else going between the house and the pool with wet feet.
Shop for patterned tile on Houzz
Before Photo
Before: The old porch provided a small seating area for two chairs to overlook the backyard. Outdoor curtains screen the view of a neighbor’s house. Additionally, a window overlooking the porch led to a guest bedroom.
After: A lounge area occupies half of the new porch, with comfy furniture, a gas fireplace and a wall-mounted TV giving the homeowners plenty of space to entertain — even in winter months. The same tile from the outdoor kitchen surrounds the outdoor fireplace, tying the two areas together. The fireplace area and built-in shelves next to it screen the view of the neighbor’s house next door.
New folding doors from Panoramic Doors replaced the existing window on the porch, enabling this entertaining area to expand when the family hosts larger gatherings. (The team converted the guest bedroom into a flexible living space.) Like the door to the family room, this one can open up completely or one panel can be opened like a standard door. The team reframed the wall, working with a structural engineer, and installed a new steel beam to support the larger opening.
A new roof completely covers the outdoor porch, spanning up to the second story. A natural cedar ceiling warms up the space, with additional skylights bringing in natural light. When redesigning the roof, the designers reduced the slope, offering the homeowners a better view from their second-story master suite. New ceiling fans provide air movement during hot summer months.
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New folding doors from Panoramic Doors replaced the existing window on the porch, enabling this entertaining area to expand when the family hosts larger gatherings. (The team converted the guest bedroom into a flexible living space.) Like the door to the family room, this one can open up completely or one panel can be opened like a standard door. The team reframed the wall, working with a structural engineer, and installed a new steel beam to support the larger opening.
A new roof completely covers the outdoor porch, spanning up to the second story. A natural cedar ceiling warms up the space, with additional skylights bringing in natural light. When redesigning the roof, the designers reduced the slope, offering the homeowners a better view from their second-story master suite. New ceiling fans provide air movement during hot summer months.
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I think it has a lot of good features. I am originally from Texas and Texans love to be outside no matter how hot it is ! I do hope there is a gate at the bottom of the stairs to keep visiting toddlers from heading to the pool when adults are distracted though.
Also from my many years with a husband who smokes everything I do not think the the bar be que smoker is well positioned. I fear smoke will get in the house. The overall design is lovely and makes the house much better for all season living.
This renovation was a 10+ & I’m a very tough grader. Exceptional redesign. Love the use of discs, all the changes & materials used. Kudos. 👍
Was supposed to read, “use of space. “