Picture yourself inside this screened porch sanctuary and savor the feeling of calm, elegance, and sheer beauty. The Porch Company recently designed and built this screened porch in Green Hills, TN. The details of the design are steeped in contemporary, urban-inspired appeal, much like it stepped out of the pages of a magazine!
Once inside, glancing up to the ceiling, you’ll notice how minimal the architectural rafter ties are. We constructed the gable roof in this manner to allow for a cleaner, more streamlined view once inside the porch.
As with the construction of all our screened porches, any time you have a gable roof you will have rafter ties. What we did for this porch, however, is a little different than the norm on our ceilings. Most screened porch roofs that have a gable roof have a two-by-eight rafter – two feet on center, that create a heavy look of beams from below, due to the repetition of the wood truss elements.
As our client was looking for a design that embodied a contemporary, urban and modern experience once inside the porch, we felt that less would be more. We joined three rafter beams together to achieve that clean look without sacrificing any strength to the structure at each support junction.
Continuing that cleaner, craftsman-like mindset, we used a sturdier roof decking as it can span the longer lengths found in the roof structure while adding to a luxe, minimalistic design.
Let The Sunshine In!
Another reason for this roof design formula was to achieve another wish our client had. They wanted to filter more light into the space from above, so we incorporated two new four-foot skylights. Without this addition, a fully enclosed roof would have further diminished the presence of natural light inside this home.
Read more about the benefits of adding skylights to your porch in our feature article Thinking of adding skylights on your Porch Company porch?
Building With An Eye For Seamless Design
In drafting the specifications for this Green Hills screened porch, we matched the pitch of the main home’s gable roof to complement the architecture.
This result is a porch that compliments but also appears original. Not to mention the stunning screened porch says “Welcome” at every turn. As if it leaped from the pages of Architectural Digest, the ebony tones of the gable ceiling provided a 180º contrast to the soft white interior walls. Monochromatic magnificence!
To protect the structure and elegantly define its perimeter, outside the exterior walls we used Fortress cable rail vertically and not horizontally, as is more typical. The effect accents the interior height of the space. This allows the eye to cast upward toward the elegant ceiling design and the beams of light from the new skylights. The railing also adds to unobstructed views and creates a greater sense of openness in the space.
The end result – much to the pleasure of our client – is that of a modern chalet – open, airy, and fresh.
On the west interior wall, we added a custom fireplace to help warm those occasionally chilly Tennessee afternoons and evenings.
Adjacent to the fireplace for convenience, we built a tall, cypress-lined storage box to house a healthy supply of firewood. This custom feature is an element we design into many of our custom porches. Firewood boxes provide easy access to wood without having to tread outdoors when the weather is less favorable.
The screened door leading from the screened porch to the exterior deck and stairs is one of our exclusive PorchCo. Sapele doors with double panels of screening, accented by a handsome, clean-lined vertical door pull for easy reach and access. Sapele wood is one of our marque door choices, an excellent choice to use for screen doors that is rot and insect resistant. The doors can be painted or stained. Here we left them natural to accentuate the clean design vibe.
For entry into the new space, double French doors now allow entry from two areas of the home.
Finish Details Make All The Difference
The exterior beauty of this new porch is only matched by the sheer elegance of the interior finishes. Keeping with a look of minimalism, the interior walls are painted matte white to augment the gray flooring.
The Porch Company takes pride in providing exquisite design and meticulous attention to detail to exceed client expectations. Our end goal is blending custom porch designs seamlessly with your home’s architecture. We strive to always meet your needs and desires.
Are you interested in a custom porch design for your Nashville area home? Allow The Porch Company to create your perfect porch retreat! Call us at 615-662-2886. We would love to meet with you to discuss your porch needs!
