View This Award-Winning Screened Porch Addition

One of the biggest perks of what we do here at Degnan Design-Build-Remodel are the relationships we build with our clients. We first met our newest clients Bryan and Lori, at several home shows in Greater Madison. After talking to friends in the area, they ultimately came to us after being referred by former clients who engaged our firm for a number of projects.

Bryan and Lori live in a Rustic-Contemporary home in the Stonefield Neighborhood in Middleton, Wisconsin. They came to us seeking a solution for replacing a dilapidated deck with a screened-in porch. They asked for our design to include a sitting area to relax and read and an alfresco dining area for four. Their predominant goal was to have a space to sit that is shaded and bug-free so they could enjoy outdoor living even during a gentle rain.

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They knew that they wanted a space that offered flexibility, options, and a diversity of uses. They also were specific in wanting a screened porch addition as opposed to a three or four-season addition.

Creating A Uniquely Personalized Design

As we began working with Bryan and Lori on their design, they gravitated towards an interesting fusion of contemporary and rustic design elements in a way that integrates uniquely with the home and the backyard.

To achieve this design eclectic, the porch structure uses solid-sawn tongue & groove Douglas fir roof planks, solid-sawn framing, and rafters. The exposed elements and tongue & groove roofing were stained a dark contemporary color that is nearly black, giving a dramatic contrast to the natural cedar railing and aluminum balusters.

This screened porch addition was awarded Honorable Mention in the 2020 NARI Madison CotY Awards.
To see the Case Study PDF with before & after photos, click here.

For durability, comfort, and low maintenance, we used Deckorators Ironwood colored, Vista composite decking. The local building code also required a railing system, and we chose to install a Cedar wooden top rail system with Deckorators aluminum balusters.

Outdoor Living, Dining, and Cooking With Space for the Gas Grill!

While our client's primary goal was creating a flexible, screened outdoor living space, they also wanted a place outside of the screened area to accommodate their Weber grill. To incorporate this area, we needed to design a space large enough, ad with enough space to prevent any heat damage to the structure and siding. For nighttime grilling, we included Nuvo Lighting grill light and a Nuvo soffit mounted spotlight.

To finish the screened-in area, we included four Progress Lighting Beaufort Sconce lights and a Monte Carlo Colony Super Max ceiling fan with an aged pewter finish.

Their home has a fully exposed walk-out basement, and it was important for our design not to block the lower level windows and patio doors. We created an extension of the deck to create a proper space for grilling and a clear path from the house, through the porch, and down the stairs to the pool. We were careful to protect the headroom under the porch as one walks from the pool area to the lower level patio doors where the changing room/bathroom is, just through the doors.

screened porch addition with pool before & after

The End Result: A Perfect Screened Porch Addition

Besides the porch's obvious aesthetics and the way our design ties into the homes existing Rustic-Contemporary design, the beauty of the porch, grilling deck, and stairway enhance the back of the home. At two stories with an exposed basement, the back of the house is visually very tall. Our final design featuring the porch with its grilling deck and stairway punctuate and layer the home's rear elevation!

The final result? We met the functional and aesthetic needs of our client's Bryan and Lori. The screened porch addition meets their goals of having plenty of space for a seating area as well as a dining table. The grill is in a safe and convenient location. And they now have a relaxing and extremely comfortable screened porch addition where they can be relaxing outdoors while the kids are in the pool!

If you live in the greater Madison, Wisconsin area and are planning a remodeling project, give the experts at Degnan Design-Build-Remodel a call at (608) 846-5963. Their award-winning design team is ready to help you realize your creative vision. Call today and arrange a free consultation to discuss your upcoming project.

This article was updated by Abe Degnan on 9/12/2022.