monkton residence screened-in porch & decks

As a result of adding a beautiful kitchen expansion to their home twenty years ago, the owners of this Monkton home had to remove their existing screened-in porch. As the years passed, they grew to miss the idea of a screened-in porch but weren't keen on the look of the pressure-treated wood, stapled-screen porch they remembered.

bluehouse architecture was asked to create an upscale porch and new decks that would blend with the home as though they had always been there. The design needed to include natural lighting while controlling the harsh afternoon sun, a gabled ceiling for a loftier feel, and sufficient space to accommodate relaxing seating and a dining table.

As construction progressed, complications arose when it was found that proposed footings conflicted with buried downspouts, private gas lines, sewer and electric lines, and the foundation for the rock retaining wall adjacent to the pool. As each of these obstacles came to light, bluehouse worked diligently with the builder, Custom Deck Builders, to create structural modifications in a timely manner, while preserving the original design intent of the addition.

Additional issues that arose during construction included determining that the existing kitchen was out of square by two inches and out of plumb, leaning in more than two inches, making the roof framing more challenging than expected. The difficult to access rear yard and proximity of the screened-in porch addition to the existing stone retaining wall, which required some footings to be approximately five feet deep, also added to the challenges of the project.

The resulting design includes a stained knotty tongue-and-groove cedar ceiling, Azek decking laid on the diagonal to add to structural stability and increase the spacious feel, Azek railing with black metal balusters, vinyl-wrapped posts and beams, and a copper roof cupola which acts as a skylight, illuminating the entire depth of the porch and bringing light into the existing family room.

New decks were designed to the left of the porch and to the right of the kitchen bump-out. The left side deck adds to the exterior entertaining space adjacent to the new porch, while the second deck on the driveway side creates connections between the driveway, kitchen entry, and pathway to the backyard pool.

New landscaping ties the beautiful existing, but formerly "floating", pool to the house and outdoor living space. In particular, new stepping stones anchor it with a clear pathway connection.

Outdoor lighting elements include railing illumination, wall sconces, and a chandelier centered between two new ceiling fans in the screened porch.

At the completion of the project, the owners celebrated by hosting a birthday party in the new space. While the owners enjoyed having the extra space for entertaining throughout their yard, they also appreciated the ambience of the party in a porch that felt more like a finished room than the screened-in porch they had remembered having.