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  1. Southern Living
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  3. Porches
  4. Before-and-After Porch Makeovers That You Need to See to Believe

Before-and-After Porch Makeovers That You Need to See to Believe

Patricia Shannon, Senior Editor for Southern Living
By Patricia Shannon
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Porch Bright Furniture After
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn
From screened in numbers to double stacked fixer-uppers, these porches make us want to kick up our feet and take in the view. But, they weren't always that way. Check out our best before and after porch makeovers.
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These are Some of Our Best Porch Makeovers

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This Porch Was Just a Stoop

Cottage Stoop Before

Prior to the renovation, the entrance to the 600-square-foot cottage was just a stoop.

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Now It’s a Classic Southern Porch

Southern White Porch with Swings
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

The homeowner widened and deepened the front stoop, turning it into a porch that’s 28 by 8 feet. Rather than crowd the porch with furniture, dueling porch swings were hung and guests are encouraged to pull out chairs.

Tour the 660-square-foot cottage.

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This Porch Was a Carport

Porch Carport Before

An old carport and shed were waiting to be reimagined.

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Now It’s a Cabana

Grey and White Outdoor Cabana
Credit: Hector Sanchez

Draperies made of Sunbrella fabric give the cabana an outdoor-room feel. Artificial turf anchors the space and serves as an unexpected area rug.

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This Porch Had Limited Space Because of an AC Unit

AC Unit Behind Fence Before
Credit: Courtesy of Olivia Brock

The patio wasn’t connected to the house and big bulky air conditioner units took up valuable real estate.

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Now It’s a Classic Charleston Courtyard

Green and Wicker Stone Courtyard
Credit: Francesco Lagnese

The square seems like an outdoor family room and has a definitive European flair.

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This Porch Was a Drop Spot for Garden Supplies

Before Porch Garden Storage

With no shade, the backyard needed a covered gathering spot.

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Now It’s a Mediterranean-Inspired Patio

Mediterranean-Inspired Patio After
Credit: Tria Giovan

The homeowner installed a 10-foot-wide by 30-foot-long iron pergola and planted wisteria, which would turn into a beautiful canopy. She made the overhead lights by transforming pickle jars into pendants.

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This Porch Was a Stately Back Entrance

Before Back Porch
Credit: Courtesy of Brad Shapiro

A large family congregates on this this historic country house each year for Thanksgiving. Prior to the renovation, they had to keep the festivities indoors.

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Now It’s A Porch With Three Different Outdoor Rooms

Porch Three Outdoor Rooms After
Credit: Tria Giovan

The new space includes an outdoor kitchen, a dining area, and sitting room anchored by a stately brick fireplace.

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This Porch Was a Small, Lackluster Patio

Under Construction Patio Before

The homeowner wanted the space to be an extension of the house.

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Now It’s a Low-Maintenance Courtyard

After Stone Patio

No mowing here! Evergreen ground cover, bluestone tiles, and a pea gravel drive keep things simple and work well with the Cape Cod-style home.

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5 Southern Front Porch Musts

We spend a lot of time on our front porches, whether socializing, entertaining, relaxing, or eating. For this reason, it's important that our porches get just as much attention as the other parts of our houses. We think these five porch staples – including plenty of seating and a strategically placed ceiling fan – are a must for any Southern home.

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This Porch was a Wooden Deck

Wooden Deck Porch Before
Credit: Courtesy of Anna Evans

The deck was small, lacked a focal point, and needed an upgrade.

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Now It’s a Permanent Outdoor Room

White Patio with French Doors After
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

French doors were added to allow people to move more easily between the indoors and outdoors. Replacing the wood deck with pavers give the space a feeling of permanence.

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This Porch Was a Hodgepodge of Furniture

Porch with Furniture Before
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

The homeowners used the space to collect furniture that they couldn’t find a home for.

