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

By Patricia Shannon
March 10, 2017
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

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

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

An old carport and shed were waiting to be reimagined.

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Now It’s a 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

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

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

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

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Now It’s a Mediterranean-Inspired Patio

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

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

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

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

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Now It’s a Low-Maintenance Courtyard

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Before the renovation, there was no outdoor living space.

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Now It Maximizes the Summer Breeze and Beautiful Views

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

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

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