Front Porch Ideas

As I took the garden tour today, I was also on the lookout for interesting front porches. We've been wanting to put a proper front porch on our house and cousin-in-law Joe, a talented architect, is willing to draw up some plans as soon as we can provide measurements and give him some ideas on what we like.

I used to think this was my favorite style porch -- long, wrap-around, plenty of room for seating. But, the wrap-around part wouldn't work for us since the side of our house butts up to the woods. If we just built the front porch, sans the wrap-around, it might look nice and would certainly improve our home's curb appeal.

Then, out in the middle of the country in Syracuse, I saw the most beautiful front porch.

I wasn't sure, at first, what drew me to it, but after further consideration, I've concluded it's the Craftsman / Arts & Crafts styling. Their back porch was even larger.

We used to live in a Craftsman home, in the country south of Mishawaka. The build-in cabinetry, leaded glass windows, window seat and large front porch all added to the personality of the home that I loved so much.

Our new house, although not in the least a Craftsman or Arts & Crafts design, is filled with mission style furniture.

Perhaps a period front porch and a Frank Lloyd Wright style door would give our home more of a Craftsman style look.

I saw this door in the Menards ad today. I don't like the price and would prefer it without the wheat design, but it's pretty close to what I'd like to have for our house.