A timeless tradition again is helping midwesterners connect with family, neighbors and the great outdoors.

By Andria Hayday

How porches affect us

In the language of houses, nothing speaks to us quite like a porch. Facing the street, an open porch softens the transition to the fully enclosed spaces beyond, telling guests: "You're welcome here. Come on in." Overlooking a backyard or garden, it's a private retreat that says: "Relax, Rejuvenate. Leave pressures behind."

For a while it seems we forgot to listen, especially in suburban developments, where looming garages are the faces of many homes. If there's any front porch, it's usually tucked back from the street and built too small to hold anything but a few potted plants--hardly a place to sip iced tea and greet the neighbors.

But porches are making a comeback. The National Association of Home Builders reports that both mid- and high-end home buyers prefer houses with front porches.

"I think people are trying to capture a piece of Americana," says Rick Browne, an architect and porch devotee based in St. Charles, Illinois. "A simple element like a porch can offer serenity... a quiet spot to rest and talk, away from all the high-tech distractions like TV and email."

A porch is also practical. As a remodeling project it greatly enhances a home's appearance while expanding outdoor living space--at a cost far below that of other additions. Plus, interior spaces opening onto a porch seem larger.

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