Porch of the Week: Poolside Spot for Dining and Lounging
This covered space for empty nesters in Virginia includes a large fireplace, outdoor kitchen and beautiful stone accents
These Richmond, Virginia, homeowners were ready for a change and almost closed on a new home. But in the end, they decided to make their existing home new to them with the addition of a pool and a large porch overlooking it.
Architect Scott Stephens checked off every item on their must-have list, including a fireplace, outdoor kitchen and custom railings that keep the view out to the new pool and landscape open. Limestone floors, stacked-stone architectural features and white oak ceilings give the porch a relaxed, upscale feel.
Architect Scott Stephens checked off every item on their must-have list, including a fireplace, outdoor kitchen and custom railings that keep the view out to the new pool and landscape open. Limestone floors, stacked-stone architectural features and white oak ceilings give the porch a relaxed, upscale feel.
After: Stephens was brought in to design the new porch by a frequent collaborator, contractor John Chandler. Landscape architect Steve Koprowski was already working on the landscape scheme and had sited the pool when Stephens began his design.
The new porch extends the length of the back of the house and is 22 feet deep. Stone accents add lovely architectural interest and tie in with the surrounding landscape. The homeowners chose a stone veneer called Hudson Ledgestone for the planter boxes, posts, low walls and fireplace surround. Craddock Masonry completed all the stonework on the project.
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The new porch extends the length of the back of the house and is 22 feet deep. Stone accents add lovely architectural interest and tie in with the surrounding landscape. The homeowners chose a stone veneer called Hudson Ledgestone for the planter boxes, posts, low walls and fireplace surround. Craddock Masonry completed all the stonework on the project.
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Stephens custom-designed the powder-coated metal railings.
The planter boxes were a strategic part of the design. When there’s a grade change of 30 inches or more, railings must have pickets that are 4 inches on center for safety. The planters bring the grade up to around 18 inches lower than the porch floor, so the tighter pickets weren’t required. “These planter boxes allowed us to use these more open railings. They keep the views toward the pool open from the porch and the house,” Stephens says.
The horizontal surfaces, including the stair treads and around the planter boxes, are limestone.
The planter boxes were a strategic part of the design. When there’s a grade change of 30 inches or more, railings must have pickets that are 4 inches on center for safety. The planters bring the grade up to around 18 inches lower than the porch floor, so the tighter pickets weren’t required. “These planter boxes allowed us to use these more open railings. They keep the views toward the pool open from the porch and the house,” Stephens says.
The horizontal surfaces, including the stair treads and around the planter boxes, are limestone.
This photo shows the relationship between the new porch, pool and landscape. There are two sets of stairs off the porch. The set on the left serves guests arriving through the side gate and the other set is centered off the house and pool.
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This set of stairs also leads to a backyard convenience. “The biggest thing I suggested for the design was to have a bathroom that was adjacent to the pool. They are really glad to have it,” Stephens says.
He borrowed space from the oversize garage to install a bathroom behind the door seen here. When the homeowners are entertaining outdoors, no one needs to walk through the rest of the house, and swimmers won’t leave a trail of wet footprints inside.
He borrowed space from the oversize garage to install a bathroom behind the door seen here. When the homeowners are entertaining outdoors, no one needs to walk through the rest of the house, and swimmers won’t leave a trail of wet footprints inside.
The pool has a stone fountain that picks up on the stonework on the porch.
When they aren’t admiring the pool, the homeowners and their guests can focus on the beautiful stacked-stone fireplace. Stephens used the same Hudson Ledgestone veneer on the fireplace surround. The masonry fireplace is gas with faux logs that make it look like a wood-burning fireplace.
The stone-covered built-in benches and walls anchor this entire vista and strengthen the fireplace’s presence. Stephens used the same limestone he used on the planters and stair treads on the hearth, bench seats and tops of the walls.
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The stone-covered built-in benches and walls anchor this entire vista and strengthen the fireplace’s presence. Stephens used the same limestone he used on the planters and stair treads on the hearth, bench seats and tops of the walls.
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The ceiling is 1-by-6-inch character-grade white oak. Character grade means it has more knots and color variation for a more natural look. Chandler used a white stain and an exterior poly finish on the wood. The ceiling also has two heaters, two ceiling fans and six skylights.
The stump cocktail tables work beautifully with the natural stone and wood elements of the architecture.
Ceiling lumber: Wellborn + Wright
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The stump cocktail tables work beautifully with the natural stone and wood elements of the architecture.
Ceiling lumber: Wellborn + Wright
Check out our beginner’s guide to get started on your home project
Directly across from the fireplace, Stephens covered a portion of the wall in the same stone veneer. Interior designer Cynthia Gaertner added wood floating shelves, giving the outdoor kitchen side of the room its own special focal point. This also takes attention away from the large hood required for the grill. The cabinets beneath the stone wall include a beverage fridge.
The porch flooring is a tumbled limestone with a French country feel. The stones are 16 inches wide and have random lengths. The variation in colors lends a relaxed look and works nicely with the stacked stone and other limestone surfaces.
The fans and heaters help the couple extend porch season. “They tell me that they use the porch nine to 10 months out of the year,” Stephens says.
Flooring: Vieux Monde, Stone Partnership
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The porch flooring is a tumbled limestone with a French country feel. The stones are 16 inches wide and have random lengths. The variation in colors lends a relaxed look and works nicely with the stacked stone and other limestone surfaces.
The fans and heaters help the couple extend porch season. “They tell me that they use the porch nine to 10 months out of the year,” Stephens says.
Flooring: Vieux Monde, Stone Partnership
More on Houzz
Browse thousands of porch photos
Read more stories about porches
Hire a local general contractor
Shop for your porch
Porch at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple of empty nesters
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Size: 820 square feet (76 square meters)
Designers: Scott Stephens of SMS Architects RVA (architecture), Steve Koprowski of Koprowski + Associates (landscape architecture) and Cynthia Gaertner (interior design)
Contractor: John Chandler of Chandler Construction
Before: The couple had an expansive deck, and their yard was flat and largely wooded. “They love to entertain and wanted to be able to bring their large gatherings outside,” Stephens says. A new porch would provide cover to protect them from the elements, and a fireplace and heaters would allow them to extend porch season into late fall and early spring.
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