Hill Rag

The Joy of an Outdoor Room

by: Bruce Wentworth, AIA

Consider the possibilities of adding a covered porch to your home’s living space. Only a porch lets you experience an intangible in-between living that is not totally indoor, nor completely outdoor. If the sun moves, the breeze shifts, or the rain falls, you can still have comfort on a porch.

A well-designed porch will enhance the architecture of your home. And it is not unusual for a porch to be the most attractive architectural feature of a residence, providing both curb appeal and stately presence. On a more practical side, a screened porch provides a bug-free space for outdoor dining and a sheltered entry to your home.

Lead by Example

A recent Wentworth project included a rear porch addition for a residence in Washington. The new porch provides a restful viewing point for a lush walled garden. As an added benefit, the new porch improved an unattractive rear façade. What was an ungainly brick wall with second story bay became, when merged with the new porch, an attractive architectural assemblage.

A solid brick base, measuring 13 feet x 17 feet, is capped with flagstone and forms the foundation of the new porch. Eight Tuscan redwood columns define the space and frame the garden views. A nine foot tall ceiling with bead board recalls the period styling of the home. The ceiling’s central area tapers up allowing ample natural light through a skylight. Viewed from the garden, the low profile, hipped skylight, trimmed in copper, becomes unobtrusive within the copper roof. To learn more about custom skylights visit www.renaissanceconservatories.com/lanternSkylights.asp

Concealed gutters, also called “built-in gutters”, were designed for its classic style. The gutters are concealed behind the entablature (or cornice), which is a construction detail seldom seen today, because it is difficult and expensive to build. The framing of the roof for a concealed-gutter must be carefully constructed to form the gutter, create a slope, and line the gutter with copper.

A bit of whimsy adds personality to a porch or garden. In this case, custom-spun copper urns crown the corners of the roof. Already, the owners are anticipating spending many a restful summer evening on this dream porch.

Bruce Wentworth, AIA is an architect and home improvement contractor. To learn more about his residential design/remodeling services visit www.wentworthstudio.com or call 240-395-0705.


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The Joy of an Outdoor Room

by: Bruce Wentworth, AIA
Consider the possibilities of adding a covered porch to your home’s living space. Only a porch lets you experience an intangible in-between living that is not totally indoor, nor completely outdoor. If the sun moves, the breeze shifts, or the rain falls, you can still have comfort on a porch. A well-designed porch will enhance the architecture of your home. And it is not unusual for a porch to be the most attractive architectural feature of a residence, providing both curb appeal and stately presence. On a more practical side, a screened porch provides a bug-free space for outdoor dining and a sheltered entry to your home. Lead by Example A recent Wentworth project included a rear porch addition for a residence in Washington. The new porch provides a restful viewing point for a lush walled garden. As an added benefit, the new porch improved an unattractive rear façade. What was an ungainly brick wall with second story bay became, when merged with the new porch, an attractive architectural assemblage. A solid brick base, measuring 13 feet x 17 feet, is capped with flagstone and forms the foundation of the new porch. Eight Tuscan redwood columns define the space and frame the garden views. A nine foot tall ceiling with bead board recalls the period styling of the home. The ceiling’s central area tapers up allowing ample natural light through a skylight. Viewed from the garden, the low profile, hipped skylight, trimmed in copper, becomes unobtrusive within the copper roof. To learn more about custom skylights visit www.renaissanceconservatories.com/lanternSkylights.asp Concealed gutters, also called “built-in gutters”, were designed for its classic style. The gutters are concealed behind the entablature (or cornice), which is a construction detail seldom seen today, because it is difficult and expensive to build. The framing of the roof for a concealed-gutter must be carefully constructed to form the gutter, create a slope, and line the gutter with copper. A bit of whimsy adds personality to a porch or garden. In this case, custom-spun copper urns crown the corners of the roof. Already, the owners are anticipating spending many a restful summer evening on this dream porch. Bruce Wentworth, AIA is an architect and home improvement contractor. To learn more about his residential design/remodeling services visit www.wentworthstudio.com or call 240-395-0705.