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Now It’s a Bright Outdoor Living Room

Porch Bright Furniture After
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

An outdoor rug from Dash & Albert, a white wicker sofa, and wicker chairs create a comfortable spot for chatting. Pink-hued pillows and a variety of vibrant container gardens bring lots of color.

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This Porch was Underused

Porch with Just Two Chairs Before
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

The 130-square-foot space was too small for a dining table or sofa, but was the ideal spot for an afternoon cocktail.

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Now It’s a Great Spot for a Conversation

Bright Porch with Fig Trees and Blue Rug
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

Four chairs and a table seems like a no-brainer, but gives the space a true sense of purpose. Two 6-foot fiddleleaf fig trees bring life to the porch.

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This Porch was Uninhabitable

Dilapidated Porch Before
Credit: Courtesy of Stephen B. Chambers, Architects, Inc.

A leaky roof, structural issues, and termite damage made this porch one nail short of a total tear down.

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Now It’s A Screened-In Breezeway

Screened Wood Breezeway After
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

In addition to restoring the logs, fixing the foundation, adding stone steps, and reviving the porch in period-perfect style, the homeowners screened it in to make it more usable year-round.

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This Porch Was Deemed a Teardown

Porch with Slanted Roof Before

The double front porches brought classic farmhouse style to the exterior, but they were termite-damaged and desperately in need of love.

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Now the New Porch Brings Major Charm

White and Evergreen Porch
Credit: Ngoc Minh Ngo

The 19th century home has new porch that deliver farmhouse style in a beautiful way.

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This Porch Didn’t Exist

House with No Porch Before

Before the renovation, there was no outdoor living space.

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Now It Maximizes the Summer Breeze and Beautiful Views

L Shaped Screened Porch
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

The L-shaped screened porch creates a space for relaxing and gathering.

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This Porch Was a Bit Chilly

Breezy Porch with Large Cabinet Before

A large cabinet serving as a focal point was a tad boring and cold winter weather without a heat source made this porch unusable part of the year.

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Now It's a Warm and Cozy Retreat

Stone Fireplace Porch Focal Point After
Credit: Nancy Nolan

The stacked stone fireplace not only serves as a heat source, but also creates a much-needed focal point.

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By Patricia Shannon

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    Everything in This Slideshow

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    1 of 28 These are Some of Our Best Porch Makeovers
    2 of 28 This Porch Was Just a Stoop
    3 of 28 Now It’s a Classic Southern Porch
    4 of 28 This Porch Was a Carport
    5 of 28 Now It’s a Cabana
    6 of 28 This Porch Had Limited Space Because of an AC Unit
    7 of 28 Now It’s a Classic Charleston Courtyard
    8 of 28 This Porch Was a Drop Spot for Garden Supplies
    9 of 28 Now It’s a Mediterranean-Inspired Patio
    10 of 28 This Porch Was a Stately Back Entrance
    11 of 28 Now It’s A Porch With Three Different Outdoor Rooms
    12 of 28 This Porch Was a Small, Lackluster Patio
    13 of 28 Now It’s a Low-Maintenance Courtyard
    14 of 28 5 Southern Front Porch Musts
    15 of 28 This Porch was a Wooden Deck
    16 of 28 Now It’s a Permanent Outdoor Room
    17 of 28 This Porch Was a Hodgepodge of Furniture
    18 of 28 Now It’s a Bright Outdoor Living Room
    19 of 28 This Porch was Underused
    20 of 28 Now It’s a Great Spot for a Conversation
    21 of 28 This Porch was Uninhabitable
    22 of 28 Now It’s A Screened-In Breezeway
    23 of 28 This Porch Was Deemed a Teardown
    24 of 28 Now the New Porch Brings Major Charm
    25 of 28 This Porch Didn’t Exist
    26 of 28 Now It Maximizes the Summer Breeze and Beautiful Views
    27 of 28 This Porch Was a Bit Chilly
    28 of 28 Now It's a Warm and Cozy Retreat

    Share & More

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