Our region has an extended outdoor season that the homeowners wanted to take full advantage of. The existing deck was not adequate for hosting large parties and had no covered space for protection from the elements.

The homeowners love to barbeque and entertain so the porch design needed to incorporate a large dining area, living space, covered grill area, large stone fireplace and still maintain proper flow from the kitchen and great room area.

The homeowners wanted to be able to maximize the view as well as have the option for privacy. This was achieved with the operable cedar louvered shutters. We also installed forged iron hardware that secures the heavy weight of the five foot shutters. While the shutters are open, the cast iron hook and eye rods prevent them from blowing in wind and aide the control of air flow. Cast iron slide bolts secure the shutters closed.

We chose to go with ironwood decking for its durability as well as color compatibility with the cedar timbers and shutters. The homeowner requested a unique picket design that would not be to ostentatious. Our solution was to make custom bowed iron pickets that are distinctive yet understated. One of the homeowners’ concerns was that the covered area would be easy to clean. Our solution was installing a stone patio that could easily be hosed down and the lower solid paneled cedar shutters were raised four inches off the patio floor for easy sweep out.

Keeping with the rustic theme of the interior of the house, we installed reclaimed barn wood for a mountain lodge-look in the grill area. In the grill area, we carried over the ironwood onto the countertops for its fire resistance and masculine appearance.

Much thought was placed on the lighting design to offer the homeowners a variety of options for different purposes and moods. Because the space would be used for such a wide variety of functions, the lighting needed to do a lot of heavy lifting. All of the lights were placed on dimmers and every space was given a variety of lighting options.

We executed everything on the project from the structural drawings to furnishing it down to the last grill utensil. The final product was a glamorous yet understated space that the homeowners can enjoy for many years to come.