A Three-Season Room for Outdoor Living with a Touch of Class

Here at Degnan Design-Build-Remodel, we pride ourselves on our ability to exceed the expectations of our clients. Our approach often leads to long-term working relationships and friendships. Chris and Serena are a couple with whom we have successfully worked in the past. They came to us with a request to remodel an existing covered porch located in the back of the home near the pool. They wanted to create a more usable space for comfortable outdoor living that their family and friends could enjoy. To meet our clients' needs, the porch needed to be better protected from the weather.

Defining The Construction Challenge

Their home is a Madison Area Builders Association Parade Home Parade of Homes house with a covered porch attached to the rear of the home. The Bristol Gardens neighborhood in Sun Prarie, Wisconsin, is rural and open, so it tends to be extremely windy. 

Items on the existing porch were getting wet and dirty from the rain and dust constantly blowing into the space. While it was somewhat refreshing in the warmer months, in the cooler months, the breeze would often make it uncomfortable to sit out there, limiting the use of the space.

Chris and Serena wanted a porch remodel that would make their lives easier. Their goals included:

• improving the functionality of the space

• protecting their porch furniture from damage by the weather

• and extending the seasonal use of the porch. 

After meeting with the homeowners and discussing their project, we decided that a three-season room was the perfect solution!

Assessing the Existing Structure

We began by assessing the existing porch and surrounding area. The floor of the porch, the neighboring pool surround, and the patio area were all made of stamped concrete which was in good shape. There was no reason to alter this in any way. 

Our goal was to protect the interior of the structure by infilling the existing openings. Our clients wanted to accomplish this as inexpensively as possible. So we chose to move as few posts as possible and added PGT Eze Breeze porch windows in the Pebble Khaki color. This brand of three-season porch windows offered the protection from the weather we needed for the interior space. It also allowed the homeowners to open the windows to capitalize on the breeze. 

Our solution saved the homeowners money by converting the porch into a three-season room that they decided to use to splurge on a luxurious fireplace in the room. 

Designing This Outdoor Living Space

Ultimately, the homeowner's goal was to create an indoor/outdoor living space that featured some of the amenities and furnishings of their existing home design while keeping the distinct Porch-Like character—making it feel like an outdoor space.

We first addressed the physical space, protecting it from the weather with porch windows. We next evaluated different locations for the new Heat & Glo 36" direct vent natural gas fireplace. The goal was to create a focal point the accented the space but did not dominate. The first option we looked at was the end of the room opposite the patio door. This approach would make it front and center in the view from the kitchen looking out. However, it also would have blocked much of the view of the backyard. 

Learn About A Porch Addition With Sauna And Grilling Deck

After discussing the placement with our clients, we decided to place the fireplace wall on the east side of the room, opposite the pool. This location offered several attractive benefits, including adding privacy from the neighbors and orienting the views to the south and southwest. Prime areas for viewing the backyard and pool!

The homeowners also wanted to include a TV for relaxing when spending time in their new space. For its placement, we turned to Senior Designer Dave Duewel. After evaluating different locations, including above the patio door, we ultimately placed the TV above the fireplace. This placement created a cozy atmosphere in the three-season room. And, it also made the TV visible to anyone sitting in the adjacent area next to the pool.

Creating an Inviting Interior Design 

Working with Design Coordinator Kelly Johnson, Chris and Serena selected the beautiful light-colored Chiseled-Sea Shadowstone around the fireplace framed with a timber appearance mantle. A tall baseboard was installed, allowing electrical outlets to be placed around the perimeter of the space. 

View Another Three-Season Porch Addition With Fireplace

Even with the baseboard, the windows maintain the feeling of going all the way to the floor. The ceiling is just about 10-feet tall. To enter, you step down into the room from the main house. To keep the room proportional and help it maintain its human scale, we used transom windows which form a horizontal line close to the ceiling.

Because the room was now perfectly protected from the weather, the homeowners eliminated the outdoor patio furniture from the space and incorporated plush comfortable seating for added comfort.

Overcoming Challenges to Create The Perfect Three Season Room

Because construction occurred during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, we encountered supply chain issues that upset the schedule and led to multiple reorders due to quality control concerns. However, the Degnan team, designers, and homeowners persevered. We stuck by our clients to make sure everything was completed to the highest standards of excellence!

In the end, Chris and Serena love their new three-season room. The space is now a comfortable, usable, outdoor space that can be enjoyed as a screened room on bright sunny days. Or, with windows closed, a dry space perfect for enjoying a rainy day. The three-season room is the ideal place to enjoy the game with friends on Sunday, and thanks to the addition of the fireplace, it extends the season and creates a great space if you are itching to get outside in the Spring or Fall!

If you live in the Madison, Wisconsin area and 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 and create the perfect three-season room of your dreams. Reach out to us today and arrange a free consultation to discuss your upcoming project.