The Porch Is The Place For Summer Entertaining


Lifestyle West, July 1998
By JoAnn Petaschnick

You can trace the history of porches all the way back to pre-biblical times when Greek architects added covered entries to their buildings. Several hundred commonplace in warm climates to construct an overhang on the outside of a house or building to help cool the inside.

In the last century or so, before air conditioning became prevalent, a porch served as a place where people could sit outside and enjoy an evening breeze, and a cool drink. And, if you happened to see your neighbor stroll by, you might catch up on the local gossip. In fact, the gracious veranda is one of the most elegant features of a Queen Anne or other Victorian style home. In Milwaukee and other cities, a porch was an essential design element of bungalow or craftsman-style homes that sprung up in many neighborhoods after World War I.

During the last few decades, however, porches fell out of favor and off home builders' plans, as central air became standard, automobile traffic grew heavier, emissions harsher and privacy got harder to come by. Porches on newly constructed homes were rarely seen. That's no longer the case now, however, as they are once again enjoying a burst of popularity.

What's causing the resurrection of the good old front porch? "Maybe people are looking for a return to their roots," said Mary Horton, director of the sales and marketing at the Carstensen Construction in Hales Corners. "When we were kids, we always played on the front porch," she said. "It is a gathering place."

But nostalgia is only one reason for the reappearance of the front porch. The craftsman bungalow of years ago had a long sloping roofline and a wide overhang that made the house appear to nestle into the earth. A wide porch accentuated this tie to the earth across the front of the house. That may be what's driving the interest in porches these days- a tie to the earth. It seems that people are once again interested in feeling a part of the environment, of their surroundings. Industry experts believe that there's a trend toward "opening up the house and creating a bridge to the outdoors." What better way than with a porch?

Customers are asking Carstensen Construction to add a porch to the homes under construction more and more frequently, however, it isn't on the front of the house. It might be on the back, especially if the house overlooks a lake or other body of water. "It might be a privacy issue, too," she said.

David & Goliath Builders in Pewaukee also is noticing an upswing in the number of new homes with porches.

"I would say we have seen a big comeback in porches," said David Rodrigues, president. "It's been coming over the last couple of years, we're being asked more and more to add them to the design of a home. Esthetically, people like the looks of a porch on certain homes," he said. "And of course, they like to kick back and relax on it."

Certain styles of homes are more apt to be more suitable for a porch, Rodrigues noted. "Farmhouses are one style of home that looks natural with a porch. These are large houses and might a porch on the front and the back," he said. Country houses are perfectly suited to a porch, as well as some ranch-style homes.

The porches are built of wood, concrete or brick, Rodrigues said. They often feature large columns or support posts.

Screened porches became popular back around the turn of the century when factory-made screens became easier to obtain. If you want the advantages of being outside, but don't relish the idea of spending your time swatting mosquitoes and other creepy crawly things, a screened porch is ideal. Smokers can congregate on the porch, too.

The "sleeping porch" was a much-desired feature in some bungalow-style homes built years ago. Located in the rear of the house, adjacent to a back bedroom, it was used on hot, stuffy summer nights to make sleeping more pleasant. This idea has also been resurrected on some recently built homes.

A screened porch allows you to take advantage of the fresh air even when it's raining. So, the kids can play "outside" even when the weather is uncooperative. And, of course, the screens can be replaced with storm windows during the cooler weather, so you can still enjoy the sun, even on cold days in Wisconsin.

"We've done a couple of screened porches," Rodrigues said. "It depends on the location. Houses that are situated outside of a subdivision, near a lake or pond are better suited to it, and because of the surroundings, these people want to be more in touch with the outdoors."