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Welcoming Screened Porch
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Welcoming Screened Porch
(ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: MARCH/APRIL 2006)
NATURE'S CALMING effects help Donna Veller, a real estate broker, unwind after a busy day. And she doesn't have to deal with the seemingly inevitable downsides: rain showers, pesky mosquitoes or the sweltering sun. Two years ago, Donna added a screen porch onto her home in Barrington, Illinois. It shields her from those common outdoor annoyances but allows her to enjoy fresh air and garden views.
"I knew building a screen porch would be the best way for me to spend more time outside," Donna says. "It's just like being out on the lawn, minus the insects."
Many Midwesterners are recognizing the value of outdoor rooms (screen porches, decks and patios) for relaxing, entertaining and extending living spaces. Often considered staples in the South and West, outdoor rooms are gaining popularity in the Midwest, despite our four-season climate. Thirty-four percent of Midwest homes have outdoor rooms, according to a 2005 Propane Council outdoor-living survey. The National Association of Home Builders predicts more people will add Heartland-friendly screen porches to their homes during the next few years.
This kind of project also offers homeowners a return on their investment. It's a cost-effective way to give you more livable space, says Rico Cedro, a Chicago architect who has designed them for clients.
As outdoor rooms grow more popular, higher-quality materials and weatherproof furnishings are available to help outdoor spaces feel more like a home's interior. Donna's key requirement for her porch was that it didn't look like a screen porch. "I wanted my porch to be an extension of the family room," she says. "The perfect link from house to garden."
